by R.C. Samo
Editor-in-Chief
In 1742, David Hume’s wrote in the essay Moral and Political, “Beauty in things exists merely in the mind which contemplates them.” In order to understand what beauty is, a person must examine what is significant in their lifes, which liberates his/her soul. In the case of Nicole Brune, she finds beauty in the human form, expressing it through pin-up art.
“I wish I was that classy (as an artist), but when I went to college I wanted to work in comics, and I still do, only now it would be in the swimsuit edition.” joked Brune who continued, “I never considered pin-up until I came across an Olivia De Beranrdinis book and I couldn’t put it down.”
Nicole Brune and John Roach
Brune began her career, first as a model while majoring in art at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), where she met her husband, “Mr. Nicole,” John Roach.
“He (Roach) handled it really well and took me to every shoot. People think twice when you have a guy with you who used to powerlift. I only had one rule while modeling: if it made my mom gasp, I wouldn’t do it,” said Brune.
Brune stepped away from modeling to focus more on her art just prior to her mother falling ill. Where western medicine failed, Brune and Roach turned to a healthier eating lifestyle, using organic, “super foods,” to help her mother. Changing that little part of their lives extended her mother’s life beyond the doctor’s estimates of 3-days to 2-months.
Through their organic diet, Brune was able to get pregnant with their beautiful daughter, and now weighs 20 lbs lighter than before her pregnancy. Roach himself lost 60 lbs without changing much else to their lifestyle.
In honor of her mother, Brune embeds her mother’s initials in all her pieces, immortalizing her with each pin-up.
Once the focus shifted back to art from modeling, Brune and Roach began to work the convention circuit, traveling throughout Southern California and the Southwest from the San Diego Comic Con, Wonder Con, Comikaze and the Phoenix ComiCon.
A fantastic photographer, in-his-own-right, Roach has shot several models for Brune to paint, one in particular was Emily Addison, who is immortalized in Brune’s piece, “Daddy’s Little Princess,” a very seductive portrayal of a tattooed Princess Leia in a very risque pose.
“No one should go to a comic con and complain about having to paint; be thrilled that you don’t have to work construction in the desert or in the sewer,” said Roach, who feels blessed to be in an industry that allows for personal expression.
Brune, with the help of Roach has completed the series of Wonderland characters and would love to create an alternate world of other famous characters.
Daddy’s Little Princess by Nicole Brune
“I love making images that people like and makes them feel good. I like to promote happiness. It’s funny, some people collect shoes and trinkets. I collect beautiful women,” smiled Brune about her pin-up work.
Visit Nicole Brune’s official websites at: http://www.pinupworldart.com/ and http://www.nicolebrune.com/ Like her on Facebook at: The Art of Nicole Brune
