Artist's Statement
Animals have always been a big part of my life and I care deeply about their welfare and conserving their habitat. I hope to convey the beauty, innocence, strength, grace and sometimes humor in each subject I paint. In August of 2017, I decided I wanted to accomplish some good with my art and after spending hours of research I found a charity that fit how I feel animals should be cared for. I'm very happy to announce that I will donate 10% of the sale price of every original piece sold to the Animal Welfare Institute. They do a lot of good work and I'm thrilled that every piece of art I create has the potential to not only beautify your home or business, but also to protect the animals that are portrayed on my canvas or paper.
I will still create a few landscapes and still life from time to time but for now my primary focus will be on my true passion, creating animal portraits and hopefully capturing a bit of their personality in each piece I make.
About The Artist
Nicole Belval is a self taught artist with a primary focus on animal portraiture and nature scenes. Nicole has always had a great love of animals and strives to show this love in her work.
She started her artistic career in 2015 with acrylic painting, in 2016 she added pastel and mixed media to her work. She also works in watercolor and colored pencil on occasion. Her artwork has been sold locally and throughout the United States, and has been donated to local charities and fund raising events. She is an active member of the Monadnock Area Artists Association, as well as the Saxton's River Art Guild and the Center for the Arts in NH.
Born in Fitzwilliam, NH in 1978, Nicole started drawing animals as soon as she was able to hold a crayon. Her grandfather oil painted landscapes for many years and Nicole would sit and watch mesmerized as he created his masterpieces. Her mother also has a natural ability for sketching and painting.
Nicole currently enjoys her creative life in East Swanzey, NH with her husband, two daughters, goats, chickens, a conure, assorted reptiles and many fish. She feels very blessed by God for her natural artistic abilities and aims to bring joy and a greater appreciation for the beauty in the natural world with her artwork.
You can see more of Nicole's artwork in person at the MAAA Art Gallery at Syd's in Keene, NH, annually at the Keene Art Walk in June, the MAAA Art in the Park, Keene, NH in September and at the SRAG Fall Arts Festival in October, Walpole, NH. Nicole also frequently exhibits her work in a variety of local businesses.
