Scotella, a Denver native, played trumpet for his high-school marching band. Initially, he went to college for a music education, but ultimately studied classical oil painting under Cheryl Kline at the Kline Academy of Fine Art in Los Angeles. Today he continues with his artistic passions as a high school band director, marching band choreographer, visual designer and live muralist.
"It's pretty hectic for me right now," explains Scotella. Last week he played the Pretty Lights pre-party at Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom. School started recently, and in a couple of weeks, Scotella is going to Hampton, Virginia, for Bassnectar's BASS CENTER XI: Return to the Mothership.
In 2017, Scotella only did three live paintings. He's done over forty this year so far and doesn't plan on slowing down. Almost every Wednesday at Cervantes', there's an EDM event called RE:Search. Several DJs and producers, such as GRiZ and Troyboi, are accompanied by a light show and live muralists. Scotella explains that there's a sign-up sheet for the painters.
Scotella has taken advantage of these local nights, but there's nothing regularly going on in town at the same level as Bassnectar's shows.
"It's intimidating and exhilarating all at the same time," says Scotella about painting at one of the popular bass producer's concerts.
"It’s like the Super Bowl of live painting," Scotella told Westword's Sage Marshall. "Bassnectar is really the one who is pushing this form of immersion art with the lights, the music and the painting. It’s more than just music and art; it’s this total environment that brings you into the music."
When painting, it's not just Scotella and the canvas. It's more than that. It's the music the DJ is playing. Scotella says that he "co-creates" with the DJ. It's also in the crowd and the energy they're sending out. Everyone is feeding off of each other, but Scotella says that "music is the motivating factor for all of the art."

In 2017, Nick Scotella live-painted this flower for Bassnectar's 2017 NYE Basslanta celebration.
Nick Scotella

This collaborative design by Adam Christopher France and Nick Scotella will be donated to Conscious Alliance at Bass Center XI to benefit the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.
Nick Scotella
Because Scotella has a job that guarantees a steady paycheck, he's not under pressure to produce any artwork that he doesn't want to. With the freedom to explore his creative impulses, Scotella doesn't have to compromise. "Art is non-negotiable in my life," he says. "Everything I do in life has some artistic approach. Everything I'm involved in is art."
As Scotella prepares to take on the Mothership at the beginning of next month, he reflects on the artistic process. He's happy with his current lifestyle and career. When speaking on the performance of live painting, he says, “It has nothing to do with the outcome of what you make, but it’s the process of art — that's the most important thing. Art is about the process."
For more information on Scotella and to see his art, visit his Instagram.