Via Brent Funderburk
Mississippi State University alumna Nicole Beck has received a top award in a national competition. Her oil painting, “Brooke,” was given the 1st Place Award in the Portrait/Figure (Student) category in the 35th Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition and appears in the December 2018 issue of Artists Magazine. From over 6,000 overall entries, (1,369 student entries) 486 were in the portrait category. “Brooke” was one of 15 top awards. The Artists Magazine editorial staff conducted the student judging.
In her magazine statement, Beck says of her winning artwork, “’Brooke’ (30” x 24”) is a part of a series of portraits exploring various female subjects in my family and of my acquaintances. By playing with color, shape and texture with the palette knife, I hoped to convey the individuality and soul of the subject. This piece represents a more fluid, intuitive development in my style because it forced confidence in mark-making and color choice.”
She completed the painting under the instruction of MSU’s William L. Giles Distinguished Professor Brent Funderburk, now a Professor Emeritus.
Originally from Memphis, Tennesse, Beck began her formal education at Mississippi State University, where she earned a minor in Art/Fine Art/Painting along with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology.
According to Beck, “While studying at MSU, I was blessed to sit under painting and drawing instructors in the Department of Art who continue to be an influence in my creative process.”
Later earning a nursing degree in Memphis, she began her private painting practice in Tennessee before moving to Colorado in 2015. While there, she was featured in two private gallery shows in Colorado Springs, as well as given opportunities for several group exhibits. Balancing her time between preparing for art exhibitions and her nursing career, she is currently working in San Francisco, Calif., as an artist and a travel NICU nurse.