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NIZ - Stay real ruggen 'n raw
Niz was born in Lima, Peru. She moved to the United States at the age of four. At an early age she began her career as an artist working on murals, fliers and zines through out the San Francisco Bay Area.. A passion for graffiti, skateboarding, hip-hop, reggae, and punk rock led her to creating artwork on skateboards. Over the years she has worked on countless projects in various mediums on her own and other artists around the world.
La Famiglia- What inspired you to create art?
NIZ- I started creating art as a kid. It's something I was drawn to
do very young. I grew up watching my mom and dad draw
and paint a lot. So I guess that probably planted
seeds in my head too.
La Famiglia- Was there anybody that has been a mentor to you over the years?
NIZ- Everyone is a mentor to me. My mom
initially taught me some things and then I've had
mentors along the way...other graffitti artists,
airbrush artists and so on.
La Famiglia- How has your work evolved over the years?
NIZ- It's
always evolving. It started out as simple skateboard
graphics...paint pen and pencil...and now it's huge
pieces on plywood, walls, surfboards...canvas...and
elaborate multi-layered stencil pieces.
La Famiglia- What do you love about your work?
NIZ- That I never
know what's next.
La Famiglia- What has been the most memorable part of your career?
NIZ- Meeting other awesome talented people and
getting to travel.
La Famiglia- Who have you met because of your art that means the most to you?
NIZ- Female graffitti
artists...Siloette, Femme 9,Faith 47, Gloe1,Shiro,
Stef Skills, Muck, Pink, Alice Mizrachi, Too
Fly...those girls are off tha chain...I have yet to
meet a dope female stencil artist to collab with.
La Famiglia- Has there been any trials or tribulations through out your career that stick out in your mind?
NIZ- There's always trials and tribulations...getting
established...makin enough paper to support your
passion, being a female in the game, the whole
business aspect...being an artist and a business
woman...prioritizing things in life to make sure art
is number one...balancing.
La Famiglia- How did this change things?
NIZ- The longer you persist at something, the better you
get at it...the better you know how to handle
curveballs and repeat situations. I've gotten more and
more focused and more and more free to express what I
want on any medium with any color...The more serious I
became, the more seriously people took me...and it
keeps growing.
La Famiglia- Are there any specific artists that have inspired you?
NIZ- The list of lady writers above! Also, Banksy,
Alberto Vargas, Mucha, and shit I see up in cities
around the world.
La Famiglia- What would you like to do that you have not had the chance to?
NIZ- Travel around the world doing shows and more
collabs.
Never stop traveling and
painting...Flow a bowl or a ramp like woa...
Do crazy huge stencil pieces and more out there
skateboard art pieces...Design a series of team decks.
La Famiglia- What makes your work worth while?
NIZ- Its got charisma!
ha...It's original...It doesn't adhere to one
character or one style...It's always changing...ever
loving...ever evolving...media wise, surface wise,
complexity wise....and so on...
La Famiglia- When did you first get into skateboarding?
NIZ- When I was 15. My Dad bought me a deck.
La Famiglia- Do you listen to music while you work?
NIZ- Almost always.
La Famiglia- What do you enjoy listening to?
NIZ- Two words. MIXED TAPES. I love so
many genres of music...and that's ever changing
too...lately, I've been super into some California and
Detroit Soul...some Sharon Jones and the Dap
Kings...some Superfunkghettopowerhour!...but
sometimes I'll throw on some stuff like Hat Matter or
Ruby Sons or Misfits or 7 Seconds...or some crazy
hardcore shit like Earth Crisis...then theres always
Living Legends, Andre Nikatina,reggae...golden
oldies...I like to switch it up.
La Famiglia- What are your pet peeves about the art and skateboard industry?
NIZ- Hmmmm....art...I love art...but
I go through phases when I need to concentrate and be
by myself to paint or put
ideas down...but I don't
want to be by myself... I wanna go out and rage or
something...so sometimes and can get a rittre ronery!
Skateboard industry... I've steered away from getting
to involved in the "skateboard industry"... I work as
somewhat of an independent contractor and as a fine
artist...we're our own deal and I think generally like
to stay that way... Like I said before, I would love to
design a series of decks for a team like Satori or
Element or Creation or Mystery...but as far as delving
into the industry... I like stay somewhat on the fringe
and keep myself open to many things....not get all
boxed in... which is often what happens when you get
involved in an 'industry'... they start to dictate your
every move.... can't be havin that.
La Famiglia- What advice would you give to any aspiring artist?
NIZ- Stick with it....always stick with it...create every
day and persist. Stay real ruggen 'n raw. Annhialate.
Stay close to the things you love...and the things
that feed your soul. Be free.
LINKS:
www.nizgraphics.com
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