We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful NiSi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with NiSi below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have NiSi with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Honestly, my work ethic feels like something I was born with because I watched it lived out every single day. I grew up in a household where hard work wasn’t talked about—it was demonstrated. My dad spent over 30 years at A.O. Smith as a forklift driver, showing up with steady consistency and a kind of quiet pride that stays with you. My grandfather worked for USPS, I admired the discipline and reliability that came with that job. And then there’s my mom—she worked in administrative roles for years before stepping out on faith to open her own daycare. That made perfect sense, because daycare can be so expensive that sometimes it feels like you’re working just to pay for it. She turned a real-life need into something that supported our family and helped others too.
My siblings have that same built-in drive. My sister—who I mentioned in my last article—has worn so many hats: Actress, Director, Fitness Instructor, Singer… the list goes on. She’s been an independent contractor for years and has shown me what it looks like to build the life you want, no matter your zip code. My brother is the same way. He’s always creating something—customized clothing, cars that win shows—and on top of that, he built a career with USPS as well, carrying on our grandfather’s legacy in his own way and even modernizing some of the USPS gear.
So when people ask where my work ethic comes from, I never have to think twice. I saw it every day. I grew up in it. Hard work wasn’t a lesson—it was a lifestyle in my family. It’s simply in our nature.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Everything I do creatively comes from the same place—a desire to make people feel seen and understood. But where that feeling really takes shape is through Topshelf ARTistry by NiSi. That’s my creative home. That’s where my visual art and my poetry/spoken word meet, and where I get to express parts of myself that don’t always make it into everyday conversation.
My art leans into themes of womanhood, healing, identity, and connection. When I paint, I’m not just putting something pretty on a canvas—I’m telling stories, working through my own thoughts, and offering something that I hope touches people. I love when someone looks at one of my pieces and says, “I don’t know what it is, but I feel this.” That connection is what keeps me showing up to the canvas.
One of the most meaningful moments in my journey was being commissioned by Creative Greensboro to create artwork for City Hall. What made that opportunity even more special is that it came after a “no” from somewhere else. At the time it stung, but that no made space for the yes I was meant to walk into. And this yes was deeply personal. I was asked to create a piece representing seven higher educational institutions—including Bennett College and North Carolina A&T State University—two places that helped shape me into the woman and artist I am today. Painting something that honored all seven schools felt like a love letter to the communities that poured into me. Having that piece live in a space that belongs to my city… that meant everything.
Right now, I’m intentionally expanding Topshelf ARTistry by NiSi. I’m taking on more commissioned work—especially from people who genuinely love my style and trust me with creative freedom. Those are the projects where I thrive. My niche isn’t changing, but it is evolving: larger canvases, richer storytelling, deeper intention behind every stroke, and eventually more immersive experiences that blend my visual art and spoken word into one space.
NiSi’s Eyes Makeup Artistry still has a special place in my heart too. Serving brides, pageant queens, everyday women, and my Educated Beauties is something I treasure. I love the conversations, the connection, and that moment when a woman looks in the mirror and truly sees herself.
But artistically, Topshelf ARTistry by NiSi is where my energy is flowing right now. I’m growing, stretching, and building a body of work that feels true to who I am and who I’m becoming.
At the end of the day, my purpose stays the same: to educate, beautify, and empower—one canvas, one face, one story at a time.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, three qualities really shaped my journey: adaptability, intentionality, and compassion.
Adaptability has been huge for me—especially because I’m multitalented and multi-passionate. I can’t count how many times people have told me, “You need to pick one.” But the truth is, everything I do—makeup, painting, poetry, mentoring—they all matter to me in different ways. I may not do them all at the same time, and yes, sometimes I overwhelm myself. But adaptability is what helps me know when to pause, when to prioritize, and when to have that honest conversation with myself about what needs my attention right now. And sometimes I do have to stretch myself when deadlines overlap. That’s just the reality of a creative life. But other times, painting becomes my therapy—it’s how I breathe, how I think through decisions, or just how I relax.
Intentionality has carried me through the most growth. With so many passions, I’ve had to learn that I can do everything—I just can’t do everything all at once. I try to move with purpose, to make choices that feel aligned with where I’m headed. This is especially important because I do have a goal: to eventually replace my corporate job and fully step into doing what I love. I’m realistic—I know it won’t happen overnight. So I do what I have to do until I can do what I want to do. That intention guides my steps every day.
And compassion—for others and for myself—is at the core of everything I do. Whether I’m doing makeup for a bride, mentoring a young woman, or painting through my own emotions, compassion keeps me grounded. It helps me show up fully for people, but it also reminds me to give myself grace when I’m juggling a lot or learning as I go.
For anyone early in their journey, here’s my advice:
-Stay flexible: Your path won’t be a straight line. Allow yourself to explore. It’s okay if you don’t “pick one.” What matters is finding balance and knowing when to focus.
-Move with intention: Don’t rush. Don’t force. Let your choices make sense for where you’re going—even if it means doing what you have to do now so you can do what you love later.
-Lead with compassion: Treat people kindly, stay open, and be real with yourself. Grace will carry you through your growing seasons.
Those three things—adaptability, intentionality, and compassion—have shaped every part of my journey, and I believe they’ll support anyone chasing a path that’s true to who they are.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
For Topshelf ARTistry by NiSi, my ideal client is someone who genuinely feels connected to my work—someone who looks at my art and sees a story, a mood, or a feeling that resonates with them before we ever start a conversation. I thrive with clients who trust my creative instinct and are excited to give me space to interpret their vision in my own way. The best commissions happen when someone says, “Here’s the theme or the feeling—now create what you see.” That kind of trust lets me pour myself fully into the piece and produce something intentional, meaningful, and personal to them.
My ideal client appreciates layers—symbolism, emotion, depth, color, connection. They want art that speaks, not just decor on a wall. They’re drawn to storytelling, to nuance, to the quiet things you can feel before you can explain.
At the core, my perfect client is someone who values creativity, respects the process, and wants to collaborate with an artist who puts heart, craft, and honesty into every canvas.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nisiseyes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nisiseyes_?igsh=bG1zNW41M21zN2xq&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14LjnefCd3W/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://2-denise-lee.pixels.com/
