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Share thisAlumni Spotlight: Allison Nichols ’96 (Art-Studio)
State Street, in Downtown Rochester, is going through something of a revival. At the heart of this renewal is a collective of creative entrepreneurs who are part of “Made on State.” You really need to check out this newly-renovated area if you haven’t been there. Anchoring one end of Made on State is Creativ Framing & Design, run and owned by Allison Nichols ’96 (Art-Studio).
Allison has been in the custom framing business since 2004 and has 18 years of experience. We had a chance to visit with Allison and talk about the work she is doing now and the influence her Roberts experience had on her life and career.
What brought you to Roberts?
Roberts Wesleyan has always carried a sense of home for me. I grew up just down the street from Pearce Memorial Free Methodist Church and Roberts Wesleyan, on Springbrook Drive. I have so many fond memories of going to nursery school, church and VBS at Pearce, running down the track field on campus and having Roberts students babysit my sisters and I. Eventually, my family moved to the Albany area, just before I started middle school, and although I made friends in my new home, I always missed Rochester. After I finished my Associates Degree in Liberal Arts, at Hudson Valley Community College, I felt it was time to come back home and finish my Bachelor of Science in Studio Art/ Graphic Design at Roberts.
How did your experience at Roberts shape your career path?
As an artist and custom picture framer, there are several skills that I cultivated, as a student at Roberts Wesleyan. My use of color and design is such an important aspect of what I do as a framing designer and I was able to expand and develop these natural talents during my studies. Classes such as Graphic Design helped me to focus on image layout, which I use frequently when working on collage or shadow box pieces. My 3-D Design and Ceramics classes challenged me to focus on dexterity, measurements and material usage, such as matboards, foamboards, adhesives and cutting implements. All of which I use on a daily basis for my custom framing business. And occasionally I use my painting skills and calligraphy to design a hand-crafted unique mat or frame.
Describe your current vocation and the way God is working in your life.
My current vocation is as the owner and custom framing designer of the business I created in 2004, Creativ Framing & Design. Over the course of the last 13 years I have seen my business grow from one that began in the basement of my house, while raising two girls, to one that is now a part of the creative collective of the newly renovated, MADE ON STATE building. My life has taken me on many journeys over the course of the last 13 years and God has taught me many valuable lessons. He has blessed me with a supportive and loving family as well as some amazing opportunities, which have allowed my business to grow. As an art student, at Roberts Wesleyan, I never would have dreamed that I would be a business woman, using my artistic abilities to work with people to preserve and showcase their special memories and belongings.
Describe a person/professor at Roberts who made an impact on you.
When I reflect on my experience as an art student at Roberts Wesleyan, one of the most influential individuals I studied under was adjunct professor, Ed Stitt. I was so impressed, on the first day of Illustration class, when he mentioned he'd be doing the assignments along with us as well as participating in our critiques. This had never been an experience I'd had with another professor and it allowed us, as students and peers, to create a very trusting, open and challenging learning environment. I was more invested and saw a substantial amount of growth from the beginning to end of his class. I'm forever grateful for his willingness to share his experiences, humor and for meeting us where we were artistically.
Fun experience or memory....
Actually one of my fondest memories happened once a week, off campus. I would meet my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Mark, along with my grandparents, Jack and Katie Logan, for a family dinner. I always looked forward to spending time with them and my cousins, Tyler and Elise. It didn't hurt that I was able to wash my laundry as well. I even remember using Elise as the subject for one of my photography classes.
What advice/insight do you have for current students interested in your career?
One of my biggest pieces of advice would be getting into the practice of accepting constructive criticism. When I say constructive, this is feedback which is designed to improve your skill sets. This is especially important as an artist and a business owner because it allows for "out of the box" perspectives that you may not otherwise have seen. One of the biggest benefits to being a part of the MADE ON STATE collective of artists and entrepreneurs is that it has provided a professional, creative space where I've been able to grow my business, receive valuable feedback, and rely on the support of my professional peers. Growth, on any level, can be a painful process, but whenever I've faced it and persevered, I've always come out of it stronger, wiser, and a more compassionate individual.
Secondly, if I could go back, knowing what I know now, I would have done one thing differently. My degree from Roberts Wesleyan would have consisted of a minor in Business. Throughout the course of the last 13 years I have taken on a "learn as you go" approach and have relied on the business advice and direction of other experienced professionals. Although this is a very valuable way to approach it, I believe, as an artist and businesswoman, I would have benefited from an earlier start. When entering college with the intent to craft your knowledge and skills in the various art practices, you don't really think about what it's going to be like after graduation. You're focused on taking 2-D design, art history, ceramics or your graphic design classes. To stand out and share your God-given talents with the world, you need to have a business plan and a marketing strategy. A strong social media presence and some bookkeeping skills are also essential. These are all realistic requirements for any artist or entrepreneur who wants to succeed in their craft. Someday, hopefully, you can "hand off" the bookkeeping to someone else, but at least in the beginning, the job will most likely be yours.
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