Nicole is an illustrator and freelance artist, offering art classes for both children and adults in her creek-side studio, surrounded by ferns and evergreens, on the outskirts of Seattle.
After many years as an Architect and then directing a Seattle Art Gallery, Nicole decided to focus on her passion to illustrating and teaching art around the world. Her work has a nature connection which shows her deep passion for the interconnected web of life nature has and how it is possible to live harmoniously with nature.
For Nicole, this lifelong journey with art began in childhood, where she spent countless hours pouring over children’s books in her mother’s book store and even more hours outside exploring the bugs, plants and critters she came across. She would often draw fun characters in detailed nature settings. From painting a mural on the wall of her childhood home, to building in her father’s workshop, Nicole’s parents fostered her love of creativity and today, Nicole enjoys helping others find their inspiration and artistic voice.
In her personal time, Nicole enjoys the wild of the Pacific Northwest with the company of her husband, 3 sweet kids, and the wide variety of pets they love, including dogs, cats, lizards, a turtle, frogs, a snake, goats, chickens, and fish. Every one of them provide a lot of creative inspiration and many are even wonderful models for animal life drawing workshops.
Nicole is an Active member of SCBWI, NAEA, Woodinville Chamber, and is on the board for the Woodinville Arts Alliance. She is an award winning Artist, volunteers with the local school district, and works with clients world-wide. Nicole enjoys being a judge for juried shows, speaking engagements and was a guest presenter for the 2018 NAEA (National Arts Education Association) national conference. Nicole has had several commissioned public art works. Most recently as a selected artist for the Peacepole project at Deyoung Park in Woodinville Washington. She was also selected in 2018, as the only artist to have a Peace Pole at Woodinville City Hall. In 2019, she and another artist were commissioned to paint a nature mural over 1,000 s.f in size along the Sammamish Valley trail.
"Creating art keeps your mind and hands busy,
so your heart can flow"
~Nicole Monahan
"I enjoyed my time with you Nicole....your gentle and unassuming spirit was fabulous and I thank you for it!"
~Joan