“Reflections In Green” Kermit Painting Officially Added To The Global Roots Mural Mosaic Layout

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I am excited to share that my “Reflections In Green” hand painted canvas tile of Kermit The Frog has been officially added to the America Connects – Nature’s Reflection mural layout as tile number 1527!

Once the layout is complete the artists who contributed their work will receive notification of when and where the mural will be installed in the spring! So stay tuned!

Missed the announcement about my submission? Read all about it here:

And for my fellow lovers and dreamers who feel a rainbow connection to this piece, there are made-to-order* 8″ x 8″ canvas prints and t-shirts available in my Etsy shop! I also have one 8″x 8″ canvas print currently available to see and purchase in-person at a discounted price* in my Cabinets of Curiosities at Closet Collectibles (in Crete, IL.). This allows my art collectors to not only own a piece of artistic history but to also give them a unique way to join forces with me in honoring Jim Henson’s legacy. 👩🏻‍🎨💚🌍✨

Stay Strange & Magical,
LDG Nicole

*Read more about my “never mass produced” creative process and in store discounted art prices here

Reflections In Green – Living Dead Girl Nicole’s Mural Mosaic Global Roots Submission

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So I discovered that sometimes doom scrolling actually pays off, especially when you follow Instagram profiles that share advice and encouragement for artists and the algorithm hits just right. That’s how I stumbled across Mural Mosaic. As soon as I read about their Global Roots project and how they’ve orchestrated hundreds of collaborative murals involving thousands of artists from around the world, my creative heart yearned to be part of it.

Invented by artist Lewis Lavoie, Mural Mosaic’s Global Roots Project brings together individual 6″ x 6″ canvas tiles, each painted by a different artist, that are arranged to form one large collaborative mural. When you receive your kit, it includes everything you need to paint your tile, such as supplies, instructions, examples, a deadline, and details on how to submit your finished piece.

Each artist is assigned a specific mural project and color that is not revealed to you until you receive your kit in the mail. How fun is that?! For me, I got the color green, which meant I could only use a specific green color palette when painting my tile. I also learned which mural my tile would become part of which will be America Connects – Nature’s Reflection. The subject is completely up to the artist allowing you to be as creative as you would like to be. Between the green color palette and theme, I immediately knew what my heart was set out to paint.

My inspiration came from the song “It’s Not Easy Being Green” that was originally performed by Jim Henson as Kermit the Frog on Sesame Street. What started as a simple tune about the color green quickly became a heartfelt anthem about self-acceptance. Over the years, it’s been interpreted as a gentle reminder that being different can be hard, but those unique qualities are what make us special. Kermit’s words have resonated with generations and turned this little song into something truly meaningful and iconic. It also felt like the perfect fit for the mural’s nature-based theme. In the original performance, Kermit sings from his swamp in the quiet beauty of his natural habitat (flies and all). His connection to nature, and the way he reflects to find peace in simply being felt like the perfect harmony for my submission.

When I began painting my tile, I kept Jim & Kermit’s message close to heart and this was the end result…

Living Dead Girl Nicole's Reflections In Green Painting

I actually completed this painting a few weeks ago, but with today marking the anniversary of Jim Henson’s passing, it just felt right to wait and unveil it now. Sharing it with my art collectors today feels like a meaningful way to remember and honor the incredible legacy Jim left for all of us.

Working on this small canvas felt surprisingly big. It was my chance to contribute a tiny part to something much larger, a collective celebration of reflection, nature, and creativity. Every brushstroke reminded me of how meaningful it is to find connection through art, even when we’re all painting different pieces of the same picture from all over the world. It is now displayed in my art “space” room amongst a gazillion other things that fulfill my Jim Henson obsession.

For those who would like to follow the journey of the mural process, they have a live grid page where the individual tiles are gradually placed as title submissions come in. The mural location is set to be revealed and the mural unveiled in Autumn 2025! As I get more information I will keep everyone posted.

In the meantime, my fellow lovers and dreamers who feel a connection to this piece, there will be 8″ x 8″ canvas prints and t-shirts available in my Etsy shop and I also have an 8″x 8″ canvas print currently in production for my art collectors to see in person and purchase at a discounted price* at Closet Collectibles (in Crete, IL.) when I do my next art drop!

Stay Strange & Magical,
LDG Nicole

*Read more about my in store discounted art prices here

Artist Shout Out: Ryan Gutekunst and Simona Candini

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This is a story of how an artist in Italy and a tattoo artist in Chicago made my arm beautiful again 🙂

I had a tattoo done on the top of left arm that meant a lot to me. It represented who I was as an artist. How growing up art has always been my release and escape from the troubles I was facing in my life. For those who follow my blog or know me I am talking about my Art Heals Crayon Tattoo. I got it 3 years ago and at first it was great but after it healed a pit of regret started to eat at me. Everyday I would look at it on the top of my arm and wish the artist would’ve thought a few things through. Meaning that once it healed it would look a bit different. What happened was the lettering was done so closely to the edges of the banner that when it healed and the ink set to the skin the word HEALS was no longer legible and parts of the banner and crayons just didn’t come out as I expected either. The backgound was so dark it lost some of the focus of the tattoo as well. I hate to admit it but the tattoo was a bit rushed by the aritst leaving me with a tattoo that just didn’t heal the way it could/should have. Having many tattoos I take care of them and they always heal perfectly. I took care of this one just the same.. including sunblock on sunny days like I do my sleeve.. back and arm tattoos. However no matter how well you take care of something a rushed tattoo is never going to be what it could have been. Sad seeing it was one I thought so long and hard about before I got it done.

The biggest kicker was that so many times people complimented the tattoo but always followed it up with one question……… “Art …. what?”

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Seeing that was the whole vision and message behind the tattoo, it killed me to be asked that so many times. A tattoo with that much meaning should not hold that much regret. It was eating at me so much that I finally decided to do something about it.

At first I asked some artists if they could fix it. Most of them told me they could but that as it healed and time went on it would most likely do the same thing. They could brighten the banner and other parts of it up again but there wasn’t much more that could be done. Seeing this was on the top of my arm I wanted to really think this through. I decided to make my appointment for fixing it for now. Even if it was temporary it was better then nothing. I told myself if I found something with just as much meaning that would cover it up then I would go that route with my appointment instead. Ryan Gutekunst was willing to work with me either way and couldn’t get me in until June. That gave me 4 months to figure out what route I would choose. I knew he would be the man for the job because his work is amazing and I had seen cover ups and other work he had done my friends in the past.

One day by chance as if it were meant to be I was on Etsy searching for Big Eye Art (because I just love it) and my jaw dropped when I came across a watercolor painting done by an extremely talented artist from Italy….Simona Candini. It just reminded me so much of myself and myself as an artist. Creepy meets cute. Macabre meets Feminine. You know my whole Jem and Elvira ulter ego personas that make up who I am :). Then I read the title of the piece “Little Demons of Inspiration” and then it hit me… THIS was my cover up!

I knew some altering would need to be done to cover up the old tattoo (such as darkening the colors or even possibly changing them) plus out of respect as an artist myself I contacted Simona and asked for her permission to get her work done as a tattoo. She was nothing but supportive and very happy that I wanted to use her piece. She asked me to send her photos. It was set! I let Ryan know and he said it could be done. I could not be happier.

In June I had my first session. I got the whole outline done.

Stencil placed over old tattoo…

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Let the pain begin…

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We added a few things. Some bats in the mix of the butterflies coming off her paintbrush to sortof represent me a little more but also to blend with the bats on my Count Von Count wrist tattoo that would be below the new tattoo. Ryan also surprised me with a little skull added ot the center of her bow! So me!

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Simona was thrilled with the addtions and even shared the work on her Facebook page.

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Well I had to wait 5 months to get my next session scheduled because Ryan is so good he is a hot commodity. The good thing is that gave the outline a good time to heal so that when he did fill it in he had a nice canvas to work with. Especially with it being a cover up.

Well folks my appointment was yesterday and I could not be happier.

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I may have to go back in for one final touch up once it heals to make sure the old tattoo doesn’t come through. Ryan is smart about cover ups. He starts off light. Waits for them to heal and then adds to them. Some artists like to just go in there super dark and then there is nothing you can do about it later. Glad he knows what he is doing because I could not be happier. My arm hates me and Ryan right now after all the hours of drilling the ink in ha ha (he isn’t heavy handed at all.. just good work takes time and should never be rushed which I learned the hard way with the original tattoo I was getting covered ha ha). I am sure once it’s no longer red, swollen and painful it will be alot happier ha ha.

If you are in the Chicagoland area and looking to get work done I highly recommend Ryan. He can be found at Insight Studios! Hit him up! Don’t forget to also check out Simona Candini’s insanely beautiful work as well!

Stay Spooky!
LDG Nicole

Freaky Fanatics: Owl Paintings On Display V.2

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My cousin Patrick sent me this updated photo of his girls’ bedroom. He moved the owl paintings I did for them to a shelf and I am totally digging the way it looks. You may recall I painted these about 3 years ago. You can see them in these previous posts as well.

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And of course this has been added to the awesome Freaky Fanatic Slideshow on my website! I love nothing more then photos like these showing the ways people are enjoying, sharing and wearing my work. So please continue to send them to me! I would love to feature your photos as well.

Stay Spooky!
LDG Nicole