Nancy Nichols Coffee Artist Transforms Coffee Into Art.
Coffee is my muse and has been my favorite painting medium for many years. It’s taste and the way it reacts when painted on watercolor paper keep my creative juices flowing. The familiar aroma become part of my coffee painting experience.
I have found an unexpected benefit from painting with coffee. Teaching others how to paint with coffee is one of the unexpected pleasures painting with coffee continues to give me. People are not afraid to paint with coffee because it isn’t paint. Over the years I have experienced the joy of seeing blocked individuals paint for the first time. As an artist I am able to encourage a comfortable creative path for beginners to follow.
As a ”Coffee Art Coach" I provide Workshops/Classes/Private Lessons.
Why I am a Coffee Artist?
Coffee is available just about anywhere in the world
It is easy to quickly learn how to paint with coffee.
Painting with coffee releases fears beginners have and offers new techniques for more experienced painters.
Great conversations develope while talking about the possibilities painting or drawing with coffee offer.
Coffee art is unique and people are fascinated by the idea of painting with it
What first inspired me to paint with coffee?
My coffee story picked up again about 30 years later. I needed a creative focus and thought I’d go back to my fun with coffee painting. I decided to focus on one color and coffee was the perfect color. The fascination for painting with coffee had grown in the community. Gradually the word got out - people were curious. Significant Life changing Events brought Coffee to Center Stage
Marin Coffee Roasters invited me to exhibt my coffee paintings with an artists reception.
At this time I designed and maintained the website for the San Anselmo Arts Commission. The commission began to advertise my “idea” and things took off.
I was approached by The Marin Independent Journal for an interview about Making Art with Coffee.
How did it all get started? I have been painting with espresso coffee for over ten years.
Years ago it came to my attention that many people loved looking at my coffee paintings but insisted they could not paint. It was my impression impression that they were afraid. They didn’t paint but loved coffee so I put the two together. I’ve been teaching coffee painting for several years. In workshops and private lessons people are able to let go and enjoy painting. People are not afraid to paint because they don’t think of coffee as paint.
I call Coffee Paint “user-friendly” and continue to witness blocked artists releasing their hidden creativity. It is satisfying to see people let go in a comfortable atmosphere and surprise themselves with their dorment talent and uncover coffee masterpieces.
My First Coffee Exhibit Experience inspired my Coffee Painting Elevator Speech
People are not afraid to paint with coffee because it is not paint.
In 1986 I was jumping in between art classes at College of Marin and working as a barista in a Coffee House in Fairfax, CA.
The caffeine buzz kicked in and I wanted to do more with coffee than just drink it. I started painting with coffee and loved seeing the new possibilities. The aroma, the color the unexpected results.
A 1986 assignment for my History of Modern Art paved the way for my coffee art.
In 2015 the Marin Independent Journal published a two page spread about how I was using coffee as a painting medium. I invite you to watch the video of the interview.
This was a big turning-point in my Art-Life. It lead the way to the Unexpected to Coffee Painting Workshops.
It was clear to me that people wanted more. I began giving free “how-to” demos in art stores and artists collectives. This led to teaching classes and workshops on how to paint with coffee. My unexpected joy was I also began to realize coffee painting unconsciously helped people get rid of their fear of painting blocks. People are afraid of paint but they are not afraid of coffee. I developed a passion for helping “stuck” people awaken to their unique self-expression. My audience and success grew and has continued for many years.
What are Stop Stories?
Painting with coffee breaks through long held personal fears about painting. I call these deeply ingrained fears Stop Stories and everyone who says “I can’t paint” has a stop story holding their creative expression hostage. People are not afraid to paint with coffee because it is not paint.
I heard a repeated dialogue with viewers and it grabbed my attention. I kept hearing "Oh, I wish I could do that." I began to think that they could paint. They were just too afraid. My next question always caught them off-guard. "Oh, do you paint?" and the immediate reply was always "No, I'm terrible or I can't even draw a straight line." My next question was "Do you drink coffee?" Followed by “Oh, yes, I love it." That was when I began to see the possibility of their own creativity being released. Once people realized that I was using "real" coffee to paint with a new possibility opened in their minds. I realized just about everyone has a “stop-story” and I was drawn to start my Coffee Painting Workshops
My personal Stop Story?
I grew up wanting to be an artist. In my first semester of college my art teacher told me that even though I was enthusiastic I should consider majoring in something else because I didn’t have what it would take. At the same time I had a sociology teacher who inspired me so much that I majored in sociology and became a social worker for the Alameda County Welfare Department. That job lasted awhile. Since then I’ve spent decades jumping in and out of artistic themed employment but I have never stopped pursuing my own creativity. Now I am seeing a full circle between my sociology major and my artistic passion. They seem to have found a common ground.
I work one-on-one with homebound or isolated older adults and seniors. Individuals benefitting from specialized company and connection. What I offer ranges between sincere companionship to engaging people to become aware of and enjoy their own inner resources. When appropriate I teach Painting With Coffee to release creative blocks. The therapeutic benefits from painting is a special touch love to see happen.