Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikki Engel.
Nikki, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I guess you could say my story started about 3 years ago when I decided to leave my home. What started with a two-week surf trip 16 hours down south in Baja, Mexico ended up changing my life forever. About a week later I sold all of my belongings (even my quiver) and booked a one-way flight to Hawaii. It was exactly what I needed, and where I needed to be. I grounded, I rediscovered and I healed on that beautiful island. After about 6 months of Oahu, the day hit me when I knew it was time to keep moving my feet. As I was going to bed on that very same night I discovered a flight error on Skyscanner. A roundtrip ticket from LAX to New Zealand for $220?! I jumped out of bed and booked the flight.
But what was supposed to be a 2-month trip to New Zealand quickly turned into a plot twist of an adventure. New Zealand never happened. A six-hour delayed flight, led by a canceled flight at 4am, and finally followed by a completely different flight (and path) lead me to Bali, Indonesia for 2 months. Although, I didn’t stop there. I still felt the pull to put myself into something new, something uncomfortable and unknown. I purposely missed my flight back home. I spent the last of my pennies ($430.00, but who’s counting anyways?) on a Working Holiday visa in Australia, and hopped on a plane to live in a place I had never been, or seen. Byron, Bay Australia ended up being my home for the following entire year.
But who would have thought that living in a completely foreign country would’ve somehow lit a fire under my ass (can I say ass?) to start pursuing my deepest passions? I look back and think, ‘You moved to a different country, where you knew no one, and decided to begin your entrepreneurial conquest…you must be insane Nikki.’ I almost laugh just at the thought of it. I guess you could say I like a good challenge…
Either way, I realized upon arrival that I ended up there because I had followed my heart. I was there to chase my dreams.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Hmm…my art? I’d have to say my art lies deepest between my words and my perspective on life. I like to dabble in so many different walks of life, the story behind creation intrigues me. Sometimes I like to tell people that I am the ‘Jack of all trades, master of FUN’, I’ve even thought about making that my slogan on my business cards.
My passion for telling stories through pictures, words and video creation is the deepest of my passionate endeavors. I love the in-between moments. Portraitures that capture the raw essence of the now. I love looking at pictures and putting even more emotion to it through words that come to mind, through the story told behind their eyes.
I started out modeling about 6 years ago, I guess I always knew I was kind of a ‘ham’. I loved it. I loved how the camera could capture my emotions, I loved how images created a story to the viewer but with their own perspective, I loved playing a different role, a different character. Whether it was being covered from head to toe in gold glitter, or shooting an editorial piece that had me looking like half human, half ram it all was so fun and inspiring. Granted, all of the makeup, teased hair and glam was something so new to me. I had always been the biggest ‘Tom Boy’ growing up- no makeup, no dresses, and definitely no pink in my wardrobe. So, modeling took me to a different place. However, my modeling ended when my nine-year relationship had come to an end as well.
That’s when I went on my big life adventure. That’s when I ended up on the other side of the world, and switched my perspective, I switched sides of being behind the lens instead of in front of it. I’ve come to find that most of my creativity is fueled by my weirdness. I like the weird, all things and beings that embrace their weirdness. It’s what highlights our uniqueness. I’d venture to say my photography and words display this through my weird, wild and wanderlust outlook on life.
Most importantly though, what’s my message? As I get older I realize that life is too damn short not to be the truest form of you. I don’t want to try and fit the job, I want the job to fit me. We are taught to fit a mold, we are programmed to draw within the lines. My message is to do the opposite. My message is to make your own mold, draw as far outside the lines as you want, test your limits, push your boundaries, flip your perspective, live your dreams!
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
Success is what makes the heart happiest. Success is what inspires you every single day. Success is waking up every morning stoked to pursue your passions. Success is living a life that you’ve created with happiness and inspiration constantly surrounding you. Success is turning dreams into reality.
The most essential part to succeeding as an artist is to never give up on your dreams, never let the negative influence of others pull you away or drag you down, allow the many ‘you can’t’ attitudes into you can and will. I always love when people tell me I can’t do something, or try to convince me that there’s already so many people pursuing the same passions, or there’s too much competition, or that it’s too difficult. I love it because it fuels me to prove that I can. I love it because I believe that I’m put here to inspire those of you who say it can’t be done, to inspire you through my actions that anything is possible…as long as you believe in you.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My work is splayed across a few different platforms. My website is under construction though, so I won’t give you that one just yet. I have a lot of my photography work on Instagram @lunas_lens, my writing is on my blog @mermaid_livin & mermaidlivin.com (my last post on why I quit my day job to pursue all of these passions of mine), and I’m also the main photographer, writer and sales rep for @newbern_thedreamer (link in the bio).
Support me? Book me! I shoot all of the things: lunaslens88@gmail.com Or if you like the clothing for @newbern_thedreamer shoot us an email newbernandthedreamer@gmail.com and mention Voyager for a special discount.
Or help protect our oceans! I am one of the three board members on Route USA, a non-profit I have been involved with since returning home last year. I am the Secretary, Event coordinator, and Blogger for Route USA. Check us out at routeusa.org. We turn marine litter and plastics into art, a way of repurposing trash into unique ‘treasures’. We also have an ocean education program where we travel to different school districts and educate the youth on one time use plastics, proper waste disposal, and how to help protect our oceans. Being the mermaid that I am, the ocean is my second home and keeping it clean is my priority.
Contact Info:
- Website: Mermaidlivin.com, routeusa.org, newbernclothing.com
- Phone: (858)231-6679
- Email: lunaslens88@gmail.com
- Instagram: @mermaid_livin, @lunas_lens, @route.usa, @newbern_thedreamer
Image Credit:
All photo credits/rights belong to me: @lunas_lens
Picture of me, taken by: @cmaltese_photo
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
