‘LIFE IS A SKETCHBOOK’
I strive to practice regular creative habits. That could be anything from photographing a nature walk to sketching for a few minutes a day. This is not only important to me in order to improve my artistic skill, but I strongly believe in the power creativity, in any form, has to promote positive mental health and support our general well-being.
COMMUNITY ARTIST
What do I do?
I work as a Community Arts Coordinator and practitioner for ACE arts, leading a team of artists based at the Dusty Forge community space in Cardiff. We set up ‘ACE Arts’ under the umbrella of ‘ACE ~Action in Caerau & Ely’ and currently deliver two days of workshops per week funded by Arts Council Wales.
Our primary ethos is to make art accessible and inclusive to local adults, without discriminating against age or ability. The participants we engage with have often been subject to deprived economic and social backgrounds, mental illness and social isolation. We aim to enable our members with new skills and creative confidence and purpose, whilst providing a social, nurturing and safe environment to practice in.
We work in all sorts of art forms; batik, textiles, paint and print to name a few! Workshops are person centred and person led, meaning we collectively plan, make and exhibit work together, promoting a sense of ownership and pride and creating meaningful artwork, whilst enjoying engaging in the creative process.
If you wish to find out more, here’s a link to our external end of project exhibition in 2019, hosted by our friends at ‘Art in the Attic/Valleys kids’ in their beautiful exhibition space in Porth, and funded by Arts Council Wales:
https://youtu.be/K5MMZ0BlRYE
NIC PARSONS ARTIST
Artist. Creator. Visionary.
I have over 20 years experience as an artist, experimenting with and exploring a wealth of artistic techniques and theory. Embodied in my years of scenic painting, I am tirelessly fascinated by learning and ‘playing’ with materials and processes, from traditional textiles techniques of weaving and natural dyeing, to 3d sculpture, gold leaf and textured painting alongside my more recent engagement with digital Procreate art.
I see the endless possibilities of pushing experimentation of materials to the limit, preferring to find my own way and learn as I go rather than following the rule book!
My adaptable approach as an artist has made it possible for me to creatively support a wide range of learners over the years. As a tutor and facilitator in participatory arts, I have engaged in a wide range of freelance textiles, scenic painting & drawing projects, and more recently launched my digital illustration print business from my home studio http://nicparsonsart.company.site/. You can read more about my background in the section ‘Life & Work’.
CONTACT
If you are interested in any aspect of my work or would like to know more, please get in touch!
Community Art Projects : nicolap@aceplace.org Commissioned Artwork : nickybec@hotmail.com
