Nicole Hanson

Frequently asked questions

I've seen your mice! Have you illustrated a children's book?

Funny you should ask! I began writing and illustrating a picture book in the summer of 2024.

It's about a young fox growing a garden so he can replicate his late grandpa's salsa recipe. If you want the super-sneak-peak updates on the process, and to be part of the launch team, you can sign up here.

I've heard you have freebies... where do I find them?

Phone wallpapers are here.

By signing up for my email newsletter, you can access:

A PDF of my 2023-2024 sketchbook

How do I pick art?

I'm no professional interior designer, but here are my thoughts:

How do I pick the style of art to buy?

To find the style you like, start by going to a local art gallery or the wall art section in a store. Notice what you stop to look at longer, and if there are any patterns. You may discover you prefer abstract, or sea scapes, or circular pieces. Then you can move on to...

How do I know which piece to buy?

The only 'wrong' decision is one you feel pressured into. If you love a piece of art and think you could spend absolute ages staring at, it's a candidate! From there, of course, it's advisable to talk to people you share the space with and consider your budget.

Why the mice?

For some reason, I like drawing mice.

When I shared a bedroom with my youngest sister, she wanted bedtime stories every night. As the dutiful oldest sister, I tried coming up with them. It got to be a lot.

So one day, I invented a family of mice I could send on adventures. One day to the circus, the next day to the zoo, the next day the siblings squabbling, and so on. The next day, I would draw little raindrop shapes and make them mice, illustrating one part of the story. The brother had a cap with a propeller on it, the sister wore a bow, the mom wore pearls, and the dad wore a tie.

I don't remember how long that phase lasted, but it resurfaced in my late 20’s when my then-boyfriend-now-husband and I dated long distance. I started us sending little sketches of mice to each other. If Hubby was having a long day at work because he felt tired, I drew the mouse sitting at a desk dozing off. When I had a lot of grading to do, he drew the mouse at a desk with piles of elementary grammar and math papers everywhere.

And then spring of 2023, when I was racking my brain for ideas on what to paint that wasn't static and boring, it shouldn't really be a surprise that mice came to mind!

Why do you paint?

Is it cliche to say that I paint because I can't stop painting? It's all I want to do, even on a day off. New ideas are coming to me all the time, and I'm usually impatient to bring them to life on paper.

Often these ideas come from spending time with the Lord while reading scripture! That's why so many of my paintings include verses, or my reflections on verses.

Have you visited all these places?

While the paintings of windmills, Victoria Falls, the Nile, St. Peter's Basilica, and more are stunning... no, I haven't visited. Stonehenge is the exception, having visited as part of a college course.

While I haven't visited those locations, my imagination has been stolen by them. They are breathtaking. I am stunned by the variety of beauty here on Earth. I will continue to paint them.

Nicole's Art, Let Me Count the Ways...

From custom art to prints, there are many ways to get my art into your home, and into gift bags for your friends. For example:

Prints

Show off your personality and passions through the art you collect and display. These prints come in various sizes, perfect for however much space you have. I even offer a few digital products you purchas, download, and print yourself!

Products

Redbubble is a company that offers my art on products you'll use! From mugs to bedspreads, and clothes to notebooks, there are over 50 options for most of my paintings. They offer their own discounts pretty often, so keep your eyes peeled!

When you order from them, a portion of the same comes right back to me.

Original Art

Several of my original pieces are available here. To be among the first to know when a new original piece is available, join the insider email newsletter.

Custom Art

Let's create your vision in my style!

I work from photos to bring your memories to life as a painting. I accept landscape, house, and most pet portrait commissions. Read more here. (If you're a realtor, go here instead.)

I want to know about the books you've written.

Well hold your horses, there's only one book officially published right now (and you read about the one on the way earlier in the FAQ).

In 2022, I published my first book. It is a Christian devotional where we walk through 1 John together in 23 days. It includes 23 paintings (yes, one for each day), each one designed to become a "visual cue" to help us remember a point from the passage.

It's currently available at Christos Bookstore, in Rochester MN as well as on Amazon.

Where can I find more from you?

Sometimes I write articles for this website, here.

Email subscribers are the first to know about available art, plus a behind-the-scenes look at being an artist. Join here.

You can be my Facebook friend! Send me a request, here. This is a good fit for people who are Christians or don't mind reading the Christian messages I often post with my art.

The same is true for Instagram, @nicole.me.hanson.

Realtors will benefit most from following me on Instagram @nicole_watercolor_moments.

Where can I find your podcast appearances?

Nicole Hanson shares her 1 John devotionals, just in time for Christmas | Amanda Blackwood, The Survivor

How not to think about... Connecting with God | Howard Rankin, How Not to Think

"I was filled with joy. The details in the cats and the background came together perfectly. I know my sister will absolutely love it."

-Cody, Rochester MN

"My husband commissioned Nicole to paint three different cottages we stayed in during a trip to Scotland. Every time I see her beautiful watercolors hanging on our wall, I'm reminded of the wonderful time we spent at each cottage and the memories we made on that trip!"

- Lauren, Pittsfield IL

"It was especially important to me that the colors used would feel “right” and that certain details would stand out. I had a very high confidence level because of our ongoing communication throughout the process."

- Kathy, Rochester MN

"Amazing! It is exactly what I wanted it to be and it was the perfect gift. My husband loved it!!"

- Elise, Rochester MN

PHONE WALLPAPERS

640 X 960 pxls

640 X 960 pxls

640 X 960 pxls

640 X 960 pxls

Enjoy these phone wallpapers, no strings attached! Download your favorite wallpaper, then set it as your phone's wallpaper.

Biography

Nicole was born in Indiana, raised in Illinois, and has spent her adulthood in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. She currently lives in Rochester, MN with her husband. This is usually where people mention their pets, but we don't have any. Yet. Someday, we may have a corgi named Vigo.

While her sisters received piano lessons as kids, Nicole received drawing lessons. She is so grateful! She filled sketchbook after sketchbook, always asking other people, "What should I draw?" She thinks this is why she still loves commission work.

Nicole earned a bachelor's in Elementary Education from Olivet Nazarene University and spent 7 years in classrooms (though not 7 in a row). She currently nannies and paints, though not at the same time.

She is a deep thinker (some would say over-thinker). She enjoys learning, creating, Doctor Who, Stargate SG-1, writing by hand, tea hot chocolate, and trying to turn her thumb green.