THE WALKING Dead star Norman Reedus, who plays crossbow wielding Southern boy Daryl Dixon in the hit series, has chosen a portrait of him by a Galway artist for inclusion in his new book.
A portrait of the American actor by Nicole Bartley, who lives in Wellpark, is included in Thanks For All The Niceness, a book featuring different artworks by Norman Reedus’s fans, most of which focus on or are inspired by his character in The Walking Dead.
Reedus personally selected the 100 images that make up the book - including Nicole’s portrait - drawn from thousands of entries submitted from across the world. The artworks range from tattoo designs to cakes to pencil sketches to mosaics to paintings. The book was launched late last year and proceeds are going to The Bachmann Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundations.
“I was so excited to be picked for this book as I’m such a big fan,” Nicole told the Galway Advertiser. “To be picked from thousands of other people was amazing, but it was only when I had the book in my hands that it finally felt real and it was also a signed copy! Norman Reedus sent a signed copy to everyone whose artwork was selected. To have it signed and that personal touch left me speechless.”
Nicole sent in her artwork following a call put out by Reedus on his Facebook and Instagram profiles calling for fans to submit their artwork for possible inclusion in the book. It was not long before Nicole’s portrait was selected.
“I sent the artwork in February,” she says. “It was May when I was told it was chosen, so that was actually very early. The book was sent to me a couple of weeks ago.”
So what is it about Norman and his Walking Dead character Daryl that appeals to Nicole? “He’s such a bad boy and he’s so silent, but he just gets things done. He doesn’t waste time,” she says. “That appeals to me - and so does his accent. He’s also good looking - that’s the girly side in me coming out! Darryl is a sensitive tough guy. You never know what’s going on behind those eyes.”
Nicole’s art concentrates mainly on portraits and she works mostly in graphite pencil, coloured pencils, water colours, and acrylic paint. She draws inspiration from photography, graphic design, tattoos, and Japanese art.
She studied at the National college of Art and Design Dublin and Ballyfermot College of Further Education before graduating from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology in 2010 with a BA in fine art.
Her recent exhibitions include Kfest in Killorglin, Kerry during the summer, and the Galway Tattoo Show in September of this year. She recently completed a large fibreglass pig sculpture for the Jack and Jill foundation, which will be auctioned off in March as part of the charity’s Pigs On Parade.
