Artist Interview: Nicole Aquillano

One of the best parts of owning a small business of handmade items is getting to know the makers! I have been an admirer of Nicole Aquillano’s work before I owned the Fire Opal, so I thought it was fitting to have Nicole be the first artist I interview. Sometimes we forget how hard it is for most artists to get started due to limited spaces in art programs and the vast amount of funding required. I think you will love getting to know her just as much as I have!

 Where are you from and how does that affect your work?

I’m from a small town outside of Pittsburgh PA. The house I grew up in is an image that I use frequently in my work. I started drawing it in graduate school when I was trying to get across my feeling of being deeply connected to my work. It was and probably still is the place that I have the most memories associated with. Every time I look at an image and draw a specific detail, whether it’s the curvature of the roof or the details on the front porch, I’m reminded of specific memories from my childhood.  These memories connect me to my work while often eliciting memories in others, creating a kind of full-circle human connection.

Where do you find inspiration?

My surroundings have a huge impact on my work. I’ve always felt like I pour myself into my work, so that makes sense. While I lived in the city I found myself drawing cityscapes, but when I moved to the suburbs I began drawing trees and powerlines. And lots of little clothes on clotheslines - the laundry that comes with three kids (soon to be 4!) under 7 is unreal. But like I mentioned before, my work is so much a part of me that my everyday life naturally inspires the imagery and shapes each drawing.

Do you have a formal art education or are you self taught?

I have an MFA from RISD, a BS in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon, and a BS in mathematics from Carlow University. 

Do you work in any other mediums?

I do a lot of crafts with my kids, but I don’t consider that working in other mediums :-)

Creating something new can be so hard, what do you do to motivate yourself or to create the right mood to inspire you?

I like to take photos of things I see everyday and use those to inspire me. Take for example the street that leads to my kid’s school. Studying the photo and drawing the image helps me not only create something new - but also helps me not take those moments for granted in my everyday life. When I take the time to draw an image, the lines and angles become etched in my memory and make me more conscious of the details in life, however mundane the act of walking to school everyday.

You have won so many awards, was there any award that was the most meaningful to you?

The Brother Thomas Fellowship was a huge turning point in my career. I was new to entrepreneurship and struggling with cash flow, and seriously considering returning to a desk job as an engineer to return to that sense of stability. That week I got a call that I had been nominated for the award, and then subsequently was named one of the fellows. It really jump started my career and I’m not sure I would have continued as a full-time potter without it. 

What is your dream project?

I’m living my dream everyday :-)

I love knowing - what jobs have you done other than being an artist?

I worked for the EPA in Boston for 8 years. I moved to Boston from Pittsburgh for the job. I actually worked there part-time through graduate school and part-time for a year afterwards as well!

What’s the most important advice you could give to an aspiring artist?

If you work hard enough at something it’s bound to happen. My mentor Dale Huffman told me this when I was making my way through my undergrad in mathematics and tempted by the pull of the clay classes he taught. I ended up with a minor in art, applied to grad school right out of undergrad and didn’t get in. So I worked as an engineer and took adult education class after adult education class to build up my portfolio until I was ready to apply again, 9 years later. It was a long road to get here, but I think it gives me a unique perspective and makes my work what it is. 

What a great ending! Thank you to Nicole for sharing more about herself and her story along with creating so many beautiful things to inspire us everyday.