Montclair artists Peter and Nina Bocour have a seamless flow to their existence, her yin – calmness, love for representational art in painting and for pure, white pottery, coexisting in perfect harmony with his yang – and propensity towards more chaotic, abstract, colorful, music-inspired art.

Opposites do attract, with happy results. Baristanet spoke to the couple, who have two grown daughters and two young dogs, about their creative outlets and artistic inspiration.

(Nina and Peter’s studios are open through the holidays;  email nbocour19@gmail.com for opening  hours.)

Where did you grow up?

P: In Greenwich Village, in an old Italian neighborhood.

N: Up until high school we lived in Sneeden’s Landing, which was then a community of artist and writers on the Hudson River not far from NYC. And in later years, in NYC on the Upper West Side.

Have you always been an artist?

N: After high school I attended the School of Visual Arts in NYC. Chuck Close was a teacher of mine who taught me some of the techniques I use today in my portraits. I studied sculpture in art school, mainly sculpting  the “figure”. I love Maillol’s work because of the pure forms of his figures.

P: I grew up in the art world. Dad had a small company that made artists’ paint and was very involved in the arts. I hated art lessons as a kid; thought it was most boring thing in the world. Probably because my parents took me to endless art openings and shows where I had to stand around for hours.

But in the ’60s pop art came along which I thought was very cool and I realized that art could be fun and not the dreary and depressing thing I’d considered it as a child, when it was taken very seriously. I was always a rebel and never listened to anybody.

I try to make my art very different from that. Fun, exciting and not a big mystery.

Nina, meanwhile, has always been an artist.

Do you have day jobs, or did you once?

N: In addition to pottery and portraits I have done a lot of freelance magazine work and have written and illustrated two children’s books: “Charlie Clause” and “Families Are Different” which is about adoption and has been in print for over twenty years.

P: I was a photo stylist and worked with home fashions and showroom designer and editor at Metropolitan HOme magazine. It was a creative job and I was very lucky to have it. I always worked freelance and always had time to paint.

Nina‘s book has been in print for 21 years and we still get regular royalty checks. It’s told through our daughter Nico’s perspective, and explains to a foreign-born (adopted) child how they fit in.

What inspires you in your work?

N: Nature and animals have always been a source of inspiration for me.

P: Music is my inspiration. It’s very abstract and has lots of movement and emotion and I try to put those things in my art.

Have your two kids latched onto your passion for the creative?

N: No. My children appreciate art but are not interested in creating it.

P: They’re not in the least interested. Our younger daughter is 27 and a lawyer, the older one is 31 and works for the Department of Health in NYC.

Tell us about your interest in abstract art, Peter, and in pottery and your recent interest in painting portraits of dogs, Nina.

P: I always wanted to do something more exciting, dynamic and fun, and my theory about art is that if you have an interest in it, you’ll find a way to do it. Although I have no talent as one’s traditional idea of an artist!

N: My pottery is now only white in color . This leaves the form as the whole story. My inspiration comes from nature – plant forms and animals – which have so much personality and energy.

I have always done watercolors as a side interest, but recently I put my love of animals together with my painting and have found a great way to show the great personality of our furry friends.

How did you defy the notion of struggling artists and put your kids through college?

P & N: Ah, it wasn’t that easy! And we had a bit of help with the college fees from grandparents!

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