Noah Verrier

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Biography

Noah Verrier has been painting since childhood. Verrier earned his MFA in Studio Art at Florida State University. He currently is a working artist, and adjunct Professor of Painting and Drawing at Florida State University. His work has been featured in many exhibits in the United States, and abroad. Noah was recently featured in New American Paintings #111 as one of 40 of the nations top painters amongst 800. Verrier was also awarded the Emerging Artist of the year award in 2007 by the Von Liebig Museum of fine art and the Naples National Art Festival.

Q + A

What have you been doing since graduating from FSU?

When I graduated in 2004 (with my BFA) I did not want to go straight into a master’s program. I just wanted to do it on my own and do what I thought was correct, to be like a nomad, like Van Gogh. I didn’t make a lot of money, but I supported myself. That’s when I was doing the landscapes. I was doing circuit shows in Florida, I had a pop up tent, I was doing juried shows for about five years. So, I was hustling. I was doing all kinds of crazy stuff. It was a way to connect with people too because it seemed like people were interested in landscapes.

So that time between your BFA and MFA sounds like an education in and of itself. So, what inspired you to go back and get your MFA?

To complete my education and get the contemporary art background, which I felt I was lacking a little bit. I was looking around the world and seeing crazy things happening and I just felt like I could have no say in it because I didn’t understand it. My art at that time was pretty basic. I was pretty much just painting what I liked. There wasn’t a lot of concept. And then you realize, after a while, that it really doesn’t even really matter, but you have to think about it.

There’s always a reason behind what we are doing.

That’s all it is. I wasn’t making any connection with that. So, I wanted to tap into that contemporary way of thinking. And that really helped me a lot. So, being an educator was not on the list, to be honest. I just wanted to be a better artist.

And since getting your MFA, what else have you been up to aside from teaching here at FSU and Chipola?

NV: Having a family and constantly trying to get my work out there, into new areas and new places. I’ve just been coming up with new ideas and looking forward. I look for places showing similar work and artists of similar professional levels. It is challenging when you create one piece that consists of multiple paintings and you don’t want to sell them individually. I found that there are art agents or dealers that aren’t galleries exactly. There’s one in Texas called Art and Artisans that has 150 Sunsets for sale. They try to sell art to hotels, universities and places like that. If you just have paintings you can find galleries pretty easily. Right now I’m looking for places that deal with huge pieces of work and it’s been challenging.

How do you feel FSU prepared you for what you are doing now?

NV: It prepared me every step of the way, from foundations all the way through more advanced contemporary thinking.

What advice would you give to incoming and current students?

 NV: I’d probably say not to stress out too much. I think that is one thing that held me back. I remember I’d go into the drawing classes and I’d be so nervous. My leg would shake and bang the table and my teacher would tell me, “You’re so nervous and have so much energy”. I wasn’t even drinking coffee back then! I think that’s okay– it’s like stage fright. You’re getting ready and you want to be good. But I think you have to realize at the same time that you can’t let that fear cripple you and that it’s all going to work out. Even if it doesn’t turn out the way you want, even if it’s a bad painting or a bad drawing, just do your best. Put all your heart and mind into it and it’ll happen. So don’t stress out, and have fun.