Realism, Creativity & Animals: An Interview With Nicole Hanusek
We're excited to feature San Francisco-based artist Nicole Hanusek in our latest Smart Artist Hub interview. Nicole's extraordinary watercolor paintings blend realism with abstraction, capturing the essence of her subjects in a captivating way.
Inspired by her early love for comic book illustrations, Nicole's work often focuses on animals, especially pets, bringing out their personality and charm in every piece.
Recently, Nicole has delved into a series of abstract octopus paintings, born from a need for creative solace during the pandemic.
Her meticulous yet whimsical approach to art ensures each piece resonates deeply with viewers.
Join us as we explore her world and let her creations bring a touch of magic to your day.
Nicole Hanusek. Image courtesy of the artist.SAH: Can you share the journey that led you to become an artist, and how your early love for comic book illustrations has influenced your current work?
NH: Early on, my uncle advised me to choose a career path that is something I love, and I’ll never work a day in my life.
For a while, I pondered what might make me happy and had no clue what to do. Then, in my seventh-grade art class, we had an assignment to enlarge a picture from a magazine by drawing a grid on the image and on our paper.
I chose The Little Mermaid, and my rendering turned out so well that it garnered a lot of attention. I knew then that I wanted to pursue art because I was clearly good at it and enjoyed it tremendously.
In high school, I discovered comic books and fell in love with the line drawings of artists like Sam Keith (The Maxx), Jim Lee (X-Men) and Todd McFarlane (Spawn). This fascination led me into the world of Dungeons and Dragons where I discovered Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo.
I aspired to paint with the same realism and precision they achieved. This blend of influences pushed me towards a realistic style, aiming for accuracy and detail in my work. When I paint, it’s almost like I’m drawing with the paint.
Nicole Hanusek. Chiteki. Watercolor. 9x12.SAH: Your art beautifully blends realism and abstraction. How do you approach this balance in your creative process?
NH: It's interesting you bring that up. For most of my artistic journey, I focused on rendering my subjects as accurately as possible.
I used to worry about what I now call the “accuracy police” scrutinizing my work, comparing it to the photo source to judge how close I got. During the pandemic, I had a particularly rough day that helped me break free from that self-imposed pressure.
Now I treat my photo source as a suggestion or guide, rather than a how-to. I take key aspects of the original material as the foundation for each piece. My goal is to have fun and add a touch of whimsy, rather than recreating the photo as a painting.
SAH: Animals, especially pets, are a recurring theme in your work. What draws you to this subject matter?
NH: I've always been a huge animal lover, and painting animals is a particular joy for me, largely because of their fur and undeniable cuteness. I love getting lost in the details of their fur with my brushstrokes. Many of us seek that elusive state of flow, and I think that's a big reason why many artists love to create. For me, painting fur is the ultimate flow state; I can truly immerse myself in those fine details.
Beyond the joy of painting, I hope to raise awareness about animals. They are delicate creatures with intelligence, feelings, and emotions, deserving their space in this world. They're not just here for our amusement or industry. Through my art, I aim to highlight their beauty and encourage a deeper appreciation and respect for them.
Nicole Hanusek. Abstract Octopus #06. Watercolor and pastel. 18x24.
Nicole Hanusek. Abstract Octopus #06. Watercolor and pastel. 18x24.SAH: Can you describe the process of creating commissioned works? How does it differ from your other projects?
NH: Commissions start with a conversation about the subject matter and reviewing photo sources together.
We narrow it down to one image and discuss the colour palette and size. I typically begin with small sketches before starting two colour copies. My watercolour process unfolds in about six phases. As I progress with the two copies, I continue working on the one that looks better.
If I need to test something, I use the other copy to navigate tough spots. As the piece nears completion, I like to sleep on it before deciding if it's done. Sometimes, I hang it on my wall temporarily to take it in casually and see if it needs any final touches.
For non-commissioned work, I usually start with one copy because the stakes are much lower. If it doesn’t turn out well or if I’m not happy with it, I simply move on to the next piece.
Nicole Hanusek. Kirameki IV. Watercolor and pastel. 16x20.SAH: What are some of the most memorable reactions or feedback you’ve received from clients regarding your pet portraits?
NH: The first pet portrait I did was of Charlie, my mom's dog. When I showed it to her over video, she gasped so loudly that I think she inhaled all the air in the room! I've recorded two other reveals, and you can see them here. The most common reactions are gasps of joy.
My goal is to make the portraits colourful rather than realistic dog colours. Two of the pet commissions wanted realistic colours.
So I painted two versions: one colourful and one realistic. In one of the cases, she wanted both paintings, which was a nice compliment.
SAH: Watercolour is a prominent medium in your work. What do you find most appealing about watercolours, and how do you handle its challenges?
NH: I know a lot of people don’t like watercolours because they’re so permanent—once the colour is on the page, it’s hard to change it. But that's part of what I love about it. To make it work, you have to know what you’re doing and plan ahead.
My recent octopus pieces have a black background in watercolour, which feels like the ultimate challenge because black is extremely permanent—there’s no coming back from that!
I enjoy experimenting with the order in which you apply water. Whatever colour you add water to the second will pull the other colours into it, so you have to think ahead about which comes first and where you want that pull to end up.
It’s also really challenging to apply water to a larger piece, like 18” x 24”. By the time you get across the paper, your first drops are already drying. To combat this, I spray the back of the paper first so it’s fairly wet. Then I spray the larger areas and race through with a brush. It’s pretty intense!
Nicole Hanusek. Orange Abstract Octopus #02. Watercolor. 9x12.SAH: Can you walk us through your typical creative process from the initial concept to the finished piece?
NH: I have tons of ideas, so I usually start by looking through my list to see what inspires me. Next, I find some good source photos and narrow it down to one or two images. I mostly use them to ensure my work isn't too far off from what something is supposed to look like. Often, I use my own photos, but otherwise, I look for royalty-free ones.
I start the drawing with light color markers, then add a darker layer on top. Once all the colors are blocked in, I add water.
First, I wet the backside with a spray bottle, then start spraying the front. As I mentioned, I have to move fast because it begins drying right away. The tricky part is deciding which colors should get water first. As it dries, I might add more color or pull some up with a paper towel, then wait for it to dry.
In the next stage, I add another layer of color markers and apply water again, repeating this a couple more times for details. These might be with markers or regular watercolours.
Rinse and repeat several times. I often like to sleep on it in between, it helps with more difficult areas of the artwork. When I’m stuck, my solutions come to me overnight.
SAH: What inspires and motivates you?
NH: Looking at other artwork usually does the trick. I follow a lot of artist on Instagram and whenever I travel I try to hit a museum or two. I’m also pretty motivated by a good old deadline. Booking shows or festivals works wonders for getting new pieces completed!
How do you see your style evolving in the future, and are there any new subjects or themes you’re excited to explore?
I have so many things I want to try! Several sea creatures are on the list, like jellyfish and seahorses. I also want to experiment with hummingbirds, elephants, and a few flowers. But first, I have a lot more to explore with octopuses. I'm excited to try a large acrylic octopus where I treat the paint like watercolors. I can't wait to see how that turns out.
SAH: What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
NH: My website showcases all my current work and includes a shop where you can collect my art. If you like my style, I’d love for you to sign up for my newsletter and follow me on Instagram.
SAH: What advice would you give someone just starting on their art career?
NH: Early on, I probably worried too much about defining my style. Your style develops naturally over time; it’s not something you create deliberately. Just keep drawing, painting, and doing your thing repeatedly. Your style will reveal itself. Never give up, and remember to paint for yourself, not to please others.
More information about the artist:
Website: www.nicolehanusekart.com