10 Questions with Nelly Perez

Nelly Perez grew up in the south of France in a family of artisans who recognized her love for art, particularly painting, at an early age. After studying graphic design, she began a career as an illustrator and designer in various countries: Spain, the USA, Canada, Bolivia, Luxembourg, and finally, the Netherlands, where she has settled since 2019, working as an Art Director in a tech company. In 2023, she decided to reconnect with her first love, fine arts, through which she expressed her vibrant personality.

kingnelly.com | @kingnelly_art

INTERVIEW

Can you tell us about your artistic journey? When did you discover your passion for art?

Before each creation, I always start by seeking inspiration. This research phase has become a daily routine, not just for pleasure but to enrich my visual knowledge and stimulate my creative process. Once on the canvas, I draw the main lines of my composition, notably the features of a face. No details or shadows, as it is truly through painting that my canvases come to life. I also have the unfortunate ritual of getting paint everywhere on the floor, the furniture, and on myself. My small apartment, recently converted into a studio, pays the price for my clumsiness.
My passion for art has been a part of my life since my early childhood. I was drawing even before I knew how to read and write. My parents encouraged me a lot by providing me with a variety of paints, charcoals, easels, and all kinds of materials so that I could experiment with different mediums and techniques. 

You studied graphic design and worked as an illustrator and designer. What led you to pursue this career? And how did you return to fine arts?

After high school, I studied graphic arts, which led me to work as a designer and eventually as an art director, a position I still hold today. I have always wanted to make a living from my art, but this unconventional path scared me. That's why I chose graphic design, which was a promising career in the 2000s. Besides my job, I have never stopped having artistic projects in parallel, such as occasionally painting a few canvases for pleasure and giving them as gifts. In September 2023, I picked up my brushes again, almost on a daily basis, partly to escape the mind-numbing work I do behind a screen but above all to feed my insatiable need to create. After a few months of exploration (around February 2024), I started sharing my work on social media and selling original artworks as well as reproductions online.

Your travels have spanned many countries. How have these experiences influenced your artistic style? Do you find that the different countries you visited had a lasting impact on your art?

My travels have enriched me in many aspects, particularly culturally, and I let myself be transported by the exhibitions I visited. However, my artistic work today is not influenced by my travels but much more by fabulous inspirations every day through social networks.

Speaking of your work, what is your creative process like? Where do you get inspiration from, and how do you translate it into the final outcome?

I find most of the content that inspires me on Instagram. I draw the main lines in pencil, and I quickly move on to acrylic paint, either using brushes or the Fluid Painting technique, because I am a better painter than a drawer. Especially when it comes to bringing a human face to life, it comes alive through areas of shadows and lights.

In your statement, you mention how art helps you express your vibrant personality. How do you translate this vibrancy into the artwork you create?

I tend to live my life intensely, embracing my adventures and all the projects I undertake. It is through color that I express this energy in my work. Female beauty is also a driving inspiration for me, which is why most of my works feature portraits of women.

Can you walk us through your typical day when creating a new piece of art? Do you have any particular ritual or routine?

Since I work in my apartment, which is partly converted into a painting studio, one of my rituals is to move the furniture to make space according to the size of the canvas I'm working on. I particularly need space when I lay the canvas horizontally on a table to apply paint using the fluid painting method. Spending my time cleaning the floor and walls is also a more necessary than pleasant habit.

Are there any particular themes or subjects you often explore in your work?

The subject I am currently exploring the most is the execution of portraits of women, which I integrate into an abstract and vibrant environment. Abstract works are a great source of inspiration for me, and I am increasingly directing my work towards this timeless artistic style that blends so well with interior design.

Let's talk about the future. Do you have any upcoming exhibitions or projects you're excited about?

I recently signed a contract with an art gallery in Paris, in the Montmartre district, the 'Art21' gallery (27 Rue Tholozé), to exhibit and sell six of my artworks. They will be on display starting the first week of July 2024. I am also currentlyworking with great enthusiasm on my first official commission from a client, an original painting 1m by 1m as a gift for his wife.

What artistic goals are you working towards in the coming years?

2024 is the year of my launch since I have been sharing my work only since February on social media, so I hope to gain visibility and be able to exhibit more during this first year. Being able to make a living solely from my art is my ultimate goal today; I know the road will be long, given the fierce competition, and I am diligently working towards it. Having my own gallery one day would be a wonderful achievement.

And lastly, where do you see yourself and your work in five years from now? 

If I allow myself to dream without boundaries, in five years, I will see my work being more refined and determined in a style that truly represents me, as exhibited on the international art scene. I aim to receive enough personalized commissions to allow me to dedicate myself to painting full-time. The pursuit of recognition drives all artists, and I am no exception. That being said, my love for art goes far beyond personal success; no matter what happens, I will continue to paint all my life, not by choice but by deep necessity.

Artist’s Talk

Al-Tiba9 Interviews is a promotional platform for artists to articulate their vision and engage them with our diverse readership through a published art dialogue. The artists are interviewed by Mohamed Benhadj, the founder & curator of Al-Tiba9, to highlight their artistic careers and introduce them to the international contemporary art scene across our vast network of museums, galleries, art professionals, art dealers, collectors, and art lovers across the globe.