Nick Berry: The Color & The Shapes
After more than 50 years with a brush or palette knife in his hand, OKC artist Nick Berry still brims with enthusiasm for his craft. Though his influences range from French Impressionism to the expressionism of LeRoy Neiman, his love for vibrant color and joie de vivre remain constants. In our conversation, Berry discussed his creative process, his appreciation for OKC’s Howell Gallery, the new direction his art has taken since the pandemic and more.
When and how did your interest in art begin?
I was born in Oklahoma City in 1955. As far back as I can remember, I always had a passion for drawing. I remember in kindergarten, I enjoyed drawing vignettes of family members and sketching the big-finned cars of that time. In high school at the age of 15, under the direction of my art instructor at Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, I painted my first serious painting. It was painted with Dutch Boy wall paint. My art instructor, Walter Wilson, recognized my love of painting, and gave me the keys to the art room. He told me, “You can work in here during off hours as long as you turn off the lights and lock up before you leave.” He, together with Gloria Schumann (a prominent portrait artist who painted my portrait during that same year) and my Christian faith, have been the three inspirations in forming my artistic career.
Tell us about your creative process; what is the part you enjoy the most?
I enjoy all of it! When I paint from my photography, I think of my camera (my iPhone) as a sketch pad. I love the photography process. The joy of finding new, spontaneous and candid scenes when I travel is very exciting. I am constantly photographing to find inspiration. My goal is not to copy a photograph or a live scene, but to interpret it. When I am lucky enough to set up my easel on location to paint en plein air, my inspiration comes to me automatically. There is nothing like a beautiful scene to make me want to paint. I love to dive in headfirst and get to work.
Traveling is the central part of your work — what inspires you the most about traveling?
Traveling offers me a new painting experience every time. These trips can be similar to drilling an oil well: Some art trips can produce photography that I can work from for many years like a good well, or another trip can be like a dry hole or produce very little.
My paintings are my scrapbook; each one has a story to tell. Each one depicts a memory.
I love new scenery, architecture, landscaping and the native people that I visit. I have learned as long as I understand I am a guest, wherever I go whether it be the United States, Canada, Europe or Central America, I will be treated as a friend. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to paint scenes from these different places, and I hope my work gives the viewer as much pleasure as I have received in painting it.
How would you describe your work?
My work is very emotional. I want it to reflect my faith and my love of life. I have been called a colorist, impressionist and a realist. I begin my painting by sketching with a small brush using oil paint. This is followed by using a palate knife and small brushes to apply bright and bold oil paint to the canvas. I want my viewer to be enlightened and inspired by my work.
When COVID hit, I wanted to do something different. I started painting what I thought of as representational abstracts. I saw a painting by Hans Hofmann, and that inspired me to paint a new series of contemporary paintings. I am now doing both styles, and am enjoying doing them equally. It is fun being able to diversify my art.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
My work is influenced by my Christian faith. Portrait artist Gloria Schumann taught me the importance of faith in God combined with one's individual talents [which] creates personal direction. Watching her work while I sat for a portrait study, she taught me a lifetime of knowledge that I will always cherish. I admired her work immensely and considered her my mentor. She taught me my current philosophy, “An artist achieves through his soul and the soul achieves through faith.” In the 1970s and ’80s I was influenced by the brilliant colors and expressive style used by LeRoy Neiman and Nicola Simbari. The French Impressionists were definitely an influence, with Renoir and Monet being at the top of the list.
I have been fortunate to be a part of the Howell Gallery. Linda and Ken Howell and their daughters, Laura and Leigh, have promoted my work and have given me moral support and friendship since 1989. The opportunity to show in their beautiful gallery for 33 years has been a highlight in my life.