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| She's baaaack!
Although Nicolette Toussaint has been drawing and painting since she was three, for decades she was the Emily Dickinson of painting. Her watercolors were created for the sheer joy of it and hidden away in a closet. It's quite counter-cultural to stay in the closet in San Francisco, and in 2010, a series of personal and professional tragedies led Nicolette to "out" herself as a painter. Nicolette sought solace in her painting, and she turned back toward the fine arts for her livelihood. Nicolette grew up in Colorado, and in college, she worked part-time as a ski instructor and snowshoe guide. Her love of the natural world is reflected in her art, which celebrates the play of light and color, and often features the flora and fauna of California and Colorado. Upon graduation, Nicolette moved to Chicago, and began exhibiting graphics and drawings in many festivals and competitions. She won a first prize for graphics at the Ravinia summer festival and had a one-woman show in a beautifully Rococco gallery at the Chicago Public Library. While in Illinois, Nicolette added a Masters Degree in Design to the bachelors degrees in Journalism and English she had earned earlier at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Nicolette's MS comes from the Institute of Design at IIT, a famous architectural school founded by Mies van der Rohe. Nicolette is also a green building professional, certified by California's Build It Green organization. Nicolette has lived in San Francisco for the past 30 years, working as a publicist and graphic designer for environmental and educational nonprofits. She has also renovated several flats, starting a sideline as an interior designer and architectural renderer. (See www.comfortandjoydesign.com) Nicolette writes a popular blog on universal design and green building; it is called "Living in Comfort and Joy." (See http://nicolettet.wordpress.com) Through all her journalistic and graphic professional endeavors, Nicolette never stopped painting. Quietly,"the Emily Dickinson memorial closet" filled up with unseen works. The recession of 2009-10 led to Nicolette being laid off from the university where she worked. That occurred just as a series of health crises impacted members of Nicolette's family. She sought solace in her art, discovering that she could paint even with two broken and dislocated fingers on her right hand! (Yes, she's right handed.) Nicolette's first show at the Artist's Alley opened in December, 2010 - a joyous return to exhibiting after a 30-year absence. Nicolette is seeking representation as an illustrator. Her original works are available through Galiara and its bricks-and-mortar cousin, the Artists' Alley in downtown San Francisco. Prints of many of Nicolette's original watercolors are available from Nicolette's store on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/NicoletteT |
Contact Info
| Nicolette Toussaint | |
| Nicolette | |
| Toussaint | |
| Send Email | |
| 94110 | |
| CA | |
| San Francisco | |
| - | |
| USA | |
| Painter, illustrator, Writer | |
| www.behance.net/nicolette | |
| OFFLINE |
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My Gallery
Total number of images: 15
- Brother and Sister
- Description: This original drawing is rendered in ink and colored with watercolor. It is an example of an illustration style of Nicolette Toussaint, and is closely related to her watercolor paintings. Nicolette is actively seeking illustration commissions and an illustration rep.
- Aloes
- Description: 17" x 23.5" original watercolor in sage, blues, greens and gold. Painted from life
- Abalone
- Description: 17" x 23.5" original watercolor, painted from life. Amazing detail and metallic shine has been created in this image without the use of any metallic pigments. Original for sale and archival prints are also available from the artist's Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/listing/63340460/aloe-watercolor-poster-2325-x-175
- Flight of Fancy
- Description: Original 17" x 23.5" inch watercolor, painted from life. Original is the property of Alliant International University, but prints are available.
- California Poppies
- Description: 17" x 22" original watercolor painted from life. Vibrantly colored with hues reminiscent of Russian lacquered boxes and intricately detailed, this painting has a Slavic feel to it.
- Amaryllis
- Description: Original watercolor, 17" x 23", painted from life. Colors - reds, magenta, amber, green and gold - are both more vibrant and subtle than web reproduction can communicate. Details and brush strokes are characteristic of the delicate work of this artist.
- Zen Stones
- Description: Original watercolor, 10.5" x 14.5", painted from life and imagination. This painting was inspired by walks in California's tidepools. This is probably the artist's most popular painting, and one she has resisted selling despite many offers. Archival prints of Zen Stones are available from the Artist's Etsy store at http://www.etsy.com/shop/NicoletteT
- Sisters
- Description: This double portrait is a commissioned work that was created from multiple casual photographs. (In the photographs, the sisters were not posed together, and were wearing a variety of motley clothing.) The painting measures 17" x 24" and is the property of the Hernan Buchelli family. The artist does accept commissions for both human and animal portraits. Please inquire via email.
- Sisters
- Description: This double portrait is a commissioned work that was created from multiple casual photographs. (In the photographs, the sisters were not posed together, and were wearing a variety of motley clothing.) The painting measures 17" x 24" and is the property of the Hernan Buchelli family. The artist does accept commissions for both human and animal portraits. Please inquire via email.
- Sisters
- Description: This double portrait is a commissioned work that was created from multiple casual photographs. (In the photographs, the sisters were not posed together, and were wearing a variety of motley clothing.) The painting measures 17" x 24" and is the property of the Hernan Buchelli family. The artist does accept commissions for both human and animal portraits. Please inquire via email.
- Portrait of Mason Ingram
- Description: This 17" x 24" inch portrait of the artist's husband was painted from multiple photographs. The artist accepts commissions for both human and animal portraits.
- Chicago Peace rose
- Description: This stunning 23.5" x 17" watercolor was painted from life and is one of a pair of roses that form the centerpiece of the Artist's Alley show of Nicolette's work that opened in December 2010 and will run through March 2011.
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