Mrs. Nielsen, A Teacher and Full-Time Artist

By Grace Cleary

April 14, 2021

Mrs. Nielsen logs onto a Google Meet for our interview in a seemingly empty art classroom. She pulls out a piece of paper and tells me she is going to start doodling. She’s in a bright and cheery mood, as per usual, and is laughing along with me before the interview begins. She starts by telling me about her childhood and the creativity that seems to have always been encouraged in her household.

“We always had sketchbooks even when we were in probably first or second grade” she explained.

She also describes her childhood home as being “salon styled” which was “ceiling to floor just packed with work [artwork]” she says.

Mrs. Nielsen is one of the most interesting and wise people you will ever meet. She is a humanitarian with endless compassion and support for the people around her, yet she remains very direct and insightful with her candor. Her open-mindedness and attentiveness translate into her artwork and art style.

“There’s a big difference between doing something as a hobby and doing it because it helps you breathe,” she explains.

Nielsen also seems to love the human connection and emotional reaction art can bring, even with her own pieces. She explains how artwork can be more personable to people.

“A way a painting is different from a photo is that it gives that person the emotions back” she explains.

She labels her style of animal portraits she paints for commissions as “neo expressionistic.” She interestingly often tries to personify the animals she paints in her commissions.

“For me, it’s about seeing them [the animal] as a person, as the unique creature they are and the emotions of the owner and the emotions others associate with that ‘fur-baby,’” she says.

She also wants her art to have an impact on people’s lives and feelings when they see it, especially in her more personal one-of-a-kind paintings she does for commissions.

“When I do a commission, for me, it’s about having that person see that work and seeing what a difference it makes for them,” she says.

She is an expert in the art field, supporting local artists and art shows while also being a part of that community. She seems to be a very prolific figure in the Albany art scene, making 300 pieces of artwork a year and participating in 6 art shows a year.

“I got involved with that group in Albany called the Upstate Artist Guild, and they had a monthly juried show and they were always themed - oh my god I love that,” she says chuckling.

She then talks about how she became more immersed in the art community, she even seemed to secure a spot in almost all of the shows.

“I became a regular with them, where I knew my work would make it in. I knew my work was gonna sell, and it was kind of a really neat thing.”

Mrs. Nielsen then offers some advice to students wanting to go into the art field and find success as a working artist.

“The first thing is when you’re in high school or younger, you wanna draw and create as much as you can...if you try to make it as an artist in traditional fine art shows, you need to get as much knowledge as you can.”

She then follows up with some hard truths, “And the reality is- it’s hard. It’s really hard. You have to be able to get used to rejection and you have to get used to people talking about your artwork,” she says.

Ultimately her most important advice- “The way of making it as an artist is being persistent and working hard” she says.

Mrs. Nielsen’s wisdom and advice on these topics are constructive and helpful for those pursuing a career in art. She is a kind soul who genuinely wants the best for her students. She offers more than just her knowledge about art by also being a supportive figure in her students' lives. Everyone truly appreciates her here at Colonie.