Artist Interview: Nina Irwin
Within the ‘Artist Interview’ series the Art Society has met with a variety of different student artists over the current semester, hailing from around the world and working across a wide span of mediums. Our hope with this interview series is to connect with artists around town, take a closer look at the work they are creating, talk about what they think about art and where they see themselves (and their art) going after graduation.
The Art Society’s next interview with artist Nina Irwin explores one such path our past and future student interviewees may go down.
Nina Irwin is a professional artist with work shown in collections regionally, nationally and globally.
Before her artwork was showcased Nina was a student who- like us many of us- explored a variety of academic disciplines. Her academic exploration led her to Studio Art. Nina’s devotion to the study of art earned her a B.A. in Studio Art and Masters level studies in Art History. In her present creative process Nina incorporates that which she learned in her Studio Art and Art History courses with the experiences she had while traveling to create semi-abstract landscapes which capture the ephemeral beauty of the places she has visited or studied.
Talking about her art Nina states-
“I strive to convey, through my paintings and sculptures, the actual feelings of a place- much more than its physical characteristics. Here, the painting suggests a place and feeling - which is expanded through texture and color. I want to transport the viewer to another place and time.”
When creating in her studio Nina engages with a variety of artistic techniques: Nina paints on a variety of canvas sizes with oils, water colors and inks, she sculpts and makes prints utilizing a mono-print technology of her own invention.
Alongside her studio work Nina teaches art and art history courses in her West Bottoms Studio in Kansas City, Missouri and at Kansas City’s largest art museum, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
The Art Society’s interview with Nina Irwin demonstrates not only a devoted artist’s ability to pursue art professionally, but speaks to the breadth of the artistic community. As- though we all engage with art in differing ways, in differing spaces, at different times, we are all artists.
We hope you are as inspired as we are by Nina’s story and artwork.
- Chandler Rawson, Website Coordinator of the Art Society.
. . . . . . . . . .
Chandler: How long have you been creating art?
Nina: I have been making little art pieces for as long as I can remember. I started by drawing little faces on sticks to carry around outdoors as friends when I was about 4 years old! This graduated to creating a tiny Nativity scene with tiny cut out pieces of paper as characters carefully glued inside a walnut shell for my dad for Christmas. It is still in his top drawer (my father passed away in 1998). I continued to draw on all surfaces (notebooks, old paper, phone books) and create little objects throughout childhood, but I did not take any art classes in school. I did not think of myself as an artist. My mother was the "artist" of the family!
C: Has the methodology behind your artistic process changed over the years?
N: That's a great question! Now that I think of it - no. I like to experiment. I think that is the part of work as an artist that keeps me coming back. I love surprises. I constantly experiment with new materials (expensive habit!) and new processes. My best work springs from hours of just "goofing around" with my materials. A lot of junk happens and then I see a piece of "junk" that I want to work with more. I end up developing a great and skilled work out of it. This is true for both my painting and ceramic work. I have to spend time enjoying "play" so that I can reach inside my joy and create something new and interesting.
C: Is there a natural scene from your travels which you find particularly inspiring?
N: Although I absolutely love to take trips and travel across the world, I always "travel" weekly. I spend a lot of time outdoors, year-round, taking hikes in new, interesting places. The endless textures of grasses, fields, rocky glades, river edges, forest floors, meadows and long dirt roads are endlessly inspiring. I love Missouri, in particular. It is my favorite state. No mountains, no ocean, but so many beautiful terrains and space to breathe.
Nina Irwin, Temple Painting.
Nina’s Temple Painting is one of many situated in a large sequence of temple-inspired artworks. To check out her other temple pieces click here.
C: Is there a particular medium you feel most at home with?
N: I do particularly love watercolor. I think the transparency is so beautiful, intriguing - and I like the chance happenings. Water is my collaborator and I have to respect water's thoughtful and striking contribution to the work!
C: What are you working on now?
N: I have a large commission of four panels which make a mural-like painting. It is for a really beautiful condominium on the Plaza. The large work is based on one of my miniature paintings - which is kind of funny. This commission is probably easier to complete than my mind is making it... ;-)
C: In the past you have created pieces which are inspired by your musical background- What have you been listening to lately? And have resonances of this music infiltrated your most recent creations?
N: Another great question! I have a strange practice about music and painting. Although music inspires my work greatly, I can not have music on usually when I am painting. It is just way too distracting and I have to really concentrate when I paint. But, I do have a huge exception to that rule. If a certain song hits me at the time of my work - especially if I am working on a large, difficult, painting - I will listen to that one song over and over and over until the painting is done. Recently, I discovered a version of “Sentimental Lady” from an old Fleetwood Mac record [click here for a listen]. It was just so beautiful and complex, sad and romantic. I played it probably 200 times non-stop for a few days while I painted my large landscape from start to finish. I never got sick of it! I'm weird. The music is like a chant that helps me, pushes me to finish my painting. I'm sure it informs colors and shapes - and overall mood, too.
For more on Nina’s relationship with art and music check out here blog post, “Painting Inspired by Music,’ look here.
C: Did the transition from creating art in an academic environment to creating art professionally affect your creative process?
N: I did not really ever transition out of my academic environment! My college experience was just as much about art history as it was studio art. I was constantly researching topics, artists, paintings - writing long papers for my art history classes. I loved it so much that I continued to research, write and learn about art history. I do it almost every day.
It ends up tying my present work to the past - to the history of art and artists. I am so grateful for this. I feel like I am part of a huge tradition of painting throughout history - and feel connected to all of these heroes I have loved from my millions of museum visits. I connect to the talented human beings who created the wondrous, magical drawings on the cave walls of Lascaux! I feel part of traditions that changed the world, like the shocking, sparkling optics of Impressionism. These artists throughout history continue to inspire me and challenge me to create something personal, something new.
Nina Irwin, Landscape.
To explore Nina’s other landscape works, click here.
C: What advice would you give to your 21-year old self? Or, more specifically- what advice do you have for aspiring artists?
N: I am tempted to advise my 21-year old self to not be afraid - to just make the damn work no matter what is (seemingly) at stake! Yet, just like the difficulty of working through a large painting, and the struggle that actually ends up bringing out originality and beauty - I think my struggles with fear and perfectionism have helped me to stay alive in my work. I think there is a balance to be struck. Never get too comfortable. If you are too comfortable, you are probably not stretching yourself enough! But also I would advise aspiring artists to always be generous. GIVE. Generosity is more fun and it also gives you special powers!!
C: What areas of art or art history are you most excited to explore next?
N: Ooh! That is a great question and it makes me want to blow off my work today and go to the museum!! LOL. I want to explore more of the writing, themes and gorgeous paintings of the Pre-Raphaelites. This 19th-Century group of painters, poets and art critics wanted to return to the "abundant detail, intense colors and complex compositions of Quattrocento Italian art." Our crazy, digital culture makes me want to escape into a world that takes time, has deep meaning and embraces quality over quantity. :-)
. . . . . . . . . .
Thank you Nina, for taking the time to give such inciteful, care-filled responces to all of the Art Society’s questions- it is greatly appreciated.
Below you will find a gallery of selected works by Nina, videos of her creative process, recent interviews and links to her website / socials:
There are artists who pop onto the scene before they’re barely old enough to vote. And there are others who come to it late in life. And then there’s Nina Irwin, who for much of her adult life managed to make a living from doing graphic design work and other art assignments. Four years ago, after a trip to England to work on her Master’s Degree in art history, she decided it was time to “go for it” as a painter. It didn’t take long for her layered, dreamlike paintings and ceramics to be warmly embraced by art critics and buyers. Irwin’s exhibition runs through February 25 at Weinberger Fine Art in the Crossroads.
KCPT, Kansas City, Public Television 19, Inc.
The award winning short documentary "Nina Irwin - Visual Artist" 3rd place winner of the 2015 "Every Picture Tells a Story" film festival in Kansas City, Missouri. We hope you enjoy!
Follow the links below to check out Nina’s Facebook, Instagram and website.