Meet Nick Anderson | Muralist and Fine Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick Anderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nick, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
A quote that keeps me going is my university’s motto from Pratt Institute: Be true to your work, and your work will be true to you. I often wonder why I redo designs or paint over artwork that seems good enough to an untrained audience. Until I think of that quote. I realized early on that I not only create to make clients/people happy but also to make myself happy. I realized I can’t settle for a product that isn’t my best.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started my business after getting let go from my job as a graphic designer. I had just broken my non dominant arm and I was trying very hard to stay positive and keep my job. However, I didn’t enjoy the work or the company and decided to just move on. I had always decided I was going to enjoy my retirement painting the days away and took this life changing event as a sign to start then and now. I even started right then painting in my cast holding paint brushes with my pinky. Since then, balancing my means of income versus my passions has always been a struggle but I’ve had a mural project ever since I started and sold 11 paintings last year. Life is good and getting better. I like to think what sets me apart from other artists is the level of detail and unwillingness to settle on something imperfect. Leonardo Da Vinci said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned,” and I like to think I push the boundary on that.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my favorite things to do for friends and family is give them art tours at the DMA. They have a great permanent collection that is set up to experience art history from primitivism all the way to modern day. It’s always fun to see their faces at the end of the exhibit when I explain how art started primitive, became photorealistic, and then looked primitive again. It really begs a lot of questions about human existence but also explains why modern art looks the way it does.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I always like to take time and recognize the Deep Ellum Foundation who jumpstarted my career. I happened to be a featured artist for Deep Ellum Open Studios public art program where I was prompted to complete a mural in front of a live audience. After I had finished that mural in under 24 hours(something I had not considered possible) I decided I was pretty good at spray painting. I decided to pursue a career in it. Not only has the foundation recruited me for great projects but they always do a great job beautifying the neighborhood with thoughtful and important art. Having lived in Brooklyn a few years I always loved hanging out in Deep Ellum and having a few murals there really makes it feel like home.

Website: http://nickdesignthis.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickpaintsthis/?hl=en

Other: Instagram: @nickpaintsthis https://www.instagram.com/nickpaintsthis/?hl=en Tik Tok: @2paint2furiuos https://www.tiktok.com/@2paint2furious?lang=en