Today we’d like to introduce you to Nerissa Balland.
Nerissa, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
My cancer diagnosis awakened my soul and rekindled my neglected love affair with art. Art has a way of healing. I now use it to inspire viewers to listen to their voice within that is eager to be heard. I have many roles in life. I’m a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, artist and cancer survivor.
In August 2016, I was five months pregnant, working from home while hiding from the Zika outbreak in Miami Beach. I was on a conference call when I received some news that changed my life indefinitely. I don’t remember much of the conversation; but, I do recall going into shock when I heard my biopsy result from a small mole located on my back was malignant.
Since that fateful day, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy, underwent cancer treatment, endured the return of cancer, which required new treatment, more surgery, and restaging to 3b Metastatic Melanoma. Not to mention during this time I became pregnant (shocking to me I was deemed infertile, and my boys were conceived via IVF).
Just seven weeks before my 40th birthday, I was faced with choosing my own life over the life of my unborn child. This was the hardest choice to make; it still stings to this day. I needed to remain healthy and alive for my husband, to raise my sons and to live my life.
As one might think, I definitely underwent an intense period of self-reflection. Not to mention the notion of “death” became very real. Months passed, healing was in effect, and my husband and I agreed I should quit my day job and take some time for myself. I reconnected with art and found myself in a place where I was finally able to create without the stress of being a starving artist. It brought and continues to bring me joy.
In 2002, after receiving my MFA from Pratt Institute, I silenced my dream of being a professional artist and took a more financially secure path that lead me down an 18 year-long career in marketing and design. It was Cancer that pushed me to dig deeper and discover what my heart wanted. It wasn’t until I was faced with my own mortality that I began to listen to myself and pursue my passion.
If you have silenced that little voice inside take a moment to listen to it. Life is short, time is priceless, enjoy it with whatever means possible.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My creative process is consistently evolving in order to maintain a balance of technique and “the unlearned.” Simultaneously, it unravels like an onion and taps into basic human desires for acceptance, love, and protection. I often explore how these desires are defined. I’m fascinated and comforted by boundaries, finding the loopholes, and then breaking the rules. My fine art consistently represents subject matter through many textures, layers, colors, and strokes that provide playful yet organized chaos.
While I use a variety of materials and processes in each series, my methodology is consistent. Although there may not always be material similarities between the different series, they are linked by recurring themes. The subject matter of each body of work drives my material selections and my approach.
My Empath Series is a spin-off of an older series deemed “Protection” (from 2014). Here I’m most interested in creating characters from the hamsa portraits. The portraits act less as protection symbols and serve more as visual symbols that are inspired from the five books of the Torah/ Old Testament. It is within each piece that I address themes and test them from the perspective of an empath. Empaths are hypersensitive people who experience a high level of compassion, consideration, and understanding towards others. Their intense empathy creates a tuning fork effect, wherein the empath seems to actually “feel” the emotions of the people around them.
My Soul Selfie Series is inspired from the Empath Series. They are illustrations that are digitally rendered and then printed. This spin-off of the Empath Series was intended to take the spiritual inspirations guided by the hamsa hand and question what you internally look like. Thus asking, “if you could take a picture of your soul what would it look like”?
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
To me, “success” is defined by being your best self. Which is a lot more difficult then it sounds. In order to be your best self, you need to be authentic in all that you create and the way that you approach life. When you are authentic and true to who you are as an artist and as a person, it will bring clarity on how to achieve what is best for you. Thus guiding you to know what you have to offer and who to offer it too.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Visit my official website at nerissaballand.art where you can buy direct, request commissioned art, shop online, sign-up for eNews, check-out upcoming exhibits, review my portfolio, and if you are in the Miami area schedule a studio visit!
In addition to my fine art I have a new accessory collection showcasing my Soul Selfies. In the meantime, be sure to connect with me on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook all just a click away when you visit nerissaballand.art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nerissaballand.art
- Email: nerissa@nerissaballand.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nerissaballandart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nerissaballandart
- Twitter: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChLNIYvZ3jE7kqbDBYxiZ7g
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nerissaballand
Image Credit:
© 2018 Nerissa Balland Art LLC
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