Nicki Traikos Nicki Traikos

How To Scan Your Artwork for Prints

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.

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Nicki Traikos Nicki Traikos

How to Paint Portraits in Watercolor: Sketching, Abstracts & More

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.

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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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Nicki Traikos Nicki Traikos

Benefits of Surrounding Yourself with Art

Have you ever walked around your space and felt like something was off? Or maybe it feels like your space no longer speaks to your personality? Art and decor that speak to who you are and inspire you throughout the day can benefit your mental health and well-being.

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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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Nicki Traikos Nicki Traikos

Inspirational Books I Use in My Personal Art Practice

There’s always something new to learn, whether it’s a new technique or a new process, and that’s why I LOVE using books as a jumping-off point when I’m not sure what to paint. It’s nice to have something to hold in your hand and view in person when trying to paint from photo references.

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BE INSPIRED, BE CREATIVE, SIDE HUSTLE Nicki Traikos BE INSPIRED, BE CREATIVE, SIDE HUSTLE Nicki Traikos

Sketch & Paint: New Watercolor E-book by Nicki Traikos

Have you ever wanted to learn watercolor painting but aren’t the greatest at sketching or drawing? I get this comment a lot! People tell me they don’t know how to sketch anything; therefore, they can’t paint anything that feels “finished” or “polished,” so I started creating my Trace and Paint books.

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BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos BE INSPIRED Nicki Traikos

life i design Class Reviews from Watercolors Made Simple Reviews from Students

I recently asked my students inside our student-only Facebook group to share some of their artwork from a class they had taken with me, and the results are AMAZING. I always enjoy scrolling through our feed and seeing the beautiful artwork created, and the amount of TALENT everyone has. The passion for creating art really does shine through their work.

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