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news and ARTWORK FROM NIKI MCQUEEN
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My apologies that this finds you a day or so late, it's been written in fits and starts from the comfort of my sickbed, where I've been firmly lodged for a week.
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September was a hard month which resulted in the creation of two dark, experimental works, that have been on the back-burner for a while.
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I could never have predicted the toll that emptying out, and bidding farewell to my once-forever home, would take. I crashed hard, both physically and psychologically as the real weight descended, walking away from the first and only house I will ever own.
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It was over 120 years old, in the bohemian suburb of Observatory, with Oregon pine floors and high ceilings. And rain spiders. For 16 of the 20 years it was mine, it was the only place I have ever felt deeply at home. I moved in to renovate, when it was still more-or-less a building site, with a kettle, a microwave, a mattress, a TV, and a panga.
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My attachment to the things there had waned in the past few years, but seeing them scattered to the winds was not easy. I sat watching as they were carted away, on the floor of the lounge where my art was born, flooded by memories of a life where I walked, danced, sang, rode motorbikes, had friends over, cooked food that I could taste, played boardgames, served cats, cried with laughter, fell in love with a dog, sang to the goldfish in my garden.
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Flowers bloomed there like the notes in a never-ending symphony. Fiery red in winter, white and yellow in spring and summer, gold and russet in autumn. It was my piece of earth.
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In the end, what I will miss the most are the people who made it a home.
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I will never, ever take for granted, that I had a better life in that home than 90% of my countrymen have had the opportunity for, a life filled with the love of good, kind and caring people, which is, I know deeply, greater than any possession or piece of land anyone could ever own.
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It is time for rest and reflection, for new things, strange directions and unseen adventures.
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My very best wishes to you this October, and thank you always, for your continued support.
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Sacrifice
Everything
To Feel
Nothing.
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There are Days when the world
Breaks
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Days where everything is one way yesterday,
and another way tomorrow.
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Everything before, happened to a different me.
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Everything after, quietly whispers a dissonant narrative.
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INTERNATIONAL BUYERS
Last month, I launched the first of three calendars for next year in my ETSY STORE. This one is called THE DARK ONES, and it features some of my favourite dark works...
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It comes in A3 and A4 sizes. International buyers can get it here.
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SA BUYERS:
The posters and items in my Etsy store are specifically aimed at my overseas market and the costs of shipping to South Africa are generally prohibitive. BUT.... they ARE available here, should you wish to order them! I have been liaising with print suppliers, and I can offer most of these items at local pricing if you are interested.
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For my American subscribers, there are still about 15 signed Giclee prints left in the store, stateside...these (above) are a few of them. They are AVAILABLE HERE at discounted rates (>50%), to anyone living in the USA (local postage).
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They are all signed Giclee prints on Felix Schoeller True Fibre Matt, 200gsm archival cotton paper. Sizes range from 10 x 12″ to 16 × 20″ and prices between $36 and $75 (local shipping = $13). Prints will be shipped within the USA only.
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🎃OCTOBER THEME: HALLOWEEN 🎃
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I've picked a few Halloweeny works as the theme this month, for my friends in the north. I can hardly believe it was nearly a year ago I spent Halloween in the USA!!
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28x38 cm
Batty at Heart
Inks and mixed media with underprint on Fabriano Artistico 300gsm HP Watercolour paper.
Original handmade variant 1 of 3
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This is how I see Persephone at the darkest part of her hell-visits: Queen of the Underworld, cigarette lit, Cerberus (whom I am willing to bet she ended up feeding and walking) at her side. This is not the maiden of spring — this is Persephone on her throne, midwinter, unapologetic.
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They told you rib-made Eve was the origin of feminine grace, hoping you’d forget Lilith. But She, made equal, dwelling in the shadow-mind of woman, was not a forgettable thing. Her time is now.
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Size:
38 x 38cm (15 x 15 inches)
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Medium:
Inks, and mixed media with underprint on Fabriano Artistico 640gsm HP Watercolour paper, UV-sealed, matt-varnished.
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Original handmade variant:
1/3
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THE BIT AT THE END
ABOUT THE ART
All the work you see here is created using mixed media with an underprint on Fabriano, Artistico 300gsm or 640gsm paper. These are available for purchase as original artworks or as archival, museum-quality fine art prints. You can view my full portfolio at https://nikimcqueen.com
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ETSY
A limited selection of my work is also available for international buyers in my Etsy store, in various print formats at nikimcqueenart.etsy.com. (South African buyers please contact me directly for prints.)
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PATREON
For more intimate content, access to behind-the-scenes videos and musings, and bonus free gifts and discounts, you can follow my Patreon page. It's TOTALLY FREE to join, and the bulk of the content I post is not paywalled if you are not in a position to join a paid tier. The income generated is 100% used to create art and cover medical costs.
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CONTACTING ME
If you have any queries or would like a quote, please feel free to respond to this email (nikimcqueen@gmail.com), or WhatsApp me on +27721417007.
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WHY DID I GET THIS EMAIL?
You’re receiving this email either from signing up on my website or because we’ve connected through art.
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This is a monthly digest of my latest pieces. If you don’t want to be on this mailing list, please click on the Unsubscribe button at the bottom of the email, and I offer my apologies for the inconvenience.
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