Nonie says that the process of creating art helps her focus, relax, and be quiet, and gives her a delicious feeling of “freedom to do what I want”. Creating portraits of herself, her family, and friends helps focus her exploration of personal history and identity. Nonie also creates highly patterned abstract work in a palette of her own deep greens, browns, reds, oranges, and violets. Bright, energetic forms emerge in vivid hues, embellished boldly with black.