BE CREATIVE Nicki Traikos BE CREATIVE Nicki Traikos

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Watercolor Artists (2024)

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!

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BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos

Fall-Inspired Color Mixing in Watercolor

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.

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BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED, ART RETREAT Nicki Traikos BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED, ART RETREAT Nicki Traikos

Create & Explore with me in-person: Portugal Watercolor Art Retreat 2025 with Nicki Traikos Announced

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.

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BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos

Celebrating 1 Year of Watercolor Made Simple with an Exclusive Creative Book Club!

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!

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BE CREATIVE, ART BUSINESS, BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos BE CREATIVE, ART BUSINESS, BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos

Winter Color Trends 2024: A Must-Have Free Color Guide for Artists

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.

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BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos

Finally Feel Confident Painting Portraits: Portraits Made Simple + Exclusive Live Painting Session

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.

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BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED, ART BUSINESS Nicki Traikos BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED, ART BUSINESS Nicki Traikos

The Artful Balance of Creating Art for Fun and Creating Art for Money

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.

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BE INSPIRED, BE CREATIVE Nicki Traikos BE INSPIRED, BE CREATIVE Nicki Traikos

Note from Nicki Traiko’s Desk

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!

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BE CREATIVE Nicki Traikos BE CREATIVE Nicki Traikos

My Art Business Routine

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!

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BE CREATIVE Nicki Traikos BE CREATIVE Nicki Traikos

How to Flatten Watercolor Paper Easily

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.

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BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos

Best Planner for Creatives: The Artist Project Planner

Planning your art process is a critical part of growing as an artist. Before using this planner, I would create an initial sketch and just start. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no correct way to plan or create when it comes to your artistic process, but I realized I needed a more organized way to capture all of my ideas. Enter: The Artist Project Planner!

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