Nicole Hanusek

Artist

Jul 16

Written By Claudia Elliott

Life would be mundane without beauty. According to Kurzgesagt, “Studies have shown, surroundings that are aesthetically pleasing to us can improve our wellbeing, our behavior, cognitive function, and mood.”
I love to surround myself with beauty and will stop what I’m doing when struck by a beautiful scene while out and about. I believe it’s our duty to enjoy these magic moments, to relish in the way they make us feel.
Inspired by children's books, comics and fantasy, my art aims to make you smile and take you back to childhood feelings of wonder and joy. My sea creatures and animals are vibrant, colorful and bright, making you stop in your tracks. Take a moment to ponder those other beings we share this world with, they provide some of the beauty that makes us whole.
I'm going to take you way back to when I was growing up in Cleveland, Ohio. I lived with my mom, aunt, and grandfather, he was an alcoholic.
He wasn't physically abusive, but he was emotionally abusive. To escape the situation I would make art.
I started drawing mermaids at a really young age and kept drawing fantasy creatures through high school.
It was one of the few things that I had control over, I could just hang out in these little worlds and I would feel safe. This led to art school where I majored in Illustration though ended up with a career in web design, starting my own company in 2008.
I never gave up on art and recently decided that it needs to take priority in my life. I finally found my style and inspiration, creating colorful sea creatures and animals with my husband and dog in San Francisco.