We recently had the chance to connect with Nicole Cabrera and have shared our conversation below.
Nicole, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I am proud that in collaboration with my friend Xiomara Jimenez, we published an art book (drawing and coloring) titled: Coloring with Purpose: Creative Therapy for The Soul, that is now available on Amazon.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from La Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a minor in Drawing and Painting. Now based in the US, I am best known for creating abstract expressionist paintings. My paintings portray the illusion of movement and energy. The images exist in a multi-layer area of organic and geometric lines and shapes. The paintings’ vibrant colors and patterns were also influenced by my immediate environment. I am inspired by the shift in energy one feels when in contact with nature, objects and other human beings. I frequently follow my intuition or spiritual awareness when making art. My paintings examine the conflict between memory and truth, as well as between humanity and spirit. I want my paintings to address the desire to feel vibrant and active in a world where social media, technology, materialism and unbalanced work-life are all prevalent.
After I graduated, I taught visual arts, art history, and STEAM for thirteen years as an art educator. I am currently working on a new painting art series, and I am excited to pursue studies in art therapy and counseling. Some of my other artistic endeavors are printmaking, ceramics, photography, illustrations, and murals. Over the years I have had the honor of participating in group exhibitions in Miami, Orlando, and Puerto Rico. My painting, Coming Through, was shown at the gallery exhibit at the Miami Children’s Museum in 2016. You can also find my work published in The Poetry Society book, Claridad newspaper (PR), Primera Hora newspaper (PR), Voyage MIA Magazine and Shoutout Miami Magazine. My art book, Coloring with Purpose: Creative Therapy for The Soul is now available on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I feel that I served my purpose as an art educator for thirteen years and it is now time for me to move on and pursue other things that I am passionate about.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me to recognize when it is time to let go and grow. Success can be blinding and make you forget past struggles. Nothing can be more eye-opening than failure, it forces you to face different perspectives.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
An ongoing project I am committed to no matter how long it takes would be to share my art with the world through different mediums. God willing, I feel as long as I live, I will create art. I may improve my style and message, but I cannot help but continue to be creative.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am creating and feel connected to the source. Some people describe it as “being in the zone”, it is a spiritual experience. However, if I try to force the creative process, I will feel frustrated instead of peaceful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nicole-cabrera.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolemarieart80/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-marie-cabrera/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090831092221
- Other: https://a.co/d/gC7890B
