When I first met Nick, my impression was that he was very kind, had a good heart, and was probably a good friend, brother, and son. Someone who would be right there with you when the chips were down to make sure you knew you were not alone. I came to know him as a gifted artist over time, and over the years witnessed him acquire a mastery of whatever medium he chose to express himself in.

John Lennon once said,

"look, I'm an artist, if you give me a tuba I'll make sense of it."

Nick was like that. I remember I was in the kitchen at Abril and I heard this intricate melody coming from the guitar that was so unique, and I couldn't figure out who was playing it. I literally thought to myself, "who the hell is playing that?". I went into the living room and it was Nick, he looked at me and smiled, I said, "I didn't know you played the guitar." He replied, "I don't." I didn't have to try to investigate any further because I just knew what that was.

His relationship with art was pure, some of the purest I've ever witnessed. It was just an innate understanding of it deep within him, like that kind of expression was an extension of his very being. I would have conversations with him. We'd talk about life, Art, anything really. It was always stimulating and he had the ability to go to depths that very few people dare to go. At times he would open up and go there, and other times he wouldn't and that was okay, I understood that. 

No one will every really understand the depths of his mind or all the colors he saw inside his imagination, or the way he would look at a the ocean, or any object. He just saw it differently, brilliantly, and vividly. Boy, to be able to see the way it was in his mind when he was looking at the ocean or the sky, but the great thing is that he gave that to all of us. He didn't hold it and protect it for himself like others might, he let you in, in the most gentle way, to experience and share it with you.

I, and so many others will miss him, but I think if I try to remember that anytime I am looking at something, either the ocean, a flower, or a challenge I am facing, remembering the beauty Nick would have seen in it will help me gain a better perspective, and a deeper understanding and appreciation of it. My heart goes out to his family and all who knew him. May we all remember the lesson of love and compassion he taught us through his life.