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Books, calendars and commissions

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This is my last post of the year.

Before Thanksgiving I finished inking my next middle grade graphic novel, Super Boba Cafe. Between that and Shark Party, I inked roughly 300 pages of comics this year. In addition to writing and revising upcoming books, I’m ready for a long break.

My happy face as I finished page 215 of Super Boba Cafe
Tracking progress, comic making is slow and steady

When working on long projects like a 200+ book, I need focus. So it took awhile to prep and print my yearly calendar. But it’s finally here! A new spin on my usual calendar with ink and watercolor art. I hope you like it!

Also for the first time in years, I have a small number of commissions available. My schedule is packed with books until 2025 so I’m unsure when this will happen again, but I’m happy to take a few now!

My final note is a new addition for each newsletter, which is to share my favorite reads. I am a lifelong book lover and tend to read 30-50 titles a year. I will link to bookshop.org, which is a great alternative to amaz*n that supports indie bookstores. If you can’t shop in person at a local independent bookstore, I recommend bookshop. I also maintain some graphic novel lists there as well.

My top 3!

Swim Team – a wonderful middle grade sports graphic novel that follows the journey of a girl on a swim team and delves into Black history and identity

Garlic and the Vampire – An adorable story of a little garlic who must leave her comfortable garden to confront the town vampire. This book is sweet and feels like a warm (garlicky) hug

All My Rage – This is the book I’ve recommended the most this year. Powerful. If I had this when I was growing up, I would’ve clutched it to my chest to feel less alone. It’s a story about two teenagers who experience more than their share of bad luck and how they journey from hurt to hope. It’s beautifully written, captivating and honest.

Thanks for reading this far – I hope you have a wonderful rest of the year with your loved ones.

See you in 2023,

Nidhi

eagle beach

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I finished this custom illustration before the holidays. A sweet husband asked me to create art of his wife with their two dogs walking in Alaska. We had met last year when I was there for the Alaska Robotics Mini Con. I absolutely loved drawing her, their dogs and the beauty of snow capped mountains.

It’d been awhile since I completed my last commission partly due to schedule and partly because I held off on them. I stopped because I felt that I needed to personally know the person to create. There’s an intimacy in drawing a custom piece. I study the person’s photos, learn about them through a friend or partner.  And a few years ago, I wasn’t comfortable with the level of pressure that I placed upon myself when completing that task.

Now, I’m aware that my growth as an artist allows me to create these pieces with ease. Creating custom art is joyful and exciting. I learn about people, their love for each other and get a rare glimpse into their lives. It feels like I’m learning to love them through each email, photo and line I draw. Every sketch, painting, comic or illustration teaches me. Sometimes it’s technical – about anatomy or value. Sometimes it’s a challenge to draw an animal or environment I’ve never drawn before. In the case of commissions, it teaches me again and again that love is everywhere. In a photo, a story or in a drawing.

I hope you have a lovely week.

Bear jug band illustration

jug band + commissions

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Commission ad
I’m excited to announce a new type of commission. I wanted to increase the access to my commissions and reduce the cost. I’m releasing no background commissions – they start at $500 and are first come, first serve. I will release 10 slots at a time. Read more about them here.
I’m off for the weekend – back on Tuesday! Have a happy week!

guan yin

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guanyin

The last piece in my bodhisattva commission series!

morning kiss + commissions

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morningkiss

i am happy to announce that commissions are now open! i have a page with detailed information, if you are interested in a custom piece i ask that you read the entire page before contacting me.

happy monday!

cat & tyler

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catyler

i believe what makes any work compelling is that it comes from the heart.

earlier this year i stopped accepting commissions. partly because i was overwhelmed by the requests and partly because it became increasingly difficult for me to draw people i didn’t know. i love drawing, but one of the reasons i love my job is because i create from me – my imagination, my experiences, my relationships.

so when friends ask me to draw them, its always a treat… because when you draw someone, its like falling in love with them. even someone you’ve known for a long time – you fall in love with their posture, the various shades of color in their hair, the way that the light catches their smile… all of their details.

for my friends cat & tyler, may your love always grow.
happy anniversary!