Where do you paint?:
Western Australia
Which Artristic easels do you use?
♦ Artristic Studio Easel
♦ Evolve Easel Adapter
Website: Nicola Reif
For multi-award-winning master pastel artist Nicola Reif, there are more animal species on the planet than there is time to paint them all! An avid nature lover, wildlife and birds are her passion. With a background in science, it’s clear why her work is so detailed yet expressive.
Nicola began her artistic journey after a career in geology and upon the birth of her first child. Initially dabbling in acrylic painting, she discovered pastels and found her true medium, never looking back. The discovery of the Artristic easel has significantly enhanced her creative process.
Nicola used to work at a large, old architect’s desk, which allowed her to rotate her work and avoid smudging. However, this setup caused considerable discomfort from sitting hunched over all day.
In 2018, after suffering an excruciating disk herniation in her neck, Nicola sought an alternative. A traditional wooden easel didn’t provide enough freedom of movement and still caused neck issues. That’s when she discovered the Artristic studio easel, which turned out to be the perfect solution. She now works exclusively on Artristic easels and always takes them to her workshops and demonstrations. Since Nicola works on more than one painting at a time, she uses two Studio easels and an Evolve rotating easel adapter for her larger works.
Tell us about your creative process
Nicola’s artistic process begins with fieldwork, where she uses her camera to capture photos of wildlife, birds, landscapes, foliage, flowers, and anything else that catches her eye. Each painting is influenced by the season, the light, the colours, and her surroundings at any given time. Always in search of inspiration, she finds it abundantly in nature.
Once back in the studio, Nicola uses sketches from her sketchbook and/or Photoshop to create appealing compositions. Her pastel work consists of many light layers to build up the form, depth, and detail of each piece. She almost always starts with the eye of the animal she is painting. The Artristic easel facilitates this process by allowing her to easily rotate her work and avoid smudging.
Has the Artristic Easel changed the way you approach your art? If so, how?
Nicola feels her art took a huge leap forward when she started using the Artristic studio easel. Not only did it help alleviate the pain while working, but it also enabled her to create faster, easier, and with more freedom. She hadn’t realized how restricted she felt working at a desk until she made the switch. The easel allows her to make more expressive marks, and since pastel is a delicate medium, it helps her work with minimal smudging.
What is your favourite feature of the Artristic Easel?
Of all the features, it’s hard for Nicola to pick just one favourite, but freedom of movement and versatility are at the top of her list. She takes her studio easel to all the workshops and demonstrations she runs, finding it easy to pack and transport, whether by aeroplane or car. Space-saving is another great feature. Despite her studio not being large, she easily accommodates two studio easels and an Evolve for larger works. She also loves the ease with which she can switch between using paper taped to a board or a stretched canvas. Additionally, the easel’s ability to spin and tilt allows Nicola to prevent pastel dust from settling on her work.
What advice would you give to artists who are new to using an Artristic Easel?
Read the manual, watch the set up videos and then simply enjoy the freedom to create.
What is next for your artistic journey?
Nicola has achieved many firsts and milestones in recent years, but her next challenge is slightly different. She and her husband are relocating back to Western Australia this year. Moving countries involves extensive preparation and big challenges, so Nicola’s art will take a brief back seat while they settle in. Her next challenge will be finding her place in the Australian art scene, a prospect she is excited about. Nicola looks forward to starting workshops and teaching and diving into painting Australian wildlife and birds. She’s not sure where she will start with so many new species to explore!