If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a thousand times my stylish friends, nothing makes a living space more personal, more expressive or more interesting than art. And one of my goals as a designer is to encourage clients to add more art into their lives. Art simply brings joy to a space.

We’ve met many talented artists over the years and thought it was high time to spread the word about these amazing souls. So, let’s get to it! Our first fabulous participant in our new ‘Meet the Artist’ feature is DC based muralist, Nicolette Capuano.

*Artwork: Nicolette Capuano for Arlington Home Interiors*

We worked with Nicolette earlier this year on a pair of stunning outdoor murals for a DC client. Everyone was thrilled with the results! Talk about elevating a space. We enjoyed working with Nicolette so much we wanted to learn more about how she got started, what inspires her and how she created such amazing murals. Here’s what she shared…

Can you tell us a little bit about your background? How did you start creating your art and how long have you been painting murals?

I’ve been a full-time artist and entrepreneur since the age of sixteen. As a child of custom-home-builder-parents, design meets entrepreneurship has always been "in the blood."

My business hinges on the bespoke process. It is my job to convey the spirit of my clients' vision. It's a very personal process and I love the versatility. I have had the pleasure to work with corporate clients, notable DC business figures, political personalities, professional sports players and agents, as well as many of DC's favorite restaurants.

Once a client called and said that she was sitting in her dining room (which I had painted about two years prior) drinking coffee and wanted to tell me how happy the room made her feel. She went on to say that she often went to the room as it had 'such a calming' effect. It is moments like this that remind me of my purpose...and I'm lucky...I get to make people happy.

I also have a strong belief in environmental feedback, or the newly coined term R.O.E. (Return on Environment). The spaces and places we work, live and encounter are powerful. They either feed or deplete us. It's real and it is our job as artists, designers, architects (etc.) to bring harmony to the world via aesthetics.

Do you have any particular artists who influence your work?

One of my earliest influences that I still love today would be Maxfield Parish. I am in awe that murals he created are still relevant today. They transport you to a place of wonder and beauty...they are peaceful and sensual and often comical at the same time. His "Old King Cole" mural, commissioned by John Jacob Astor IV, at the St Regis in NYC is a must anytime I visit.

Your large-scale murals are so impressive! Can you tell us a little bit about how you execute one? Are you using projection, or is it all freehand?

For an artist I am pretty “Type A”. My approach is very process oriented which helps the client visualize the final piece. After an initial consultation where inspiration images are presented, a digital rendering is produced to show the client a final product before painting begins. Hand painting then proceeds to the final, end product.

A number of techniques are used dependent on the subject matter and space in which they are being created. While there are many modern materials to help with efficiency, the art form itself has not changed much in the thousands of years it has been around.

I'm so impressed that you have an on-line store. Do you sell prints or is it all original work?

My entrepreneurial side had always wanted to launch an ecommerce side to my business. As my murals are a completely bespoke process, Abstract Art Nicolette allows a carte blanche approach to the smaller frame of reference (i.e. a canvas vs. a wall) and also allowed me to expand my client base to worldwide. The main goal of the line was to provide handmade pieces that could be custom ordered in specific sizes or colors. And I genuinely love being able to express my personal style with each piece.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not painting?

While I love art, I enjoy getting out of my work world as well. Having dinner with friends and family (I am one of 6 children and we are all very close), scouting new restaurants and being inspired by the design, the performing arts and staying active. Exercise has always been a daily practice in my life, it allows for decompression to offset the hectic days.

Visit Nicolette’s website to see more of her stunning work. We hope to be including more of it in our upcoming projects!

MEET THE ARTIST: NICOLETTE CAPUANO

DESIGNING ACROSS THE WORLD AND BACK