Nika Leverette is a self taught and Full-time Internationally Collected Multidisciplinary Artist who has been an active member of the BGC community since 2020! She’s truly mastered the art of fluid art and we are honored to have Nika as this week’s Makers Spotlight!
How long have you been crafting and what inspired you to get started?
I have been an artist for almost two years. I worked in corporate America and I was always creating new things for the job I held because I just never felt challenged. I used crafting as a way to blow off steam and ended up really loving it.
Who currently inspires your creativity and why?
Anything and everything inspires me. I allow myself to be inspired by everything. My biggest inspiration is nature and bodies of water. There are so many natural patterns and color combinations in the world. It’s hard to not be inspired by the things we see.
If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting out, what would it be?
Do it scared. Lol so many of us hold out on trying new techniques because we’re afraid but you have to do it while you’re afraid. A Gazelle runs from a lion scared…we gotta have the same mindset when it comes to chasing our dreams.
What do you love most about Black Girls Craft?
When I first began sharing my art with the world I added these FB groups but no one looked like me. Like the bigger names, you see in the online DIY world weren’t relatable. I saw myself in the people in this group and it honestly made me feel like I could be just as big if not bigger than some of those bigger names. It made it feel like it was attainable.
Walk us through the step-by-step process you went through to get to where you are today?
Ohhh lord. Lol, y’all got all day? I’m kidding. I simply recorded my process and was my authentic self while doing it. I have a background in teaching both children and adults so I used those skills to engage both of those audiences. I saw every piece I recorded as an opportunity for my work. Like by cause and effect, if I put this video out, someone will want to purchase, request a custom piece, or learn what I’m doing…and if not I still get to create, which is what I love doing anyway.
How long did it take you to master your craft and what advice if any do you have for newbies?
Do it scared. Lol so many of us hold out on trying new techniques because we’re afraid but you have to do it while you’re afraid. A Gazelle runs from a lion scared…we gotta have the same mindset when it comes to chasing our dreams.
Connect with Nika:
nikaleverett.com
@nikaleverett