Welcome to the Girls Drawin Girls Spotlight, Nicole!
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Nicole Filiatrault
2. Where are you originally from, and where do you live now?
I am originally from Cupertino, CA. I moved to Laguna Beach, CA for college and then hightailed it up to Los Angeles after graduation and haven't looked back since.
3. What do you do for a living when you're not drawing sexy pinups?
When not drawing pinups I am sitting in a cold dark corner in a dimly lit office building working as a Technical Director on the tv show South Park. Actually I love my job, aside from sitting underneath the ac vent. Thankfully my snuggie keeps me warm against the perils of the blasting ac.
4. What's your favorite medium to work in?
My favorite medium to work in is acrylic paint. I frequently also sketch in pen and pencil and then color the sketches using Photoshop.
5. Why do you think the pinup girl has such a timeless, wide appeal?
I think really at the heart of the matter the appeal of a beautiful woman just goes to basic biology. Wide hips being a sign of fertility and all that jazz. I also think that pinup art is art that is easily accessible. You don't need to have an art degree or a lot of knowledge of art history to appreciate the essence of a beautiful woman. There is also a lot of whimsy to pinup art that you don't always find in fine art. I think the easiest way to get someone on your side is to make them laugh. That's not to lessen the artistic merit of pinup art, I've seen many pieces of pinup art that has blown me away. Pinup art is meant to be consumed and enjoyed and not hidden away in a stuffy museum. Everybody loves a pretty girl.
6. Define what "sexy" means to you.
Sexy, to me, is less of a physical statement and more of a psychological one. I find people sexy when they have a strong sense of self and what they want out of life. People who are confident, but not arrogant. People who are passionate about life and trying and have more than one facet to their personality are incredibly. Looks will come and go, but in the end you're still going to have to wake up in the morning and talk to whomever you went to bed with the night before, they better have something interesting to say!
7. What's your biggest goal/ambition as an artist?
I'm not sure if I have one over riding goal as an artist. I would love for my name to be recognized in the art scene. Mainly I would just like for my art to be able to pay my rent.
8. Why do you like drawing ladies?
I like drawing pinups because you can have a lot of fun with them. The sky is the limit! I think too I can live my fantasies through them. I can dress them the way I want to dress and have them do the things I wish I could do. And I think they are a good medium for my sense of humor.
9. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
There are so many places I would love to see! Right now at the top of my list is Vietnam.
10. Name three artists who have influenced you and/or you admire.
I would say as small child watching Terry Gilliam's work on Monty Python made me want to be an animator. I found his non sequitur no sacred cow style very appealing. Anything and everything can be used. For fine art I've John Singer Sargent to be a big influence. I love his attention to detail and how he painted drapery. My pinup art has been greatly influenced by Gil Elvgren. His women always felt like real flesh and blood women who are letting you peak in on them for just a moment. He also brought a lot of whimsy and humor to his art that I find appealing.
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Thanks Nicole!
And don't forget to check out prints of her pieces from Vol I and II for sale on our Etsy site!
1 comment:
very cool
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