Nino Yuniardi: An Exploration of Color, Food & Connection
Seattle-based Artist Nino Yuniardi draws upon his love for color, food, and human connection in his abstract paintings. With titles such as, “Spinach Curry with Strawberry Jam,” Nino’s work exudes a sense of playfulness and familiarity. In addition to his work as a painter, Nino is the founder of Spice Art Club, a safe space for artists to engage in meaningful conversation surrounding art and creativity.
How did your creative journey begin?
I love making things for the fun of it. I love doodling, making kit toys, painting my shoes, my jeans, and sometimes my wall. As a teenager, I painted to express my feelings. My anger, my sadness, and happiness. It might sound strange as a teenage boy, but painting has helped me deal with all aspects of my life.
Maybe that's why I never let my art practice drift away even when I was busy building my career as a designer. Fast forward to 2022, my design career has helped me shape how I see my paintings and how I create my work. My creative journey is a culmination between my design and my art. It's always going to be an intersection and a combination of the two worlds. It's only the beginning.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I love looking at design work. Especially graphic design from posters, lettering, and packaging to software design. I also love food, paints, colors, and human connection. I use these ingredients in life to create something visual and tangible.
The essence of them is to invoke some sort of feelings and thoughts. I want them to think and feel something familiar but also foreign. Most of my work brings out a sense of joy and lightheartedness even if it was inspired by negative human behavior.
How has your work shifted and evolved over time?
I have explored many different mediums and expressions to find the right methods to express my thoughts and story. I started with oil paints creating landscapes, plants, and flower paintings in the past, then evolved into character and graphical expression using markers and acrylic paints. And eventually, I landed on mixed media with mostly acrylic paints, markers, and soft pastels. Abstract expressionism also felt aligned with how I create and how I express myself. The mix of materials and abstractions gave me a huge opportunity to play and experiment throughout my process. I think that what I love the most about how I create.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
I work incrementally throughout the day. As brief as 15 minutes to 45 minutes at a time. I work very organically, with less structure. I like to dig deep and be a child again and always think of myself as a little child with unapologetic curiosity. This mindset has helped me to gain a sense of play and exploration throughout the day.
I work with multiple pieces at a time with different sizes in order to gain a fresh perspective and renewed energy.
The growth comes from the feeling of gratitude toward my practice. Why and how I practice is the key to how I can continue creating without being burned out. My studio time is a marathon and it is a long-term way of living as a creator.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
Growing up feeling out of place was one of the experiences that drove me to paint. I paint to understand my world, to express and understand my feelings. It was a very therapeutic way to keep me mentally healthy. This simple realization becomes the foundation I carry to this day. I create to connect with myself and move me forward.
Tell us about Spice Art Club. What led you to create this space, and what do you hope to teach your students?
When I was about 11 years old, I taught my friend how to shoot 3-pointers and a layup on our school basketball court. As I watched him continue excelling on the court and helping us win school tournaments, it triggered something in me that I can't really explain other than the feeling of gratitude. This little experience of knowledge sharing feels aligned with what I wanted to do with my art.
Spice Art Club is a space where I share my experiences as a practicing artist and designer. Our community can see my behind-the-scenes, the good, bad, and the messy process. It's a safe space for all of us to ask questions, share points of view and celebrate our work together. I hope our community can learn how to be a practicing artists for a long time. There is no shortcut, only consistent practice. A lifestyle of the never-ending joy of learning and finding our true selves.
What are your future goals and aspirations?
I wish to continue working as an artist, honing my voice, experimenting, and continuing to evolve. I also want to continue growing my reach by sharing my knowledge, building an inspiring community, and lifting each other up. Because I want to be surrounded by artists full of gratitude.
Website: nino.studio
Instagram: @ninoyuniardi