Frank Schieber contacted me to let me know that everyone now has FREE access to my exclusive artist interview on the Cool Hand Frank platform! So if you were not able to sign up to access it when it went live last May or if you didn’t get a chance to read it when it was temporarily free during spooky season, then nows your chance to give it a gander on the official Artist Interviews section of their website.
From my original May 27, 2025 post: “Not only was it an insightful and energizing conversation, but I’m also thrilled to be the very first artist spotlighted in their brand new interview series. We had a blast diving into the inspiration behind my branding and artistic pseudonym, how Midwest horror, pop culture, and the local rock scene have shaped my work, my evolution through different artistic mediums, and which iconic figures living and dead I dream of gifting my art to. I also share some fun facts that might surprise my collectors, how the Soska Sisters pulled me out of an artistic funk, and even reveal my go-to beverage for keeping the creative blood flowing.” Read it here now!
Some of you may be setting your New Year’s resolutions right now, however with it still being the dead of winter I prefer to follow the rhythm of nature and set my intentions with the spring equinox, when light takes over darkness, life re-emerges, balance is restored, and creation begins. So for me, winter is the time to dream without pressure and reflect on what I have overcome thus far.
With that being said, this time last year looked very different for me, and what started off on a very high note came crashing down rather quickly. I was so excited to kick the year off with a brand new job where I could finally support fellow artists for a living, only to be led by a CEO full of false promises that resulted in surprise layoffs and the company closing their doors. Despite them being a startup, I jumped all in when the opportunity arose and was quickly reminded why I have never been much of a big risk taker. Having been on my own since I was 18 and always holding a job since I was 15, I was overcome with emotions. I had never lost a job before, especially at no fault of my own, and on top of it, in an industry I was genuinely passionate about. To say it was soul crushing would be an understatement. It didn’t help that it all happened with terrible timing, and I don’t mean just being let go the day after my 44th birthday, but the fact that I was left to hunt for a new job only to find myself tangled in the web of a nightmare job market filled with scammers, hackers, AI garbage, age discrimination, remote jobs that are really hybrid, too many applicants, fake job postings, and most of all, false hopes.
Unfortunately, I still haven’t escaped that job hunting web just yet, but my mindset has changed as I continue to reflect on all the blessings that have resulted from it. For instance, yes, I may have taken a risk, but I also was stuck in a very toxic work situation, and jumping ship to board on with the new startup gave me the push I needed to leave. And although everyone’s time at the startup was cut short, I was blessed to be able to work with an amazing team of women I may never have had the opportunity to meet. I quickly picked up new software and skill sets, and even some great advice and ideas that I now utilize for my own art practice. Most importantly though, I got to experience what it was like working directly with some very talented and well-known fine artists from all around the country, which was something very special that I had hoped to gain from my time working there.
As months passed, one thing remained constant, and that was me word vomiting over and over again about how incredibly grateful I am for my hardworking husband. He has not only been keeping us afloat financially, but he has been my emotional rock through everything, reminding me that just because I am not working full time doesn’t mean I am worthless, because honestly most days thats how I’ve felt. Not having the spending money to enjoy ourselves like we used to or having the ability to save like we were has definitely taken a hit to my self esteem but at the same time allowed me to gain a sense of freedom that money could never buy.
Which leaves me with the one thing I feel this year has blessed me with the most, and that was time. Something I never had before and at times still feel guilty about gaining. When working for other companies, I never had the dedicated time and creative energy I needed to fully invest into my own artwork. Writing this blog alone would have been much different, much shorter, or not even written at all. I would become overwhelmed trying to balance and keep it all together, my health often taking a toll, projects and ideas piling up because it would take me forever to finish anything, or feeling overwhelmed enough to skip the creative process altogether, which would ultimately leave me feeling unaccomplished and unfulfilled.
After being let go from the daily grind, it seemed like whenever I had a confidence crushing moment on my job hunting journey, it would immediately be followed by an uplifting art win of some sort. I now know those were signs from the universe divinely guiding and gifting me with what I had always asked for, it just arrived terribly wrapped in loss and confusion. It was like asking for flowers and the universe giving me rain instead. The seeds were planted. It was up to me to figure out that the glimmers in the rain drops only came if I provided the sunshine needed to bloom. So some days I chose to take breaks from the stress of the job hunt and strictly focus the time I was gifted to work on bringing more of my visions to life. Guilt free.
Since being laid off, I have also gained a plethora of new LinkedIn connections and although a majority of them are strangers in the real world, they’ve truly helped keep me sane. They’ve been there to boost my confidence when venting about job hunting dead ends while also being there to celebrate and support me when sharing my art wins and announcing my new creations. Many have even written up features or conducted interviews about me and my work, and others have actually become new collectors of it. Ironically, most of them may have never even discovered my work had I not been more active on the platform due to my job hunt and the time I was blessed with to focus and really go all in on it this year.
And although I was technically unemployed, I remained VERY busy. When I was not creating, applying or interviewing for jobs, I was putting in hours of unpaid work as an Artrepreneur, which really has put into perspective why it’s been so hard to keep up with everything while working a full-time job.
Top that off with everything else going on in the world, there were many days that made it harder to find the blessings and transform negative thoughts into positive ones. But I found that when I surrounded myself in inspiring environments and spent my time and energy wisely with people who would rather live in the moment than constantly focus on drama, politics, news, and negativity, I felt much lighter, healthier, and creatively motivated.
Refocusing my mindset was important for me as an artist. For instance, did someone physically steal a piece of my artwork and therefore I became a famous artist overnight due to the heist? No, but someone wanted my artwork badly enough that they were willing to risk getting caught and arrested for it.
Did I make a killing on my work this year to the point I could completely live off the income and stop job hunting? No, but I gained a couple freelance gigs that got me by, and both my Etsy and Closet Collectibles sales were on the rise, resulting in many happy dances for a girl who just wants to share her visions with the world while hoping they speak to someone as weird as she is.
So with that, I just want to show my gratitude to everyone that helped these artist milestone moments happen for me over the past “Gregorian calendar year”….
I joined Lyric, an artist first platform allowing my art collectors another way to shop my creations (the company rebranded as Latchet)
Bestselling Author, Award-Winning Screenwriter, & Entertainment Journalist Staci Lane Wilson interviewed and featured me and my work on Women In Horror
My split face portraits “Nothing Is Trivial” of Brandon Lee as Eric Draven and “Maybe Today Satan” of Kierna Shipka as Sabrina Spellman were selected and featured in the Artflow Alliance Virtual Art Exhibition: Haunted Histories from Halloween – Dec 31st
I was commissioned and completed 7 portraits that will be used for promotional and fundraising efforts for the fantasy web series Sommoners Tale created by Brandon Nyte
In celebration of the final season of Stranger Things I conjured up a limited edition Vecna – Upside Down picture frame to showcase an 8×10″ giclee print of my Pretty Bitchin’ split face portrait of Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in Seasons 1 and 2
I checked Mia Goth and Pearl from the X Trilogy horror movie series off my art bucket list by completing my split face portrait “I’m Not Staying On This Farm”
I checked Walton Goggins and Uncle Baby Billy Freeman from the Righteous Gemstones off my art bucket list by completing my split face portrait “Voila! No More COVID!”
My split face portraits “Chop Driftwood” of Bill Moseley and “Shit The Bed” of Sid Haig were featured on multiple episodes of the Slash Sisters Podcast on Youtube
I was contracted by the realtor/owner of Teighlor Made TX to set up her WiX website from their brokerage’s company template. This included adjusting layout, updating media, hyperlinking, SEO & social media share settings, alt text, blog set up, setting up forms, service/meeting requests bookings, automations, notifications, label tags for segmenting contact leads, setting up admin roles, giving the client marketing and process feedback
I was once again the VIP Prize Collaborator for Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Con where I doubled the number of prize contributions resulting in a very happy crowd and another successful VIP Cocktail Reception Party for celebrity guests and ultimate ticket holders!
And most importantly, I want you all to know… I’m not stopping anytime soon!
Recently I received a message from the incredibly talented Staci Layne Wilson. Yes, the same Staci Layne Wilson best known for being a powerhouse author, reporter, and filmmaker in the horror and rock genre worlds. Although Staci and I have never met in person, our paths have crossed numerous times over the years through the overlapping of online communities that inspire our work. So hearing from her was not unexpected, but her asking to do a special feature write up about me and my artwork for Women In Horror was quite a lovely surprise.
She asked if I would be open to a Q and A that would help her take a little deep dive into the unique inner world that shapes the wide range of art that I create, and knowing how talented and impactful Staci’s writing is, of corpse I said yes. She took the insights from our interview and transformed them into a write up that I am genuinely excited to share with all of you.
“Nicole Garcia doesn’t just create art, she resurrects it, corpsifies it, and occasionally sticks a dead rat in its mouth for good measure. Known professionally as Living Dead Girl Nicole, this multi-disciplinary artist has carved out her own delightfully twisted niche in the horror art world.” Read more here!
For those not familiar with Staci’s Women In Horror project, here is a snippet from their website to help you become familiar with their mission…
“Your destination for all things fierce, frightening, and female-driven in the genre space. From visionary directors crafting tomorrow’s nightmares to authors penning deliciously dark tales, we’re here to celebrate the women who make horror happen. Dive into our curated selection of films and books that put women at the center of the story—whether they’re wielding the camera, holding the pen, or haunting the frame. Explore exclusive interviews and profiles that shine a spotlight on both legendary icons and rising stars who are reshaping the landscape of horror. Whether you’re hunting for your next spine-chilling read, tracking upcoming releases, or rediscovering classic gems, you’ll find something here to make your skin crawl (in the best possible way). Welcome to the dark side—we’ve been expecting you.”
As you know, I am always eager to support my horror family, and it is a true honor to find myself featured alongside so many fierce and visionary women who keep the genre alive and thriving. I am endlessly grateful to Staci for giving my work this incredible spotlight, and to all of you who continue walking with me through this whimsical and macabre world of my creative journey.
Interested in featuring me and/or my artwork in your publication or online platform? Let’s chat!
While networking with fellow creatives on LinkedIn, I had the honor of connecting with Frank Schieber who invited me to do an artist interview feature for his platform, Cool Hand Frank!
Not only was it an insightful and energizing conversation, but I’m also thrilled to be the very first artist spotlighted in their brand new interview series. We had a blast diving into the inspiration behind my branding and artistic pseudonym, how Midwest horror, pop culture, and the local rock scene have shaped my work, my evolution through different artistic mediums, and which iconic figures living and dead I dream of gifting my art to. I also share some fun facts that might surprise my collectors, how the Soska Sisters pulled me out of an artistic funk, and even reveal my go-to beverage for keeping the creative blood flowing.
“For starters, getting a message from someone named Living Dead Girl Nicole is one hell of an attention-getter. Second, I’m a sucker for word fusion when it’s done well and her self-described title of Artrepreneur was both unique and relatable. Third, a David Bowie quote on her LinkedIn profile? Come on. That sealed the deal for a dialogue.We exchanged messages for a week. Her intelligence was clear, as was her deep passion for all things horror and fantasy genres I rarely dabble in. What really struck me, though, was how seamlessly she connects those worlds with celebrity-centered pop culture. So I asked to interview her, and she said yes. Enjoy this brief chat with an exceptional multimedia artist whose reputation in the horror and fantasy convention scene is growing fast!” – Continue reading* the full feature article here!
*Please note, as “a digital oasis for creatives in the chaos of modern media“, the platform is an exclusive, subscription-based website. You do need to subscribe to unlock and read the full article (it was already blasted out to their huge network of followers this weekend). The good news? Subscriptions start as low as $1, and you can cancel anytime. If you choose to stick around, I can vouch that you won’t find any of the negative noise you get from regular news outlets. Just original works from real writers and creatives. Lots of wit. Lots of talent. Lots of cool. 😎
For those not familiar with Cool Hand Frank, here is a snippet from their website to help you get you familiar with their mission…
What Will You Discover? Original written works from real writers: engaging essays, witty humor, short stories, and even the occasional poem. There’s no AI-generated content here (though ChatGPT and Claude are excellent senior editors, I’m still the executive editor). Every word is handcrafted and delivered with care like Sinatra sang, “nice and easy.” The curated arton Cool Hand Frank is as distinctive as the writing. Most images come from talented artists and creators, with occasional use of my own photography or the rare stock photo when needed. See something you love and want to buy? Connect with the artist directly through this website. Also, if you’re a writer, painter, photographer, mixed-media artist, or other creator looking for a cool platform to showcase your works, talk to me: let’s collaborate and get you exposure to a fast-growing subscriber audience. In a world drowning in content overload, Cool Hand Frank is your refreshing timeout. Weekly updates bring you high-grade storytelling without pop-ups, banner ads, or distractions. Just one email a week to tell you what’s new!
New to my blog? You can find this article as well as many other fun places that my art work has been featured on the Creature Features section of my portfolio website!
Being featured by a publication is always an honor, especially when it’s a platform that uplifts creatives and reminds us that art still matters in a world full of noise. It’s rare to find a space that not only showcases talent but also nurtures it, encourages honest expression, and connects artists with audiences who truly appreciate their work. I’m proud to be a part of the conversation and it makes me excited to keep creating, connecting, and pushing boundaries!
