Tag Archives: metaphysical art

Reflections Of An Artist | 2025 Milestone Recap 👩🏻‍🎨

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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”….

And most importantly, I want you all to know… I’m not stopping anytime soon!


Stay Strange & Magical ✨
LDG Nicole

Artflow Alliance Insider Features Handmade Gift Ideas by Living Dead Girl Nicole

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As announced last week, my artwork was selected by Dominique Sahms to be a part of the Artflow Alliance Haunted Histories Virtual Art Exhibition. In addition, Dominique featured my idea of a Gift Giving Guide and several of my handmade creations in the November issue the Artflow Alliance Insider newsletter!

Be sure to check out this very special issue to discover some great artists and handmade gift ideas as well as the Creature Features page of my portfolio website. There you can find this spotlight as well as some of the other fun and unique places my art has been featured over the years.

Want to showcase my work in your next publication? Let’s connect and chat!

Stay Strange & Magical, ✨
LDG Nicole

Etsy’s 20th Boosts Support For Artists For A Limited Time!

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Etsy is turning 20, and to celebrate, they’re boosting the benefits of their Share & Save program, meaning I get to keep more of my earnings when you use my special link to shop!

Having been laid off in February, this couldn’t come at a better time. Every order you place through my Etsy shop helps me keep creating the spooky, whimsical art you love, but now more than ever, it helps me to pay bills!

Here’s the key: to make sure more of your purchase supports me as the artist, you must use my direct Share & Save link:

👉 livingdeadgirlnicole.etsy.com 👈

This lets Etsy knows you found me because you are one of my art collectors and not just from searching their platform or seeing paid ads, in turn I get a bigger share of earnings from your orders during this limited-time promo (through July 23 at 9am ET).

So, in other words, if you’ve been eyeing one of my creations now’s the perfect time to grab it and know more of your money goes to me and not to Etsy fees.

If you are new here, be sure you also bookmark the link and use it whenever shopping or sharing my work, so I will receive at least the 4% after this special promo is over with.

Thank you for supporting independent artists. Your orders mean the world to me now and always!

Stay Strange & Magical,

LDG Nicole

New Cabinets of Curiosities Display at Closet Collectibles

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📣 Attention Art Collectors! My artwork has moved to a new area of Closet Collectibles. You will now find my creations in the Cabinets of Curiosities, taking center stage as the main focal point of their brand new horror themed room!

Rearranging of the store now allows collectors to easily find all the spooky, strange and unusual items they love but all in one area of the store! Including items from Trick or Treat Studios, NECA, and more!

This weekend’s art drop included the following:
🔪❤️ (1) Eat Your Heart Out 4″x 6″ Giclee Print in Snow Globe Frame
📖 ⚰️ (1) Deadtime Stories 8″x 10″ Canvas Print
🌈 💚 (1) Reflections In Green 8″x 8″ Canvas Print
🦋 💀 (1) Limited Edition Citrine Skullerfly Crystal Ornamental Wreath
🖨 🖼 Restock of previously sold out Giclee Prints
🤳 💕 Promo cards for my new Support, Snap, Share, Submit & Score deal

Here are a couple of pictures I took of the Eat Your Heart Out snow globe framed print before I dropped it off. When you shake it, red hearts and glitter magically appear, then settle at the bottom until the next time you give it another shake. It’s the perfect gift for any Tiffany Valentine – Jennifer Tilly fan who has everything and is looking for something more unique than what’s overly manufactured and mainstream.

Be sure to go check everything out and don’t forget to tell them Living Dead Girl Nicole sent ya!

Stay Strange & Magical,
LDG Nicole