Nick Mayer’s mission is to inspire an appreciation for this planet’s amazing creatures by portraying them as they really are. A full-time artist since 2012, he worked at fishery research jobs for Alaska Fish & Game on Kodiak Island, Oregon Fish & Wildlife, Caribbean Conservation Corps, Costa Rica, SeaCamp, Florida Keys, before being discovered by The Gamefish Gallery in Key West. Enjoy my interview with this talented artist and images of his gorgeous work!
1. How did you get started/what is your background?
I’ve always been drawn to the natural world. Growing up in Riverside, Rhode Island, I spent summers exploring ponds and sketching the fish and turtles I caught. That passion led me to study marine biology at Brown University, where I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. While working in marine research, I continued sketching and painting the creatures I studied. It wasn’t until a gallery in Key West took interest in my work that I realized I could turn my art into a career. From then on, I dedicated myself to creating art that connects people with nature.
2. What/who is your inspiration?
My inspiration comes from the ocean and its incredible biodiversity. The beauty, intricacy, and fragility of marine life drive me to capture its essence in my art. My background as a marine biologist has deeply shaped my perspective, blending scientific accuracy with an emotional connection to these creatures.
3. Are there other areas or mediums that you want to explore?
I have been painting on white paper my whole life and I just started a new series of paintings all painted on black watercolor paper. This new series is called Illuminate and it focuses on deep sea creatures and their interactions with ocean plastics. You can see these new works on my Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/nickmayerart/ ). I also would like to experiment with oil painting and sculpture someday.
4. What does a typical day in your life look like?
I spend my mornings sketching and painting in my studio, where I can focus on the intricate details of my work. Afternoons are for managing the business side of things—responding to customers, collaborating on projects, or fulfilling orders. Evenings are family time, where I reconnect and reflect on the day. It’s a balance of creativity and logistics, but every day feels like a gift. It is often easy to lose sight of this, because as a small business owner, wearing so many hats the admin side of things can so easily take over my whole week and become a stressful mess, but the reality I try to circle back to is that I’m a full time artist, making paintings for a living. The freedom associated with that is very rewarding.
5. How do you stay motivated to do your art?
Believe it or not I never have “artist’s block” I’m always inspired to paint! If I had someone else to run the business I could paint all day every day and never run out of inspiration. I’m just a creative person and the world around me gives me a sense of awe.
6. If you could tell us anything, what would it be?
My mission is to inspire an appreciation for and curiosity about nature and its creatures by communicating the aesthetic beauty of this planet’s amazing creatures as they really are. It is my hope that this appreciation will result in acts of empathy & stewardship towards these incredible creatures portrayed in my paintings.
See more of Nick’s work:
Website: https://www.nickmayerart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickmayerart/
Facebook/ Meta: https://www.facebook.com/nickmayerart
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nickmayerart
