I’m Nikki Dew. Welcome to the visual translation of what goes on inside my smooth and anxious brain.

I enjoy making art for myself, and I force myself to share it as a way to combat intense imposter syndrome and because having it sit in a dark closet or filed away on a shelf makes me sad. Anyhoo…

I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember, starting on my grandmother’s shag‑carpeted studio floor in Southern California. Picture a grandfather clock chiming in the background, Bob Ross whispering words of encouragement on a box TV in the corner, and me painting with - or on - anything my Grammy Dona could put in front of me.

My art journey started with horses and dragons, detoured through anime, fell hard for acrylic landscapes, and eventually made peace with watercolor after years of the medium being a mystery. My current challenge is figuring out digital art because, how do people even do that? Over time, I began to love turning the obscure, whimsical, occasionally quiet and sometimes feral corners of my imagination into something I could tangibly look at.

I’m a highly anxious person, and art is my anchor. It centers me, softens the noise, and keeps the emotional invasions - real or perceived - at bay, at least for a while. I make things that bring me peace, make me laugh, or bellow that creative flame we all forget to stoke on occasion.

If any of this resonates with you, I’m really glad you’re here. And if not, I’m still glad you’re here.