Nature doesn’t start in bright pinks or electric oranges, but these paintings do.

In this body of work, explore Nick Napierala’s unique depictions of the natural world. “I begin each piece with an unusual underpainting: layers of bold, unexpected color that peek through the surface. These bright beginnings remind me that perfection isn’t the goal, process is. Every painting is a negotiation between control and letting go, between the natural world and my own lens of experience.”

The subjects, landscapes, florals, animals, come from places that Nick has traveled to, things he has loved, and details he’s noticed when he slows down enough to look. Some pieces hold dual perspectives side by side, echoing the quiet tensions of identity: softness and boldness, natural forms and unnatural colors, seen and unseen.

“Unnatural Nature is about the way things grow, not always the way we expect, but always honestly.”

Meet the artist, Nick Napierala!

Nick Napierala is a painter based in Lancaster, NY, whose work explores the tension between control and spontaneity. Drawing from portraits, travel, nature, and personal reflection, his paintings often begin with bold, unexpected underpaintings, layers that intentionally disrupt perfectionism and invite process-driven discovery. This practice is part of Napierala’s ongoing effort to let go of rigid outcomes and embrace the playful, sometimes unpredictable nature of making art.