We define ourselves every day by making choices about how we present ourselves. Our hair. Our clothes. The way we sit. The way we stand. The face we show to the world.
These choices can say a lot about who we are, and it can render us invisible.
In eighth grade, Nicole Cooper began paying attention to appearances, carrying around a sketchbook and drawing people in public spaces with regularity. Her Toronto upbringing gave her excellent opportunities to do so.
“The subway is a good place to learn how to draw people,” she says.
By then, Nicole had already committed her life to being an artist.
She grew up in an artistic family. Her mother, a watercolour painter, showed her how to use paint and brushes. Her father, a professional photographer, taught her about light, colour, and composition. They had an art room at the back of their house.