Art process, articles and videos

Here it’s not all about the final work, but about the steps I take to get there. Peek over my shoulder as I paint, and let’s talk about all aspects of art: inspiration, techniques, materials, and challenges.


Fairy Day art show - Nela and Karin

International Fairy Day art show

This Saturday, June the 20th, was the opening reception to a group art show called "Visions from the Fairy Realm" featuring art by me and a fellow fantasy illustrator Karin Bogdanic. Here are some photos from the show opening. Read more...

Artist in a world of commerce

How to be an artist in a world of commerce

I imagine that a lot of people reading this are artists that either have a job in a creative field, or have a business that relies mostly on creative services. On the surface, it sounds like the best possible way to live as an artist, right? Here you are, doing the stuff other people would kill for. But there are days when you realize it's not as shiny as it seems on the outside. Read more...

Sing Me Of Better Times painting process

Painting process: Sing Me Of Better Times watercolor painting

I realized I haven't shared any of my creative processes in a while, so I decided to share some work-in-progress photos of my latest watercolor painting, Sing Me Of Better Times. This is not intended as a how-to by any means and I'm not describing every step in detail, but I hope it will still provide some value to you. Read more...

Sketching toolkit

What’s in my sketching toolkit?

Let's welcome the new outdoor sketching season with a little art supplies geekout! I'm always voyeuristically scavenging blogs and Pinterest to see what sketching tools other artists are using. I've only mentioned my sketching kit once before on this blog, so I decided to create a post about this topic alone. Read more...

Month of Fairies week 3

Month Of Fairies: Week 3

For the entire month of November I'm drawing a fairy a day and posting it on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #MonthOfFairies. Here's an overview of the artwork I created during the third week of the project, from November 17th 'till November 23rd. Read more...

Month of Fairies week 2

Month Of Fairies: Week 2

For the entire month of November I'm drawing a fairy a day and posting it on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #MonthOfFairies. I'm now officially half way through the journey, and here's an overview of all the artwork I created in the past week, from November 10th 'till November 16th. Read more...

Month of Fairies week 1

Month Of Fairies: Week 1

For the entire month of November I am drawing a fairy a day and posting it on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #MonthOfFairies. Here's an overview of all the drawings, paintings and sketches I created in the first week. Read more...

Month of Fairies

A Month Of Fairies

I've been itching to do a personal art project that will enable me to work on my technique and style. For the entire month of November I will be drawing a fairy a day and posting it on Instragram, Twitter and Facebook. Take a look at the first drawing in this post! Read more...

Freaky Friday

Artsy Weekend in June part 2: Freaky Friday art show

This Friday I was exhibiting my art in Zagreb during the Freaky Friday event. Freaky Friday takes place each Friday the 13th and it features performance artists from all over the world, as well as local visual artists. I displayed my 10 darkest artworks in various techniques including paintings, drawings and mixed media collages. Read more...

Artsy weekend

Artsy Weekend in June part 1: Witching Day and Wallpeople

Last weekend was filled with various cultural events here in Rijeka, and sadly I couldn't get to visit all of them, but those I did visit I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm continuing the tour next weekend, so I'm making this a 'part 1' of a series, starting with Witching Day and Wallpeople 2014. Read more...

Quote Art creates a bridge

Who are you really creating your art for?

There was a time when I was concerned about what my art represents, and what it does to the viewers. I was concerned that I was spreading negativity through my art, that I was airing my dirty laundry, and that maybe it wasn't a smart decision. My family's concerns about them possibly looking bad in public cast doubt on my work as well. So there was a phase when I really wasn't sure whether I should publish such art at all. But after I examined this subject from all sides, I decided it's OK for me to publish my art, and that I will continue to do it as long as I feel the need to. Read more...

Sketchbooks video

Why I Think Every Visual Creative Should Keep A Sketchbook (+ Video sketchbook flip)

I'm a huge fan of sketchbooks, so I'm very passionate about this subject. I hope that in this post I will give you enough reasons to finally start using them, and of course even if you don't consider yourself a visual creative, sketchbooks are a lot of fun! In the end I'll also share some tips how to get the best from your sketchbook practice, and I'll show you a video of my sketchbook flip. Read more...

Inspiration from Nature: Maple leaves on the sketchbook

Inspiration from Nature: Maple Elemental

Stuck with ideas on what to draw or paint? Wondering where do I get my ideas? Here's a post in which I describe how I got inspired to do one of my latest works. Of course, every work has a unique story and I don't go down the same route twice so it's hard to compile a 'recipe' - but I hope you'll find these tips helpful anyway! Read more...

Fox ink and watercolor sketch

Sketching in the museum — a new adventure!

I've been planning to go sketch in a museum for a very long time. But I always had something 'more important' to do, and I was so very 'busy'... As I was going through my to-do list for this year, a bullet point "draw in a museum" caught my attention. And I said to myself, 'Tomorrow it shall be. I'm going on an artist date in a museum.' Read more...