For Artist Lily Nicholson, Nature is everything, and so is a silent kitchen
Artist Lily Nicholson grew up connected to the Land and was keenly aware of its gifts. It wasn't just for growing food - she found in it endless creative inspiration. On family trips she would draw maps of her experiences, especially those connected to Nature.
After attending art school far from home and often finding herself living off beans, she and her partner once again found themselves drawn back to Djiringanj / Yuin Land, where they live with their boys and where Lily has a home studio with extraordinary views of the bush.
"After the fires, there was a huge sense of relief and gratitude, an appreciation of the land"
On making art, she shares that she generally starts with sketches and simplifies things from there. Colour is also a vital part of Lily's work her work - "I really immerse myself in a colour, at the moment it's blue".
Lily’s home studio
A QUICK WHIP AROUND THE INGREDIENTS THAT MAKE UP LILY
PRONOUNS: She / Her
HOMETOWN: Djiringanj / Yuin Land, Tanja, NSW
JOB DESCRIPTION: Artist and teacher
After giving birth to her first baby, Dusty, she found that her practice slowed down and sped up in different creative ways. When Dusty was little, her whole world became about being home and being a Mum, so sketching him co-sleeping became a huge part of her imagery, "There were lots of maps of us sleeping and playing".
“I really immerse myself in a colour, at the moment it's blue”
Her favourite cooks are her group of mates who are all part of a text message chain called "Recipes for Uninspired Mums". What started as recipe sharing has become an important resource of support and sharing of stories for a group of women who love each other dearly but are rarely in the same place at the same time.
If you have small humans, we encourage you to make your own group!
Throughout our chat, we discuss navigating career choices, food and nourishment, Mothering, day-job-ing, COVID lockdowns, bushfires, money and more.
She tells us how to tear watercolour paper perfectly and how her Mum Eve's "Granny Cake" has been with her almost weekly for her whole life.
Join us to find out What Lily Nicholson Eats.
WHAT LILY NICHOLSON EATS
GRANNY CAKE
This is Lily's Mum Eve’s recipe. Eve was into raw food before it was cool.
Eve made this cake every week of Lily’s schooling life and it gives her a deep sense of home. Also described as “the hippie version of carrot cake”, some of the instructions are very specific, so take note and definitely use glass pans.
More tips and tricks in the interview.
Enjoy it with a cup of tea and your favourite humans.
HERE’S THE ART PIE WE MADE FOR LILY AND HER FAMILY
LINKS & MENTIONS
LINKS TO ARTIST INFORMATION, RESOURCES AND ANYTHING ELSE WE CHATTED ABOUT
INFORMATION AND TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR CHAT
Tips for working on paper:
use 300gsm paper
working with water you need to work on thick paper
NEVER CUT PAPER, tear up the edges instead
to tear paper properly: “the trick is to get a wet paintbrush and a metal ruler and you paint the line you want to tear first, and then you do it"
To support local artists in the Far South Coast area, check out:
Lily’s Local Loves
The Kalaru turn-off roadside market stall and Cowsnest Roadside Food Stall
Tilba Cheese Factory aka Tilba Real Dairy
Lily’s stunning work hanging in her home