news and ARTWORK FROM NIKI MCQUEEN

Hello reader

Dear friend,

Before I launch into last month, I wanted to share my view this morning with you. I may not have riches, but living here, I have wealth beyond measure, and gratitude deep enough to drown in.

This is Kalk Bay tidal pool, and I am once again married to the sea, after a long separation. I swim in her embrace at least twice a week, and today I went snorkelling and saw nudibranchs, starfish, sea cucumbers and a million spiky urchins. There is nothing in the world to fill a flagging creative cup, like the insane and miraculous bounty of the biodiversity we are blessed with here.

LIFE NEWS

As you may have spotted, January came without a newsletter. I have been deeply focused on my health, and I'm sincerely glad to say that it's been working. I haven't walked with a cane for over 3 months now.

I'm between dwellings, in the cave-room in the laundry of a family home, but come next month, I will be living right at the oceanside for as long as my budget permits.

I mainly post the life-stuff on my Patreon these days, social media definitely not being what it used to be. I can say for sure I'll be back in Facebook Jail when I release the next couple of things I'm working on! You'll see them in the next month or so.

ART CATCH-UP

I am looking at completely restructuring my business when it comes to art. A necessary move given the current state of economic and other affairs, globally, which I know I'm not alone in experiencing as deeply distressing. I will most likely be closing my Etsy store in the next couple of months, so if you've had your eye on anything there, it will probably only be around for a limited time.

Since my last missive, I have released a few works - there's been less arting and more lifing and healing, so I only have a couple to share with you.

The first is called Dianna: Homage to the Huntress. The second is Haere Mai (Welcome Home, in the Moari language), made for Amanda Palmer's tour to Arotorea New Zealand and Australia.

THIS MONTH'S ARTWORKS

Dianna: Homage to the Huntress

Gold lives in her eyes. Not warmth, but the divine
light of knowing, the sovereign right to choose.
She knows the cost of wanting, and who has paid it.

Her iron-gold heart
once promised devotion.
Now it announces her terms.

Desire follows her, like a wounded thing.

This is what waits for those
who mistake longing for permission,
who dress possession as love,
who confuse warmth for surrender.

Dianna was the original work on which I based Eir, a work Amanda Palmer commissioned for a show at the Magic Room in 2025. Prints, framed and unframed and canvas prints available on Etsy.

Amanda Palmer commissioned this artwork for her tour to Australia and New Zealand in January 2026. Heare Mai means 'welcome' in the Māori language.

The others are two works made for two special ladies, who I connected with at the care-home I've been at. The first is Wonder, first made in 2020, and the second is a new take on an old work, A Summer's Day.

Wonder

Size: 28 x 38 cm Medium: Inks and mixed media with underprint on Fabriano Artistico 300gsm HP Watercolour paper. Original handmade variant: 1 of 3 Status: Gifted

Inks and mixed media with underprint on Fabriano Artistico 300gsm HP Watercolour paper.
Original handmade variant 1 of 3

The theme I've chosen for this month is HOPE, and scattered below are a few works which speak to me on that theme.

I hope that you are well and thriving, and I thank you for your support.

With love and best wishes

Niki

THEME FOR THE MONTH: LOVE AND LOSS

Finalé

28x38 cm
Finalé
Inks and mixed media with underprint on Fabriano Artistico 300gsm HP Watercolour paper.
Original handmade variant 1 of 3

28x38 cm
MY IMAGINARY FRIEND
Inks and mixed media with underprint on Fabriano Artistico 300gsm HP Watercolour paper.
Original handmade variant 1 of 3

ROCK BOTTOM
ARTIST'S PROOF AND VARIANT 3
Inks and mixed media with underprint on Fabriano Artistico 300gsm HP Watercolour paper.
Sold

28 x 38 cm (11 x 15 inches)
Inks and mixed media with underprint on Fabriano Artistico 300gsm HP Watercolour paper.
Available

38 x 56 cm (11x 22 inches)
Variant 1/5

Dianna: Prints, framed and unframed and canvas prints available on Etsy.

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.

Just reply to this mail, or mail info@nikimcqueen.com and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

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

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.