Nico Sawatzki, born in 1984 in Regensburg, has been working as a freelance artist since 2012. Using his unique layering technique with acrylic and spray paint, he creates abstract landscapes. We spoke with him about his creative process, an art sale he'll never forget, and the beauty of everyday things.

Can you describe the place where your artworks come to life?

Nico: It’s energetically very charged – in a positive way. It’s the rear building of an old Art Nouveau house, with a really pleasant atmosphere. Lots of light, large old windows, and yes – extremely dusty.

How long have you had your studio there?

Nico: For eight years.

So by now you know every corner of it?

Nico: Absolutely. The vibe throughout the whole building – with the landlord and the people who live there – is just special. A great community. I’m kind of “the artist” there – the one who’s allowed to get away with a lot because he’s doing art. And that’s exactly what you sometimes need: the freedom to just blast music, to scream when something’s bugging you, or to just sit out in the garden without having to think about how you’re supposed to behave. I have that freedom there – and it’s incredibly important for my creative process.

Is there a specific moment in painting or in the creative process that is especially important to you?

Nico: The beginning is crucial. Especially because my work often starts with landscapes, it’s important to find the right mood and to hold onto it. I try to preserve a kind of emotional base that I can refer to throughout the entire process. If I had strong mood swings while painting, that would come through in the piece. That’s why the start is essential for me – the calm, the focus, the immersion in the moment.

You've already mentioned that a lot of emotion flows into your work. You've once said that the titles of your pieces are like a diary. Are there particular themes or feelings you draw from more often? Or does it vary a lot?

Nico: It can be anything – even completely mundane things like dinner, how the kids behaved, a parent-teacher meeting, or the walk to the studio. These seemingly unimportant moments can trigger something in me. With the amount of paintings I create, it can't always be just “special” events. For me, it's like storytelling – often a small everyday observation develops into a much larger emotional context. From vacuuming to a breakup or the death of a loved one – anything can end up in a title. Sometimes I abstract it, so it’s not immediately obvious to the viewer. I walk through the world with a certain perspective – I think many artists have a keen sensitivity for moments. And often, beauty lies in the small things.

How would you describe your works to someone who can't see them?

Nico: I once had a visitor who was completely colorblind. He only saw my paintings in shades of grey, but his descriptions were fascinating – completely different from what someone with color perception would see. He noticed the structure, but didn’t feel the mood of the colors. That’s why I would try to describe the atmosphere and my own feelings – the journey that led me to the painting and the emotions it triggered in me.

Is that perhaps the essence of your work – the emotion and texture one feels when looking at it?

Nico: Exactly. Of course, technique plays a role, but it’s not the decisive factor. I want to evoke something in the viewer – a feeling, a movement. At my last exhibition in Regensburg, I wrote short poems to go with the titles of the paintings, little four- or six-line verses – not explanations, but thought starters. Because emotions change over time. Every time we relive or reflect on them, we perceive them differently. That’s why it’s hard to explain the original impulse of a painting to someone else. It changes – with every viewing, every interpretation, it continues to grow.

What’s special about the materials you use?

Nico: For one thing, my color palette is relatively limited – I work with existing shades. But through my spray can technique, I manage to mix colors that normally can’t be mixed. With many layers and overlays, I create complex nuances. That’s what makes it special. It’s also the material I started making art with in the first place – I’ve been spraying since I was about ten years old. So, for over 30 years now.

And what’s the coolest place one of your works has ended up?

Nico: There’s a special story about that. At one of my first art fair exhibitions in Munich, there was a young woman who kept walking past my booth – probably ten times. She looked at the painting really intensely, but you could tell she was hesitating. At some point, I approached her, and she said she actually couldn’t afford it. On her eleventh visit, she came back with her mother and a friend – and she bought it. She had borrowed money from both of them and canceled a planned vacation just to buy that painting. That was an incredible sign of appreciation. It might not be hanging in a "special" place – but it’s exactly where it belongs. Because she truly wanted it, with all her heart. And that’s exactly why I do this. Feeling that connection was something truly special.

Thank you very much Nico!

Recorded on April 3rd 2025

Artist bio and available works