Arden Ellen Nixon

Emergency Mystery Commission!

Added 2025-04-16 12:23:00 +0000 UTC

Two weeks ago, I was contacted by an old classmate who has become a professional writer. They were in a bind (ha!) for the cover of their new book--could I help? Cue multiple sketches back and forth and a monster painting marathon where I did unspeakable things to my hand to meet the tight deadline.

The irony is, I still don't know if the publisher approved my cover, either! :P The author paid me for my time, so it's a question of waiting to see if I'm paid for the rights, too.

That also means I'm not at liberty to show or say much about the piece for possibly many months. However, I owe you an assurance that I've been working in the studio despite the incognito nature of how. In that spirit, here is a truly tiny peak:

Those are bee-sized bees. Patreon is blowing up the image unnecessarily no matter what I try, but rest-assured, they are tiny, and my joints bear the proof. :P There were many such tiny, tiny things for this piece.

Related: My hand is enjoying a week off, barring what I ask of it in the garden. It's finally planting time, and I've been cramming like I'll be tested--which, in a way, I will! If it doesn't grow, we can't eat it, and I've lofty intentions of providing 80% or more of our vegetables this year.

Not pictured: The online Farmer's Almanac (https://www.almanac.com/ ), which I've read through multiple times at this point. Bonus shout-out to https://www.thriftbooks.com/ for my cheap reference library!

The painting projects I set aside for the emergency book cover are likewise waiting to blossom (ha again!), so it's off to work for me. Take care, friends!