August WSA Artist of the Month – Meet Yale Nicolls
Yale Nicolls grew up on the water in Darien, Connecticut to a family of art lovers. Both of her parents had painted earlier in their lives, but Yale mainly recalls their interest in acquiring fine art. As a child she spent a good deal of time in the smoke-filled rooms of auction houses where her mother often left with treasured pieces of art which now line the corridors of the Nicolls’ home. While she had no formal training until later in life, Yale fondly remembers making carvings from Ivory soap when she wasn’t swimming or playing tennis.
Nicolls had a great deal of success on the tennis court and met her husband Jim at a national match at Longwood at age 15. While she dated other people during college, it was always Jim who kept her interest with his prolific correspondence. She attended University of Southern California where she played tennis and then transferred to Barnard graduating with a degree in Philosophy. She and Jim reunited, married and finally settled in Wellesley. Nicolls taught tennis along the way and racked up 20 years as a professional at the Wellesley Tennis Association. Five children and a lot of Play-Doh sessions later, Yale’s interests in Arts and Crafts was renewed.
Nicolls, always game to try a new hobby, did more than her share of community service in Wellesley. She joined the Garden Club in the 1990’s and served on the Board of the Wellesley Arts and Crafts Guild. Creating Folk Art Santas became one of her specialties. In 2001, Yale decided to take a Watercolor class at the Danforth Museum under Elizabeth Magilligan, with whom she painted for many years. She also learned critical skills from classes such as “So You Think You Can’t Draw” and “Drawing from the Right Side of Your Brain.” When Magilligan stopped teaching, she began the “Watercolor Connection” for her advanced students including Nicolls.
Nicolls joined the WSA in 2004 and has served on the board as secretary, then president and now secretary again. She saved the WSA from dissolution when she first took over as president and served in this capacity for a total of 8 years, including years when she co-presided with Bobbie Suratt. Nicolls has now mastered acrylic painting working with Maris Platais. It is no surprise that one of her favorite subjects is the ocean, especially the coast of Maine, though all of nature is an inspiration for Yale. Their beloved dogs and capturing each one’s distinctive personalities on canvas provide endless motivation for this artist.
In addition to her many accomplishments, Nicolls is a signature member of the New 
England Watercolor Society as well as the Rhode Island Watercolor Society and still paints regularly with the Watercolor Connection in Natick. She has exhibited in a number of juried National and Regional Shows. A new award has just been established by the WSA in honor of Nicolls in recognition for her years of service and leadership. The “Yale Nicolls Award for Interpretation of the Natural World” will be awarded annually at the WSA Fall Library Show.
