“Sunflowers with Blue” by Nick Brakel.
“Sunflowers II” by Nick Brakel.
Close up detail of gouache, crayon and watercolor.
Q: What is gouache painting, you ask?
A: Gouache, a painting technique in which an opaque white pigment is added to watercolors to produce opacity. In gouache painting the color lies on the surface of the paper, forming a continuous layer. A gouache is characterized by a directly reflecting brilliance. A painting technique of great antiquity, gouache was used by the Egyptians. It possesses unique material qualities that make it unlike any other type of paint. One of the easiest mediums to work with, it is also considered by many painters to be the most complicated to master. Contemporary painters use gouache alone or in combination with watercolor and other mediums. –Encyclopedia Britannica
Nick Brakel Artist Statement
Early on in my painting career, I was immersed in landscape painting. I was learning all I could about Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, and other expressionist painters, while traversing up and down the shores of Lake Superior with paints and canvases. I spent as much time as I could out in nature painting.
I have been fortunate to show work at Fairweather House and Gallery for 5 years now. Much of that work delved into my work as a printmaker. After finishing my BFA from the University of Wisconsin Superior, I was in the PAN Emerging Printmakers Residency and an intern at Atelier Meridian Printmaking Studio in Portland for several years.
I learned a lot, and primarily focused on collagraphs, linocuts and monotypes while there. The subject matter was often still nature based, but more focused on the creatures inhabiting the natural world with collagraphs of birds, swirling linocuts of ocean creatures, often with an emphasis on climate change’s possible effect on these creatures.
Artist Statement 2018
“My life had a big change recently. I received a serious concussion while working in June 2016. This created many visual difficulties for me, and I had to undergo extensive vision therapy to train my eyes how to draw again.
When faced with a challenge of this magnitude, I returned to my painting roots, and once again began landscape painting. First drawing gesture drawings, and improving and improving until I was eventually painting mixed media watercolor paintings of the land around me. I would utilize watercolor crayons, watercolor, gouache and pencil in forming these landscape paintings and floral still life. This has proven to be a great release and is something that I intend to continue for the near future.” —Nick Brakel
“Nick Brakel enthusiastically re-imagined his art practice recently, initiating art work using a combination of gouache, crayon and watercolor. Fairweather House and Gallery has been honored to represent Nick Brakel throughout his art journey . ” D. Fairweather, gallerist
Q: Where in the world is Mt. Hood, you ask?
A: Mount Hood is the highest peak (11,239 feet) in Oregon and the fourth highest peak in the Cascade Range, 45 miles east-southeast of Portland. For more info. go to http://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Hood
Q: Where in the world is Sauvie Island, you ask?
To read more about the artist, please visit:
Nick Brakel | https://www.fairweatherhouseandgallery.com
https://fairweatherhouseandgallery.wpcomstaging.com/tag/nick-brakel/
The GUYS TAKE OVER Art Walk. September 7, 2013. The lineup: guys who matter. the guys take over. Marc Ward, activist/scientist; Michael Wing, emerging artist; Nick Brakel, artist/print maker; Jan Shield, art professor; Paul Brent, nationally recognized artist, with Neal Maine, NW naturalist/photographer…
Seaside’s First Saturday Art Walk – Seaside Oregon
Aug 5, 2017 – FINDINGS, will be the 11th annual emerging artist exhibition in the gallery and will include former emerging artists Britney Drumheller, Nick Brakel, Linda Trexler, Diane Copenhaver, Gayle H. Seely, Kristin Qian and Rebecca Gore. Seaside nature photographer, ecologist …
“A Pelican Insists There Still is a Heart” by Nick Brakel.
Seaside Art Walk celebrates history as well as creativity – Seaside …
http://www.dailyastorian.com/SS/…/seaside-art-walk-celebrates-history-as-well-as-creativity
Sep 5, 2014 – A pelican that insists there still is a heart, created by Nick Brakel will be on display at Fairweather House during the First Saturday Art Walk in Seaside Sept. 6. The Seaside First Saturday Art Walk Sept. 6 completes its 10th anniversary and continues its celebration of the 100th anniversary of the …
Nick Brakel, artist, spoke during the opening reception for Observing Botany at the Fairweather House and Gallery for the April Seaside First Saturday Art Walk.
Grace note received:
I just wanted to write and thank you for the nice hand written note you sent. I think the show turned out well, and it was important to me personally to be a part of it. Thanks, Nick Brakel
