THE ARTIST ~ Nancy Villere

Compelled by art for most of her life, Nancy Villere of Villere Design has taken her prowess in professional photography to a place of transcendence with her most recent collection of paintings. Her expertise in capturing the female form with a flash has allowed this artist to acutely depict deeply personal renderings of the woman’s body in her debut compilation of Figurative paintings.

The artist’s personal connection to this particular body of work is a true testament to her devotion to art in every genre as one of the most powerful forms of self-expression and human exploration. 10+ years later Villere is still creating. From expressive figures to abstracts influenced by her wild, natural surroundings.

A free-spirited, Southern California native with an admirable appreciation for life, Villere has spent much of her successful career focused on capturing inner and outer beauty by providing professional boudoir and commercial photography services through her company Crush Photo Studios. She also shoots magazine covers and fashion editorial spreads for local and national publications, gaining an innate ability to depict the unexpected beauty in each and every subject that comes through her studio. Translating these often-therapeutic experiences from one medium to the next seemed serendipitous and natural to this passionate artist.

“I’ve had so many years of looking at light through a lens, understanding that if you can identify and portray light, you can give shape to anything.” ~ Nancy Villere of Villere Design

THE PROCESS

Her instinctual technique for using light and shadow to create three-dimensional images has allowed Villere’s aesthetic to thrive and mature throughout her 20-year journey as a painter and photographer. During a brief residence at an underground photography studio in Laguna Canyon back in the ‘90s, Villere found herself being asked to enroll at the Laguna College of Art + Design where she studied fine arts, gained experience in art documentation by combining her expertise in photography with her new found passion for painting and equipped herself with the fundamentals for translating her brilliant photographs into drawings, paintings and sculptures. “The universe delivered,” Villere said of her experience at LCAD. But, perpetually inspired to deviate from her coursework’s focus on classic realism, Villere’s talent truly flourished when she allowed her approach to come from a more experiential and personal place.

 “I can’t have a pre-conceived idea when I sit down to paint. I do a mini meditation. I close my eyes and imagine the colors taking form in the palette I feel I want to express. Sometimes I can’t complete the process in one session, so I’ll do different canvases for each inspiration, layering until each piece is whole, complete and perfect.” ~ Nancy Villere of Villere Design

As an artist, Villere constantly challenges herself to use non-traditional elements and mediums to allow them to perform beyond their intended use, appreciating their diverse reactions on the canvas. She paints with acrylics, pastels, watercolors, charcoal and spray paint, but she also mixes in materials like alcohol, wood stain, tape and other chemicals to create applications, which result in her moving, avant-garde art pieces. The artist’s intention is for her audience to feel or experience a connection to her pieces in some way.

INSIDE THE STUDIO

Villere’s aspiration to reach a “Zen” level of letting go is at the root of attribution for her unique talent. With these paintings, she has allowed herself to accept her artistic downloads thusly providing a gateway to fulfillment for this artist.

“There’s no better thing than when you feel whole, complete and perfect. It is such a sweet space to exist in, and when I’m painting, that is what’s present. I want to share that with everyone through my paintings.”~ Nancy Villere of Villere Design

Invariably experimenting with a variety of mediums and formats, Villere has truly begun to revel in playing with new painting techniques which can be seen in five, new categorical collections, including Figurative, Graffiti Art, Dessert, Abstracts, and Still Life. Her artwork can be viewed and purchased at her ongoing participation in the Sawdust Art Festival every summer between July and September and all year long by contacting the artist. .