Priscilla - New Original Painting

Hi everyone! I just wanted to share my newest painting that I completed, Priscilla, with you all! This painting was created for the Femme Thou Art Collective's "Poisonous" themed auction and is up for sale right now along with prints and the original sketch. You can find that auction here.

Catch Up!

Wow, it has been a long time since I've posted here! My last post was about Ariana being born, so I guess I'll start with updating you on her. She is doing wonderfully and brings such joy and happiness to my life! I love being a mom and feel so lucky to spend my day with her. She is 10 months old now, crawling, playing, laughing, saying mama, and doing all sorts of funny things. And of course, she's absolutely adorable!!

In my spare time, I have still been painting and keeping up with my art business! I'm not sure how many of you follow me on Facebook, but I do most of my posting here. Since my last update I've created many paintings which I'll update you on below. I've also been doing a lot of sketching which I will definitely share with you, but I may save that for a different post as there are a lot of sketches!

Art Collectives

I've joined two art collectives which are a lot of fun. One is called the Femme Thou Art Collective and the other is the Bubble Gum Dreams Collective. Both collectives are filled with super talented artists that share a similar vision with their artwork. We all paint a new painting each month that goes along with a theme and then we have an auction on Facebook for all the original art. Here are the paintings that I've created for the collectives so far:

Laina - "Going Nuts" theme for Bubble Gum Dreams Collective

 

 

Esmeralda - "Birthstone" theme for Femme Thou Art Collective

Cleopatra - "Shakespeare" theme for Femme Thou Art Collective

Jolene - "Postcards from the Edge" theme for Femme Thou Art Collective

Esme - "Monochrome Madness" theme for Femme Thou Art Collective

Adeline - "Brown, Moths and Melancholy" theme for Femme Thou Art Collective

New Paintings

Besides the collective pieces, I've been super busy painting, mostly catching up on commission work! Here are the other paintings I've completed since my last update here:

"Coraline" - Commission

"Beatrix" - Commission

"Natalya" - Commission

"Josie" - Commission

"Charlotte" - Commission

"Taryn" - Commission

"Portrait of Morrigane" - Commission

"Dorothy" - Commission

Spellbinding Stamps

Another super exciting thing that I've been working on lately is my Spellbinding Stamps group! I've been selling my digital stamps/coloring pages for years now, but I just recently decided to create a group for those people who like to make things with my stamps. And I host monthly challenges where crafters create things with my stamps and then I give out prizes. It is SO much fun and so rewarding to see the amazing creations that people make with my art. They turn my art into their own new art which is just so COOL! Anyhow, if you enjoy coloring or creating things with digital stamps, we'd love for you to join us! Follow this link to visit our Facebook group.

Well, it was fun catching up! I hope to post here more frequently. =)

Ariana is Here!

Hi everyone! I know it's been awhile since I've been around, but I've been enjoying my new little bundle of joy so much! I've been loving motherhood this past month while I've been getting to know Ariana. The time has been so great. I feel like we've been able to bond so much and I can't imagine life without her now!

She really is a great baby! Of course she's my first, so I have nothing to compare her to but she sleeps so well and is such a happy little thing. She's already giving me lots of sleep at night and I only have to get up once or twice to feed her. During the day, she loves playing on her activity mat, swinging in her swing, going for walks in her stroller and cuddling with her mom and dad!

I feel like things have been getting easier and we've been getting more on a routine, so the good news is that I'm going to be getting back into my artwork! I'll be reopening my Etsy shop and I will also start resuming commission work. I can't promise that I will be as proficient or fast as I was before, but I'm sure it will get easier the more I do it as I figure out how to do my artwork and take care of my little one at the same time.  

I really appreciate all the well wishes and your patience while I've been adjusting to motherhood! I especially am so thankful for those of you who I'm working with on commissioned pieces for being so understanding about the time that I've taken off. I will definitely begin working on them again and will get them finished up as soon as I can! 

ACEO Print Sale on eBay!

I decided to do something fun and have an ACEO print sale on eBay!! I listed every single painting that I've ever created since beginning my art career way back in 2005 as an ACEO print on eBay. They are all 7 day auctions starting at only $2. The regular retail price of my ACEOs is $4, so you can snag a bargain if you decide to bid on them!

There are 117 different images to choose from including some of my first paintings that I ever created. But there are also all of my brand new ones and most popular ones to purchase as well!

Boy was it a trip down memory lane as I was going through all of these images. My style changed dramatically at one point when I came up with a different process to sketch and then transfer my linework to my finished watercolor paper. Because of this change, I was able to sketch more realistic figures and add more detail into my final paintings. When my style made the big change, I sort of "retired" all my very first pieces and they haven't been available for purchase for many years. But for this sale, I thought it would be fun to bring them back because there were a lot of you who were very fond of these pieces and many of you who have never had a chance to purchase them or even see them before!

To view and bid on my ACEO print sale, visit this link.

Here are some of my really old pieces that are up for grabs. This will probably be one of the only times, if not the only time, I decide to offer these pieces, so if you're interested I'd snag them now!

Baby Update

Hi everyone! I am finally back from our whirlwind of a month. Our latest journey took us to Georgia to see my family and they threw us a baby shower! It was so much fun!!

I really enjoyed getting to visit with everyone and we received such awesome presents!! I was just blown away at everyone's generosity. Our baby is already so loved and she's not even here yet! We are so very lucky. =) I'm so sad that we couldn't stay longer, but I'm looking forward to when everyone comes to visit us after the baby is here.

Our baby girl is still doing wonderfully and so am I! I'll be 29 weeks along tomorrow. I can't believe how quickly the time is going by and it feels like my due date is just around the corner. Now that we're done traveling, we are going to focus on getting the nursery ready. We decided on the color purple and an owl theme! I'm really excited to start working on it.

Now that I'm home with no trips planned in the recent future, I'll also be working full time on my art work once again! Thanks to everyone for being so patient the past month while we've been traveling. I'm going to resume work on all my outstanding commissions. I also hope to sketch a lot this month. I'm really sad I missed Sketch Fest again this month, so I'm looking forward to doing some sketching on my own in lieu of attending Sketch Fest. Thanks again for all of your patience this past month! =)

Keychains for Sale! $12 each or 2 for $20

I've decided to offer up some items for sale that I've previously only sold at shows. First up are these lovely keychains!

Each keychain is handcrafted and assembled by myself. A very intricate Baroque style frame surrounds each image. It's almost like you're carrying around a miniature framed picture with you! The keyring is then attached to the back of the resin frame with a bail and glue. I have placed a resin dome over the image to complete the keychain.

Each keychain measures approximately 5 inches from the bottom of the frame to the very top of the keyring. And they measure approximately 1 3/4" - 2" across the widest part of the frame depending on the style. They are just the perfect size to keep your keys safe and fit inside a pocket or purse!

To purchase, either reply to this post, email me at nikki@aurella-art.com or message me on Facebook letting me know which images you want, your Paypal email address and the country you live in. I'll then send you an invoice through Paypal with the shipping factored correctly.

I have 15 different images available and there are limited quantities:

Cassandra - 2 available
Tracey - 1 available
Vienna - 1 available
Telsa - 2 available
Karmina - 1 available
Constance - 1 available
Cassia - 1 available
Mina - 2 available
Angelique - 1 available
Cheyanna - 1 available
Willow - 2 available
Ryla - 1 available
Giselle - 1 available
Arden - 2 available
Ashlyn - 3 available

Shipping Costs:
(I always combine shipping!)

US Destinations = $2.25
Canada Destinations = $7.00
Everywhere Else = $9.00

20% Off Everything in my Etsy Shop!

I'm having a huge sale in my Etsy shop from today through Sunday May 5th! Use coupon code SPRINGSALE2013 to save 20% off my -entire- shop including prints, bookmarks, magnets, stickers, all my printable items, original sketches, original paintings and more!

Selina Fenech's Fairies and Fantasy Art Awards

I entered a contest hosted by Selina Fenech for fantasy artists and it would mean SO much to me if you would go cast a vote for me!! There are so many amazing fantasy artists that entered the competition and you can vote two times, so be sure to show some love to your other favorite fantasy artist!

Visit Selina's blog to cast your vote here.
 
The artist who wins will be given a licensing contract with her company Fairies and Fantasy which is such a wonderful opportunity. So your support would mean the world to me!

I entered my raven inspired witch piece, Rayne. You can see the piece on Selina's blog as well. Everyone's names are in alphabetical order. And then just cast your two votes! Thank you to everyone for their support! =)

Sketch Fest - 7 New Sketches

I had so much fun participating in Sketch Fest this past week. For those of you who haven't heard about Sketch Fest, it is an event hosted by Ellen Million where people can post prompts for artists to sketch. You have one hour to complete your sketch and then you can then post it up for others to see or for sale!

This was my first time participating and I had an absolute blast. I completed 7 new sketches and just thought I'd take a moment to recap and show all the sketches I finished. There are even a couple still for sale!

Rainbows in Her Hair

I really loved this prompt and knew exactly what I wanted to do as soon as I saw it! I decided to do a portrait in pencil and then color her hair with colored pencils to resemble a rainbow. I hope you all enjoy it! It measures 5x7" and is done on sketch paper with pencils and colored pencils. This piece was SOLD during Sketch Fest.

Mermaid in a Bathtub

I have always wanted to draw a mermaid in a bathtub, so I just had to jump at this prompt! It was a lot of fun to draw and I especially liked adding the little rubber ducky. It measures 5x7" and is done on sketch paper with pencil. This piece was SOLD during Sketch Fest.

Critters in Rain Boots

I couldn't resist this prompt! I usually draw "human" characters, but who doesn't love adorable little critters in rain boots? I'm not sure why, but I instantly thought of a hedgehog. I think they're adorable and I've never drawn one before. So here is my hedgehog frolicking through the forest on a rainy day, splashing in puddles with her rain boots! This measures 5x7" and is drawn on sketch paper in pencil. This piece SOLD during Sketch Fest.

Wizard of Oz Character in My Style

I have always wanted to draw the Wizard of Oz characters so I just had to do this prompt! I decided to start with Dorothy. I made her my style by changing her traditional outfit to make it a bit more sexy. I of course had to give her a corset top, but added ruffles to keep it sweet. I also added a little striped arm cuff. I hope you all enjoy her! This sketch measures 5x7" and is drawn on sketch paper in pencil. This piece is still for sale on the Sketch Fest website here.

Fairy with Dragonfly Wings

I love drawing fairies with different types of wings and I have never done one with dragonfly wings, so I decided to give this one a shot! I wanted to add a few more details to her clothes, but ran out of time. Hope you all enjoy her! =) This was drawn a 5x7" piece of sketch paper with pencil. This piece SOLD during Sketch Fest.

Fae Pirate

Well, I was struggling trying to decide what to draw next with all the wonderful prompts, but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to draw a pirate and a fae pirate at that! I love to draw pirates with all their detailed, layered clothing. It was really fun to try and think of what kind of wings a pirate fairy would have. I imagined her having tattered wings that look like they're made out of ship sails and rope. I hope you all enjoy her! =) This was done on a 5x7" piece of sketch paper with pencil. This piece is still for sale on the Sketch Fest website here.

Princess Fairy

Well, I guess I'm on a fairy kick! I've drawn multiple fairies this Sketch Fest and decided to end with a pretty Princess Fairy! I've always wanted to draw a princess with the tall cone shaped princess hat, so I took this opportunity to do so. Hope you all enjoy her! =) This is drawn on a 5x7" piece of sketch paper with pencil. This piece SOLD during Sketch Fest.

New Paintings - Morrigane, Alondra & Medwin and a Personal Commission

Whew, I sure have been busy the past couple weeks! I have finished up three large paintings that I've been working on for a couple months now. I've been alternating between them, so it was fun to wrap them all up at the same time. I thought I'd take a moment to show you all the finished pieces!

Morrigane

Morrigane is my first big finish of 2013! She measures 8x10" and is a commissioned painting. My client wanted me to depict traditional elements of The Morrigan mixed with personality traits of herself. They combined together to create this beautiful character that I was so excited to be able to paint!

Because this was a commissioned painting, the original has already been sold. But prints and products of this piece will soon be available in my Etsy shop here.

Alondra & Medwin

I have another exciting new painting to share with you all today! This was another commissioned painting titled Alondra & Medwin. This is part of a 4 painting series of elemental witches. I have already completed the first in the series "Serafina & Firenze" that depicts the fire element. Alondra & Medwin is the second in the series and depicts the water element.

This was such a fun piece to paint and probably my most detailed painting to date. Between all the carvings and detail in the back and the intricate coral reef elements in the front...not to mention the witch and the seahorse...I spent hours upon hours on this piece from start to finish. But it was so much fun to do and I enjoy seeing this piece alongside it's companion piece. I can't wait to finish the rest of the series!

Again, this was a commissioned piece, so the original is already in a great home. But prints and products are available in my Etsy shop here.

Personal Commission

This is the third painting that I've wrapped up in the past couple weeks. And this is definitely a special one! I was approached a few months ago by a wonderful customer of mine who wanted a stylized portrait commission of her and her daughter.

Now those of you who follow my work know that I usually only paint things with wings, hats, fangs, tails, etc... lol. And I have never painted any children before. But this customer is so important to me, I just couldn't say no! And I'm really glad that I didn't.

It was such a challenging piece, but I really feel like I pushed myself a lot on this painting. And I'm really happy I got the opportunity to work on such a special piece for a special person! I hope that you all enjoy it. 

 

A Look Back At 2012

2012 was a busy year for me! It started out preparing for my first big convention, MegaCon 2012 in Orlando, Florida. Then, my husband and I made a big move from Atlanta, Georgia to Columbus, Ohio. After the move, I was able to focus more time on my artwork and I took on a lot of commissions and was able to finish quite a few paintings! I thought it might be fun to take a look back at all the paintings I was able to finish in 2012!

Cheyanna - 11x14 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in January 2012

Symphoni - 11x14 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in May 2012

Kenda - 2.5x3.5" Watercolor and Ink - Painted in June 2012

Serafina & Firenze - 11x14 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in June 2012

Lissa - 5x7 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in June 2012

Rayne - 5x7 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in July 2012

Copper - 11x14 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in August 2012

Riley - 5x7 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in October 2012

Lexy - 5x7 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in October 2012

BreAnna - 5x7 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in November 2012

Jayna - 5x7 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in December 2012

Fallon - 5x7 Watercolor and Ink - Painted in December 2012

Congratulations to Becca Bencini!!

Well, I put everyone's names in a big box and chose a winner for my giveaway and the name I picked was Becca Bencini!! Congratulations Becca! You have won an 8x10" original commissioned painting, painted to your specifications. Just contact me at nikki@aurella-art.com to claim your prize!

I wanted to thank everyone who entered my giveaway! Your kind comments about my work really mean so much to me. It was so much fun to read about how you all discovered my art and what your favorite pieces are.

I also wanted to thank the very kind donor who made this whole giveaway possible!!

I will definitely be having more giveaways in the future, so just be sure to keep an eye out on my blog!

Holiday Giveaway - Original 8x10" Commissioned Painting!!

I'm having another holiday giveaway this year and it's a BIG one! This year, a very wonderful and generous person has donated money for me to give away an 8x10" fully shaded commissioned painting. That's right!! An ORIGINAL painting, valued at $300, painted to your specifications that you can win for free!! How exciting is that?! Can you tell I'm excited?? =D

And the good news is, it's super easy to enter! You can enter by commenting below this post in my blog by answering one of these two questions:

1. What is your favorite painting of mine and why? You can find my complete gallery with names of all my paintings here.

2. How did you first discover my artwork?

That's it! That's all you need to do to enter my contest. But if you want to show your love for my art and support my work, I would also love it if you would share my contest on your Facebook account and/or "like" my Facebook Fan Page here. While that's not necessary to enter, I would definitely appreciate it! =)

Only comments under this post on my blog will be accepted. I have enabled anonymous posts, so even if you don't have an account you should be able to post a comment. If you leave an anonymous post, please leave your name and email address so that if you win I have a way to contact you. Also, if you have any account, please make sure that there is a way to contact you when viewing your blogger profile such as an email link. If not, please leave your email address as well.

Anyone can enter! Anyone around the world, friends, family, fellow artists....if a commissioned painting is something you would like to win, then please enter! =)

This giveaway will run through midnight EST January 3, 2013! The winner will be drawn randomly from everyone who has entered and your answers will have no influence over who the winner is.

The winner will receive an 8x10" fully shaded commissioned painting. It includes one character, a background, and animals if you so choose. I will create a sketch to your specifications, a rough colored version and then a final, finished watercolor painting. Please be familiar with my style and what I can and cannot do before entering. This process can take anywhere from 1-3 months. For more information about my commissions, you can look at my website here.

The giveaway donor wishes to remain anonymous, but if you would like to express your thanks for this awesome gift they are giving away, please feel free to do so in the comments below! I'm sure they will be reading. =)

Cyber Monday Sale - 20% Off Entire Etsy Shop

I decided to have a big sale for Cyber Monday in my Etsy shop!! I'm offering 20% off EVERYTHING. Just type in coupon code CYBERMONDAY2012 upon checkout to get 20% off. That's 20% off originals, prints, sketches, digital stamps, collage sheets, stickers and more! This will be my biggest sale before the holidays, so don't miss out if you have your eye on something!

Since I sort of announced this sale last minute, I'm going to have it today and tomorrow! So you'll have until Tuesday at midnight EST to make your purchases. =)

Monthly Fantasy Art Auctions Group on Facebook

I wanted to tell you all about an awesome new group that I'm a part of over on Facebook. The group is called "Monthly Fantasy Art Auctions" and it's a big group of very talented fantasy artists that put their work up for auction! All auctions close on the last day of the month. And we're now offering up "Buy it now" options on some of the pieces. So it's really a lot of fun! Everyone's super friendly and chatty, so come join us!

I currently have 5 different auctions up for grabs. Here are links to all of my available auctions:

Auction #1 - 8x10" Hand Embellished Print of Evania

Auction #2 - 8x10" Hand Embellished Print of Kiandra

Auction #3 - 8x10" Hand Embellished Print of Arden

Auction #4 - Halloween Sticker Pack

Auction #5 - Original Kiandra Sketch + 8x10" Signed Print