{"id":130886,"date":"2025-11-13T10:17:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T10:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/130886\/"},"modified":"2025-11-13T10:17:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T10:17:15","slug":"a-love-of-imperfection-led-this-artist-away-from-a-career-in-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/130886\/","title":{"rendered":"A love of imperfection led this artist away from a career in design"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Polish artist Gabriela Niko had embarked on a career in design when she decided her real calling was elsewhere. A love for sketchbooks and a passion for depicting imperfection as beauty led her to change directions and set out as an artist and illustrator.<\/p>\n

Today, she creates art using traditional mediums, embracing an intuitive, joy-driven practice using alcohol and acrylic markers, graphite and coloured pencils.<\/p>\n

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If you’re inspired, see our guides to the best coloured pencils<\/a> and the best markers for artists<\/a>. In the meantime, here Gabriela tells us a little about four examples of her work.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

Ariel (In Between)<\/p>\n

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\"Character\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Gabriela Niko)<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was coloured pencil fan art of Ariel from the Little Mermaid combining the animated version with the live-action reinterpretation. I imagined her floating between both: soft, self possessed and a little timeless.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soft Armor<\/p>\n

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\"Character\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Gabriela Niko)<\/p>\n

\u201cThey say women barely flinch or complain during tattoos. I liked that quiet toughness. This portrait mixes softness and stillness, drawn with alcohol markers and coloured pencils.\u201d<\/p>\n

First Star Tonight<\/p>\n

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\"Character\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Gabriela Niko)<\/p>\n

\u201cDrawn with coloured pencils and markers, this piece was inspired by my love of stars and quiet moods. I like capturing that in-between mood when a character looks calm, but you\u2019re not sure why.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frog hair day<\/p>\n

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\"Character\n<\/p>\n

(Image credit: Gabriela Niko)<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a playful portrait that blends fantasy with sketchbook looseness and overgrown details. I aim for subtle emotions in my characters: open to interpretation, but deeply felt.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daily design news, reviews, how-tos and more, as picked by the editors.<\/p>\n

You can see more of Gabriela’s work on her Instagram profile. <\/a>For more inspiration, see our interviews with character artist Greg Baldwin <\/a>and Deadpool director Tim Miller<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared in ImagineFX. Subscribe to ImagineFX<\/a> to never miss an issue. Print and digital subscriptions available.<\/p>\n