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Karla Nolan's inedible creations |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Wednesday, 14 June 2006 |
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Page 1 of 2 Click here to see a slide show of some of Karla's work.
 Equipped with measuring cups and spatulas, Karla Nolan concocts mouth-watering fruits and vegetables. But suppress that appetite — her creations aren’t edible. Her fresh, in-your-face foods come packaged in oils or pastels on canvas.
The Fort Collins artist frequently experiments by replacing paintbrushes with kitchen utensils.
“I fight with brushes,” she said. “I don’t like them. They muddy the color.”
Bell pepper reds, carrot oranges and lemon yellows inspire Nolan.
“Life is short, use color,” she said. And the Colorado native lives up to her motto, sometimes using up to 100 different shades in one painting.
Her chromatic artwork is on display at the Whole Foods’ patio in Fort Collins through Aug. 1.
 She has been known to frequent Whole Foods with her camera to take pictures of the produce. She uses the photos when she paints, but she incorporates her own
creativity at the same time.
“I’ve tried still life before, but it only lasted an hour and a half,” she said. “I’m not that patient.”
Her food of choice is artichokes because all of the colors that are found in them.
“And they are so fun to eat anyway,” she said.
Nolan, who is primarily self taught, got her start as an artist in 1990 with pressed flowers and eventually turned to painting.
“I’m cranky if I don’t create,” Nolan admits. “I keep the uglies, put them away, and every now and then pull them out to see my improvement.”
In addition to food, Nolan enjoys painting sunsets and flowers.
“Skies, especially at dusk, are really soothing,” she said.
Her paintings typically range from $225 to $25,000 and she is represented in several galleries.
She tells other aspiring artists not to expect to get rich, but if it’s in you, it’s in you.
“Taking classes periodically is a good idea, but so is experimenting,” she said. “I’ve never seen anyone else paint with kitchen utensils. Yes it is messy, but I’m not a tidy painter.”
SOME ROLE MODELS
- Her father, Al Koppel of Fort Collins ,who paints pastel and water color portraits.
- J.M.W. Turner for his skies.
- Edgar Degas because secretly she wanted to be a ballerina.
TO HER CREDIT
- 2003 Northern Colorado Artist Association “Paint the Town” first place award.
- 2004 Edgar Degas Pastel Award from the Colorado Coalition of Artist National fall show.
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