I'm very honored to present "Resilience" to you all. This self-portrait has been in the works for almost a full year now. I painted it as a reminder that while I may be faced with dozens of obstacles and my mental health isn't always on point, that I am always in control of how I perceive my surroundings. I wanted to remind myself that color and happiness can be find wherever I look for them, and to look to the lighter side to allow it to heal my wounds. 

I've always perceived my inner light/soul/whatever as a lightbulb.

I'm not really sure why. Part of me thinks I just like the aesthetic of lightbulbs, but I think another part of me likes that they're more concrete than a floating orb of light. Writing "proof" in the filament was inspiration from a Paramore song of the same name. It's a song about having the confidence to believe your partner when they say that they love you, but I also saw it as a way of saying that I trust my own feelings and instincts to a point where I don't need external validation, and when I get it, I won't doubt it. As the song goes: "The only proof that I need is you."

"Resilience" and "Proof" will be shown and for sale in the art gallery at the Laurel Groove in Winchester, VA on August 26th. The Laurel Groove is a benefit concert for The Laurel Center, whose mission is to aid victims of sexual and domestic abuse. 

You can read a more in-depth explaination of "Resilience" here:  https://www.facebook.com/allisonnickensss/posts/10207650462659496

Hey everybody! 

Over the next few weeks I will be putting together a store page on my website where you will be able to order 11x17 prints of all of my paintings! Eventually I would even like to ship canvas prints. In the meantime I can deliver prints within an hour of Harrisonburg, VA. I will also be live painting in the art gallery at the Laurel Groove 2 on August 26th and Valley Fusion 2 on September 16th, which are both in Winchester, VA. There are also plans for stickers in the near future.

​Here are a couple pictures of me live painting this summer. Make sure you check out these other amazing artists! I hope everyone enjoys the rest of their summer :)