Artist of The Month: Nicole Rulff

By: Jiun Liao

I have been practicing and studying art for most of my life. I began when I was just an adolescent, inspired by my father and artists like Freeman Patterson, and armed with an old film camera passed down through the family and a sketchbook.  Over time, I came to value photography as a way to slow down and connect with the world around me, to find meaning and value in places and subjects that are often overlooked, and to remind myself of my own place in this world.  

My artwork strives to convey the feelings evoked from immersing ourselves in the natural world.  Whether these be feelings of deep belonging and serenity, or feelings of vulnerability and urgency; my goal through my art is to connect us all more deeply to our local environments by looking beyond the obvious and spectacular to the beauty and complexity in the unassuming.

I use technology sparingly in my photography in all stages, gradually acquiring new lenses over decades, and using minimal post-processing.  This has allowed me to focus my creative practice on seeing and capturing natural composition and design. My work tends towards abstract expressionism, striving to evoke the impression of a moment or subject rather than pure documentation.