Meet Nic Brownlee | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nic Brownlee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nic, why did you pursue a creative career?
Art and design have always been a central part of my life. As a kid, I was always drawing, painting, and creating. This pursuit followed me through high school and onto art school. Turning my creative endeavors into a career came naturally. Don’t get me wrong it definitely has been a long learning curve but I’m not sure doing anything else would fulfill me in quite the same way.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I like to create surrealist art. I suppose having layered ideas, juxtaposed in a way to arrest a viewer’s thought process to look deeper into a message that doesn’t just slap them in the face with its meaning. I always love hearing the way people read into my work and how it pulls on certain things in their subconscious. I think this is in a way so much cooler than me explaining what the work means etc. At the moment I am excited to be working on a range of paintings for an exhibition which is keeping me busy as well as working on various commissioned works. It’s been a long journey to get to where I am. Lots of emotional ups and downs. I guess you just have to stay committed to your dream and take the small steps every day to make it happen. There are going to be days where you just don’t vibe with it but you just have to keep turning up and doing the work. I’m learning lessons in my work every day, some of them harsher than others ha. I guess one of the biggest lessons is to try and keep a balance in everything I do. I have a tendency to be so focused on what I am doing creatively that I lose my center and life can become somewhat chaotic. I’m learning to look after my body and mind a lot more which hopefully is bringing more clarity into my work.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m currently living in Byron Bay. I guess a lot of life around here revolves around the ocean and nature. I would probably take them to some of the various beaches around Byron to surf and explore. Also to one of the amazing waterfalls in the hinterland. As far as eating, there are so many epic cafes and restaurants around, where do I start. Recently I’ve eaten at ‘Light years’ in Byron which was really good. Great staff too. Obviously, a night out would be in the mix somewhere. There are always lots of parties happening around Byron and some great venues opening up. ‘Lovers Lane’ is a new one that I’ve been heading to a little.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I guess I would dedicate my shoutout to my family who has been a constant source of support. Also the inspiration I get from other artists I see living their dreams. I’m realizing as my career matures how important the artist community is for both the discussion of ideas and career strategy. Being an artist by nature means long hours spent alone inside your own head. It can be challenging sometimes, mentally. It’s good to tap into other creative energies. Whether it be collaborating with an Artist/Client or going to a show at a gallery, it all acts to pull you out of your head and expand your creative knowledge. Hopefully, in turn making the work better.

Website: eatingorcards.com

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Image Credits
Naiara Gorostidi