For the ones who feel deeply
Joy is a practice. Imperfection is beautiful. Wonder is everywhere—if you’re willing to look for it.
This is a space for slowing down, feeling more, and reconnecting with what matters.
Explore original artwork, read reflections on the creative life, or join a cozy community of curious souls. Everything here is designed to invite you into presence.
Click the links below to explore my art, writing, and community.
Portfolio
This portfolio is a window into how I see the world—through light, texture, emotion, and wonder. Each piece is less about perfection and more about presence. These paintings are invitations: to pause, to feel, to remember something beautiful you almost forgot.
About the artist
Nicole Simmons is a self-taught artist based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, whose work explores the tension what it means to be present—the beauty of lived experiences and also the discomfort they sometimes bring. Her paintings move between soft and soothing to bold and expressive, often capturing fleeting emotional states.Since she began painting in 2014, Nicole’s work has evolved into a deeply personal practice of noticing and distilling emotion into color, light, and form. She has been exhibiting since 2021, with participation in shows at the Art Association of Harrisburg and HIVE Artspace, and a solo exhibition at Wheel of Light Studio in 2022. Her work was most recently featured in the 10th issue of Circle Magazine in January 2024.Nicole is currently represented by Wheel of Light Studio in Halifax, PA.When she’s not painting, Nicole can be found hiking, meditating, reading fantasy novels, traveling, and spending time with her husband Isaac and their two beloved cats, Sylvester and Tibbers.
Artist's Statement
"My art is a practice in presence—an invitation to pause and feel what’s often overlooked. Through layered texture and intuitive color, I explore fleeting moments, emotions, and the beauty of the now. Each piece is a reflection of something I chose to notice and honor, a way of expressing life as it is."
Connect
Whether you have a question, a collaboration idea, or just want to say hi, I’d love to hear from you. Below you’ll find all the ways to stay in touch—email for direct inquiries, Ko-fi to collect my artwork, and social links to follow along.If you’re looking for something more personal, you can join my Discord community for cozy conversation and behind-the-scenes glimpses, or subscribe to my Substack, where I share reflections on art, presence, and the creative process.
Collecting Artwork
and Supporting the Artist
There are a few ways to support my art and bring a piece of it into your life. Every bit of support—big or small—helps keep this creative life going, and I’m so grateful for all of it.
Collect originals, prints, or downloads through my Ko-fi shop. I also occasionally put up freebies like wallpaper backgrounds, small prints, and other mystery drops for my supporters.
Buy me a cup of coffee (or a tube of paint ;)) on Ko-fi if you aren't ready to collect anything, but still want to support
Subscribe to my Substack (it's free)
Join my Discord community (also free)
Share my work
What's New
2025 has been a year of bold moves and creative shifts. In January, I left Facebook and Instagram to build a more intentional, sustainable space for my art—and my community. Since then, I’ve been reshaping how I share, connect, and create, moving toward platforms that feel more human and aligned. My art has evolved too. While I’ve long explored landscapes and winged things, I’ve recently fallen in love with abstracts—the texture, the emotion, the freedom. I’ve also been diving into creative writing, and I’m dreaming up ways to blend words and visuals into something beautifully new.Take a look around, connect on the platforms that resonate with you, and as always—thank you for being here.
New Artwork
"Joyful"
Acrylic on canvas, 2024
Created during a time when I felt disconnected from my creativity, Joyful was a breakthrough—born from mess, movement, and letting go. I stepped outside, tried techniques I don’t usually use, and let myself play. The bursts of orange and yellow reflect exactly what I felt while painting it: joy, freedom, and the return of something bright.
"Another Plain Day"
Acrylic on canvas, 2025
Another Plain Day is about noticing what we usually overlook—the rhythm of a quiet morning, the charm of uneven rooftops, the way light settles into familiar spaces. Painted on black canvas, its layered colors bring unexpected depth and richness to a rural, impressionistic landscape.
It’s a reminder that even the simplest days are worth paying attention to.
"Gaining Clarity"
Mixed media on canvas, 2024
Gaining Clarity is an abstract piece shaped entirely by presence. I worked on it slowly, layer by layer, only after meditating—curious to see how stillness might shift my creative process. The result was softer, less rigid, and more intuitive than my usual pace. This piece is a reflection of what can emerge when we quiet the noise and let clarity rise on its own terms.