Portraits for a Cause: Inside the Purpose-Driven World of Portrait Artist Nicole Troup

When I first completed my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Illustration, my initial intention was to use my skills to break into the film industry as an illustrator or possibly illustrate books for a publishing company. Soon after I graduated, I began receiving requests to paint or draw people’s loved ones and pets, or to capture respected officials from companies.

As I began taking this unexpected direction, I did not anticipate the level of fulfillment I would find in capturing people. 

It captures a moment in time that is irreplaceable, not only rendering the subject’s likeness, but portraying something about their personality and essence.

Once the portrait is revealed for the first time, there is often an emotional response that creates a deep sense of satisfaction for me, knowing I captured the subject in a way that touches those who know or knew them best.

In 2014, I became aware of the Freedom 58 Project, a nonprofit that fights modern-day slavery through art, education, law enforcement training, and international prevention work. As part of its mission, the organization initiated an art exhibit of 250 painted portraits highlighting survivors’ stories, along with the anti-trafficking organizations working to support them and help end slavery in our lifetime.

During that time, I was introduced to the story of one of the survivors, Charmaine, who was sexually trafficked in the Philippines. Her story began when she responded to an ad for a babysitting job. When she went to the home of her potential employer for an interview, he raped her and kept her there as a labor trafficking victim and his own personal captive for sex. He eventually impregnated her, and she gave birth to a child.

Charmaine later found the courage to tell a visitor to the home about her situation. She was eventually rescued and sent to the Red Window Project, an organization that provides trauma care to victims and helps them begin a new life.

After hearing her story, I felt that God wanted me to use art for the purpose of sharing people’s stories and raising awareness for specific causes. After creating the portrait of Charmaine, the idea for Portraits for a Cause was born. Art opens hearts and minds, helping people confront realities in the world.

Sharing a story is a vulnerable act, so I choose collaborators who are willing to be open with the intention of encouraging others who may have similar experiences. My faith in God and my love for the arts are the two main factors that guide me in choosing collaborators and causes to support.

Collaborations within the portrait series include subjects from my local community that focus on stories of faith, repairing family relationships, overcoming addiction, depression or rare illness. I’ve also collaborated with figures in acting and entertainment, including Michael Shannon (Knives Out), Madeline Carroll (I Can Only Imagine), Ann Mahoney (The Walking Dead), Erica Ash (Uncle Drew), Gianna Simone (Unbroken Path to Redemption), Sam Childers (Machine Gun Preacher), New York model Mari Malek, and WWE wrestler and reality television personality Thaddeus Bullard (stage name Titus O’Neil), among others.

One of the first organizations I collaborated with was Angels of East Africa, founded by Sam Childers, whose true story was told in the film The Machine Gun Preacher, starring Gerard Butler and Michelle Monaghan. In 2014, I had the opportunity to travel to Uganda and South Sudan, where Sam Childers’ orphanages are located. I brought my canvases, paints, and brushes to the orphanages and listened to the children’s stories as they painted their experiences.

Many of the children had difficulty speaking about the tragedies they had endured, such as losing their families to war or poverty, so painting their families or homes became healing in many ways. I later brought the children’s paintings back to New York City, where we held an art auction to sell the artwork and raise awareness for Angels of East Africa.

My collaboration with the Vitiligo Research Foundation stemmed from a desire to give a platform to those who look unique or different. Vitiligo is a rare skin condition in which the body does not produce skin pigment in certain areas, creating white patches on the skin. Creating a portrait of a subject with this condition challenges traditional ideas of beauty and encourages those in the vitiligo community by reminding them that, though rare, they are not alone. Through this collaboration, we were able to sell prints of the original painting and raise funds for further research and treatment of the condition.

Many of the stories shared through the portrait series center on faith in God and how that faith has helped individuals overcome obstacles, offering hope and inspiration to others. Often, people feel as though they are the only ones facing a difficult situation, so these stories serve as encouragement and a reminder that they are not alone.

Promoting the arts is also an important cause for me and comes with its own challenges, so other stories in the series focus on artists’ journeys within their fields. These narratives are meant to encourage and inspire those pursuing similar creative paths, helping fellow artists stay motivated and continue creating. I have collaborated with artists across many creative roles, including visual artists, writers, actors, and other professionals in the film industry.

Many of the stories are written and displayed alongside the artwork or written in invisible ink directly onto the physical painting, hidden in plain sight and revealed with a black light. For some of my paintings I’ve even had my collaborators write something directly on the painting that means something personal to them such as Thaddeus Bullard AKA Titus O’Neil) (WWE Wrestler and reality TV star on the recent reality show The Kings Court on Bravo). Bullard is a father of three and advocates for the impact that fathers make in their children’s lives, because he had grown up without a father, but was positively impacted by male role models who stepped into his life.

This approach makes the art interactive while allowing the subject’s story to be shared in their own words, without taking away from the overall composition. It is always fun to watch viewers use a black light at my exhibits to discover and read the stories embedded within the artwork.

It’s difficult to choose which medium to use, as I enjoy different aspects of each. If the subject or reference I’m working from has a more elegant, timeless, or traditional feel, I may be more inclined to use gold (24k gold flakes) or genuine silver leaf flakes. The color theme also plays a role in whether I incorporate gilding, since only certain colors work well with gold and silver leaf.

I use charcoal to create a greater sense of emotional intensity, drama, or moodiness that black and white naturally conveys. On the contrary, I often choose oils when I want rich color to draw the viewer’s eye or evoke a particular feeling that color can express.

Yes, the portrait I completed for the Freedom 58 Project exhibit has stayed with me, as it was the catalyst for launching Portraits for a Cause and remains a constant reminder of why I began this journey.

Portraits for a Cause has been featured by various television and print news outlets over the years, helping to raise awareness. There is one particular Portraits for a Cause solo exhibition I hosted a few years ago that continues to influence my direction. At the time, the exhibit was titled My Story (from the subject’s perspective) and included primarily portraits of people from my community who shared very different, yet profound, experiences. These ranged from overcoming depression and illness to honoring individuals considered heroes by their families and friends.

The opening night of the exhibition was well received, and many people left feeling encouraged, hopeful, and moved by the stories displayed alongside the portraits. Since then, this experience has reinforced the importance of storytelling in my art.

One of the ways my experiences have shaped my understanding of the impact portraits can have is in recognizing the powerful legacy they leave for an institution or corporation. This can be seen through portraits I’ve created of CEOs, company founders, or political figures such as governors or town mayors, as well as commissions that capture a loved one in an important moment that can be passed down from generation to generation.

When I think about the lasting impact of Portraits for a Cause, I hope the work continues to resonate beyond the moment it’s seen.

Preserving stories and helping people see the world through the experiences of others is at the heart of what I hope this project leaves behind.

People can support Portraits for a Cause by spreading the word, purchasing prints of the original portraits online, some of which are autographed by the subject, or by donating through my website. Each contribution helps me continue sharing stories that make a positive impact on individuals and organizations connected to the project.

Readers can explore the full Portraits for a Cause collection, view the portraits and stories, and support specific causes directly through my website. To follow along with new work, exhibitions, and ongoing projects, updates are also shared regularly on Instagram and Facebook.