Did you know when I first started life i design I sold my art at local art markets? I did it all: taught classes in person, sold locally, and anything else in between. Although I’ve moved away from selling at art markets, I wanted to give my best tips for how to prepare to sell your art at art markets.

Watercolor art is a beautiful blend of creativity and technique, and finding the perfect gift for an artist can enhance their craft and spark inspiration. Whether they’re just beginning their artistic journey or are seasoned painters, this guide includes must-have tools and unique supplies. Curated with care, this list features popular items from trusted sources like life i design and top-quality brands like Winsor & Newton and Etchr. Let’s dive into the best watercolor gifts for this holiday season!

As an artist, putting a price tag on your artwork can feel overwhelming. Art is personal and pricing something you’ve poured your heart and soul into can be tricky. You may find it hard not only to share your creations but also to decide how much they’re worth. Yet, if you plan to sell your art and make a living from your passion, it’s essential to find a pricing strategy that honors your work–and pays you fairly.

As the vibrant hues of autumn surround us, it’s a perfect time for watercolor artists to dive deeper into the art of color mixing. Fall colors offer a natural, rich palette full of warmth, depth, and subtlety, making it the ideal inspiration for artists looking to expand their color mixing skills. By mastering these seasonal hues, you can create paintings that genuinely capture the essence of autumn.

Are you dreaming of combining your love for art with an unforgettable getaway? After the success of our recent art retreat in France, I’m thrilled to announce that our next adventure will be in Portugal! 🎉 In October 2025, we’re headed to the beautiful Algarve coast for an immersive Portugal art retreat—and you’re invited.

November is just around the corner, and I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate a very special milestone, the one year anniversary of my book, Watercolor Made Simple! To commemorate the occasion, I’m launching something extra special for all of you who have supported me along the way: a Creative Book Club, featuring live painting sessions that will bring the pages of Watercolor Made Simple to life, giveaways, and more!

Color isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a powerful tool to set the mood, draw attention, and connect with your audience emotionally. By understanding the season’s trending color combinations, you’ll have a roadmap to creating visually captivating works that sell. The Winter 2024 Color Trend Report is packed with insight on how to use these trendy shades in ways that feel fresh and inspiring.

Here are my favorite life i design podcast episodes you should listen to if you’re looking to binge listen to something while you are painting and working on your art.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I have a creative retreat in France this fall! I am so excited about our week-long trip to the French countryside, practicing art and exploring a new place with fellow artists!

When I released my

last year, I wanted it to be available to as many people as possible. So I’ve worked with my publishers to release a Spanish version and it is now available! I was also surprised the other day with the Italian translation at my front door!

If you’ve ever admired a beautifully crafted portrait in a gallery and thought, “I wish I could do that,” you’re not alone. Portrait painting can seem like a daunting challenge, especially if you’re just starting out. But what if I told you that mastering the art of portrait painting is something you can achieve, even without any prior experience?

In this post, I’m going to share how you can finally feel confident painting portraits, regardless of your experience or artistic background.

When I first started making money from my art, I really struggled to find time to create art for fun. I thought everything I created needed to be sold or used for a class or tutorial, and it took a toll on me. I see this a lot with artists who make money from their work, and here are some ways I can combat that.

I took some time this morning to write a “Note from Nicki” which I used to send out to my email list quite frequently. As of recently, I’ve been enjoying bringing it back here and there and today I wanted to share it with you on the blog! When I started writing, I let the words flow, and it was quite a long email. So, I’ve actually shared the complete note below with you. Consider this a sneak peek of what my subscribers get sent to their inbox!

Looking for free watercolor resources? Have you checked out the Creative Library? If you haven’t heard my Creative Library is a space where you can access free resources that will help you get painting more.

I often get asked how to take your artwork from paper and turn them into prints and greeting cards. At first this can be hard to learn because there is so much information out there, so I wanted to break down the basics of what I use to scan my artwork and turn it into beautiful prints and greeting cards.

I am so excited to announce this! I’ve been fascinated by portraits for as long as I can remember. Seriously, anytime I'm at an art gallery or museum, I'm usually standing in front of the portraits, observing ALL the details and creative style of the artist, whether they are large, expressive ones or simple sketches found in glass enclosures in the museum.

Growing up the term “starving artist” was something I heard over and over again which was one of the main reasons I didn’t pursue art in the first place. So when I started life i design, I wanted to create a world where I could pursue art full-time and earn a full-time income from it too. I’m grateful to be able to do that and I want to share my knowledge with all of you!

I am the queen of procrastination when I have too much on my plate or days like today when the sun is shining and I just want to be out in my greenhouse. If you don’t follow me on Instagram and haven’t seen the greenhouse my husband and I built last month, check it out here.

You know that feeling when you’re done with a watercolor painting and can’t wait to frame it or put it on display? But once it fully dries, the corners have turned up, and there are ridges from all the water you used. Here’s a tip on how to flatten watercolor paper easily after it has dried.

Color mixing has been a topic of discussion lately so here are some of my color mixing tips and some tutorials to help you on your color mixing journey.