This journal, and particularly this compassion and tenderness - our

issue, is all about Artists of inner storms, so that we can allow

Possibility - those who are able to clarity to subsequently arise. This
see beyond the veil of assumptions clarity can then allow us to access
that make up this paradigm?s our innate creativity and reignite
reality in order to peer into our inspiration for new
possibilities beyond. But what possibilities.
does an Artist of Possibility look
like during more difficult times? As Unfortunately, most of us tend to
we all know, especially given the judge ourselves or others when
major challenges that we?ve had to painful emotional waves hit,
face this year, life can get messy getting lost in the torment of
and the image of a Zen- like negative mental narratives that
meditator who is able to stay calm have been calcified over many
and graceful throughout adversity years. Moreover, if we have
may not always fit the bill. So, if experienced trauma in our past,
you are anything like me and tend these waves - and the mental
to berate yourself for not meeting stories that accompany them -
the standards of this image, let me can feel so intense that we fear
introduce a more comprehensive we may drown. To be able to let
definition of what it means to be such a storm pass requires an
an Artist of Possibility. In this amount of courage and faith that
article, I would like to introduce my is characteristic of an Artist of
vision of what an Artist of Possibility.
Possibility is, while taking into
Such an Artist will face these
account this incredibly beautiful -
storms, albeit imperfectly, in
yet often challenging - experience
order to come out the other side
that we call life.
with a renewed understanding of
I believe that an Artist of Possibility their ego?s mental patterns, a
is, first and foremost, able to heightened capacity for affect
recognize and allow difficult tolerance, an increased
emotional experiences to arise, compassion for the suffering of
without judgment. You see, others, and a renewed faith in life
without this capacity to allow and love.
ourselves to feel the emotional
For these reasons, it is my belief
waves that life throws our way -
that an Artist of Possibility is the
and that are interwoven with
epitome of bravery. Sure, jumping
strong patterns of mental
off a plane is scary, but try sitting
conditioning - we would not be
with your emotions when feeling
able to create any space for those
submerged by an inner tsunami of
waves to pass and for
pain!
insights/ understandings to arise.
Just like the sun comes out to It is important to remember that
light- up the ocean after a storm, being an Artist of Possibility is not
we also need to cultivate the all glitz and glamour. An Artist of
capacity to hold - with

11 - I SSU E# 3 THE ARTIST OF POSSIBILITY

Possibility faces multiple inner
battles alone, while holding
steadfast to that whisper in their
heart reminding them of their
inherent belonging and
interconnectedness with every
element of the universe. An Artist of
Possibility finds the humility and
self- compassion to get to know their
ego intimately, holding it with
tenderness and care, so that it may
gradually step aside to let Spirit lead
the way. An Artist of Possibility is
deeply human ? they are vulnerable,
messy, perfectly imperfect, and
beautifully inspiring.
An Artist of Possibility is you - on
your worst day and on your best day
? whether you are pushing yourself
to go for a walk during a particularly
difficult day, or whether you are
publishing your sixth book and just
booked an interview with Oprah.
An Artist of Possibility is you,
whether you have inspired one
person throughout your life or have
inspired millions.
An Artist of Possibility is you,
whether you are blessed with small
ripples of karmic habit, or struggle
with tsunamis of inner turmoil.
An Artist of Possibility is you, with
that sparkle in your eye, who
experiences the same Knowing as I
- the same call to trust and
surrender.
So to all of you reading, I hope that
you do not discount yourselves. This
journal, and this issue, is for you. Be
kind towards yourselves, always, so
as to allow the storms to pass and to
make space for the Artist in you to
bloom.

THE ARTIST OF POSSIBILITY I SSU E# 3 - 12

 AN INTERVIEW W ITH

NicoleBigar
by
JEFF CARREIRA

13 - I SSU E# 3 THE ARTIST OF POSSIBILITY

 I ntroduction
In the follow ing interview, I w ant to
introduce you to my dear friend Nicole
Bigar, w ho w as part of a famous group
of artists w ho pioneered the art style
that would later be know n as Abstract
Expressionism. Creative circles like
these occur periodically in human
history and give birth to new w ays of
seeing and expressing reality. These
extraordinary gatherings of genius have
been an inspiration to me my w hole life.

The first creative circle that inspired me

w as the largely literary circle of
American Transcendentalists that
gathered in the 1840?s and 50?s in and
around Concord, Massachusetts. I have
long been inspired by the profound
contribution that this relatively small
group of individuals made to the
advancement of American culture. The
central figure of American
Transcendentalism w as Ralph Waldo
Emerson and other prominent In East Hampton, NY, during the middle
members included: Henry David decades of the twentieth century,
Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel another famous circle of emergence
Haw thorne, Herman Melville and a developed; this time it w as a group of
young Louisa May Alcott. The members painters. None of them were well
of this group discussed, debated, know n at the time, but many became
argued, and supported each other revered names in the art world later
financially, emotionally, creatively, and including: Jackson Pollock, W illem de
spiritually. Kooning, Mark Rothko, Helen
Frankenthaler and Robert Motherwell.
Another creative circle that emerged in These painters were exploring
America w as the group of musicians spontaneous and free forms of artistic
that lived together in the Laurel Canyon expression, using color to share the
neighborhood of Los Angeles in the inner landscape of their feelings on
1960?s and 70?s. Joni Mitchell, Carole canvas. Their paintings created a
King, The Mamas and the Papas, creative revolution that left an indelible
Jackson Brow n,and the Eagles, are just a mark on the world of art.
few of the musical talents that
discovered a new sound in the Los I first met Nicole Bigar eight years or so
Angeles?suburbs and brought it to the ago. She struck me as a sophisticated
world. and lovely woman. I had know n that she

THE ARTIST OF POSSIBILITY I SSU E# 3 - 14

ISSUE#1-
 w as an artist, but w hen I first went to
her house and saw her works I w as truly
astounded. Her paintings are
magnificent. The canvases were stacked
against the w alls, and as I flipped
through them, I w as touched by the
beautiful and bold use of color and
form. She spent some time pointing out
some of the different periods she went
through and explaining the themes that
she w as exploring.
As I learned more about Nicole?s life, I
found out that she w as part of one of
the creative circles I most admired, the
Abstract Expressionists of East
Hampton, NY. I enjoyed speaking w ith
her about that time in her life and different experiences and learned
learning about the free- spirited numerous styles and techniques
exchange of ideas and inspiration that there. I think the painters w ho were
w as being shared. W hen we decided to working there, in the 60?s and 70?s,
dedicate an issue of The Artist of were mainly painting from their heart.
Possibility to The Expansion of the There w as a rhythm to their painting;
Possible, I knew that I would w ant to they added color and one thing
talk w ith Nicole to ask her about her would lead to the next.
experience w ith the Abstract
Expressionist painters, and to explore I would say that, for some of us,
her ow n relationship to art and w hat it painting w as like meditation. W hen
means to her. you start a painting, you give yourself
time to relax and empty your mind;
THE INTERVIEW and then you get into the sw ing and
you let go. If you were angry, you
Jeff: Hello Nicole. Can you start by telling
could put it all on the canvas. If you
us how you came to be an artist and
were happy, you could celebrate that
w hy you love art?
w ith very brilliant beautiful colors.
Nicole: W hen I came to America from
Jeff: How did all the painters w ho
France, I had never done any art before.
became know n as Abstract
But I went to a progressive school and
Expressionists end up in the
an art teacher there opened me up to
Hamptons?
art, and I became fascinated w ith
painting. Later on, after I w as married, I Nicole: They were all living in New
took a draw ing class and found out that York, renting places there. They were
it w as connected to Victor D?Amico, all quite poor in the early days and
w ho w as the director of the Museum of didn?t become famous until much
Modern Art in New York. I also found later on. They tended to hang out at
out that he w as teaching people to paint Cedar Bar on the eastern edge of
at the museum. I joined Victor?s group Greenw ich Village. At one point,
and, later, I took classes at the Art Barge someone heard that you could rent a
in East Hampton ? an art institute that house in the Hamptons and convert it
Victor had founded. The Art Barge w as into a studio w here you could work
wonderful. We explored so many in nature for much less than the price

15 - I SSU E# 3 THE ARTIST OF POSSIBILITY

of rent in the city. Many of them moved I spent some time w ith W illem de
out to East Hampton. Kooning and saw him paint. It w as
very beautiful. He had jars of color
Jeff: W ho were some of the artists w ho already prepared and, once he
moved out to the Hamptons? started, it w as like w atching a
moving meditation. It w as very
Nicole: Well, there w as W illem de beautiful.
Kooning and Jackson Pollock. There w as
Saul Steinberg w ho w as doing some Jeff: Were all of the painters around
draw ings for the New Yorker, and Tony East Hampton aw are that you were
Rosenthal w ho w as sculpting upside doing something radically different?
squares. Everyone w as doing something Were you aw are that you were
unusual. I remember once de Kooning doing a new kind of art?
asked me if I w anted to know his secret,
to w hich I answered, ?Thank you, I have Nicole: No, I don?t think so. I don?t
my ow n.? think we cared.

At some point I started to explore a new Jeff: You were just in love w ith art
w ay of painting. I would w ait until I and you were painting.
would feel a sudden urge to move, and I
would listen to music and sw ing. It w as Nicole: No one ever expected to
a new w ay of painting that came directly become famous.
from the heart. Still to this day, before I Jeff: It sounds like you were
start a painting, I sit for a long time and exploring free and spontaneous
empty my mind and w ait until I feel the expression ? you weren?t doing
urge to move. And then I start, and the representational painting, so you
first color refers to the next one and as weren?t taking something that you
the colors keep coming, I look for the had envisioned in your head and
vibrancy between them. Sometimes it reproducing it on canvas ? you
works and I get something wonderful, were in a creative, flow ing process.
but not alw ays. Sometimes it doesn?t You were allow ing yourself to be
work, and I just erase and start again. guided by the process itself.
Nicole: Yes, sometimes it w as as
though somebody w as holding your
hand, like a higher power.
Jeff :W ho do you think is painting
w hen that happens?
Nicole: A higher order. It doesn?t
alw ays happen, but w hen it does, it
is very exciting.
Jeff:This is w hy people devote their
life to art, for those times w hen you
feel yourself being moved by
something bigger than you.
Nicole: Yes. It?s very exciting.
Jeff: How long have you been
painting?

THE ARTIST OF POSSIBILITY I SSU E# 3 - 16

 Nicole: All my life, w hich has been a long life.
Jeff: And you?re still painting?
Nicole: Yes.
Jeff: Every day?
Nicole: Yes.
Jeff: You?re a true artist, compelled to paint every day.
Nicole: I need to. Yes. It?s w hat makes me happy. If I didn?t paint, I don?t know w hat
I?d do. I would be very lonely.
Jeff: W hat do you think art brings to the world?
Nicole :In this very difficult world, I think art brings joy and happiness .This is one of
the reasons w hy I paint. It?s a w ay of communicating. It?s an international language.

EPILOGUE
I finished this interview w ith one last question, ?Please tell us Nicole, w hat makes
you paint?? In response to that question, Nicole sent us the follow ing poem called A
Painter?s Journey.

17 - I SSU E# 3 THE ARTIST OF POSSIBILITY

 A PAINTER?S JOURNEY
by NICOLE BIGAR

What makesyou paint

An urge toexpressthe tilt of a tulip leaf
The Buddhasof Cambodia. The scent of Spring, Dancersin the fog,
A love of color.
The pleasure of juxtaposing one color next toanother and make them
sing. Rhythm.
The Peace bringsme toan abstract world
I dream of color
Painting makesme Happy. Fulfilled
AsNow in quarantine it givesme life
AsI studied with V D?Amico, I learned techniquestoexpressmyself
intoother expressions
I paint different subjects
I need toconquer an obstacle
Painting isanother way topractice. Takesme toanother sphere
Painting ismy way tobring a smile, joy tomy friends
Painting isa way tosurvive. Painting ismy gift tothe world

THE ARTIST OF POSSIBILITY I SSU E# 3 - 18