iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Redesigned an old robot character! His arms are inspired by a plastic watch from the 2000s.

A digital drawing of a robot character and a mini version of himself. The robot has a humanoid body plan with a wide stance and a rounded blobby design reminiscent of the early 2000s. His body is made from black, matte metal, with a plush vinyl cover. His head is small in comparison with a slear glass horn like a stag beetle. His arms look like long watch straps with oval holes. His hands are metal balls that slide open to allow smaller fingers to slide out. His hips are a smaller ball with holes on the side. Upper legs made from the same black metal and lilac vinyl as the body attach to the hips. His lower legs are made from a greenish grey material reminiscent of old computers. Half sphere feet peek from under them. He also has three tails ending in the same structures as his hands. His mini version looks like an old flip phone with a face set into the place you would find a screen. His arms are thin loops that slide out and fold in multiple directions. Attached to the mini version is a small chain and a clip.

Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Some experiments with interior lighting. I also tried to test my sense of scale by sketching these without guidelines or figures in the beginning. It resulted in some funny stuff like the giant pot on the left. Next time I want to do it with animated lighting.

A digital illustration if two top-down rooms in different perspectives and render styles. The room on the left is lined with bright, simple patches of light. They are clearly made with a color dodge filter. The room itself is crammed with plants and plant themed decor. Near the back and middle of the room is a bunk bed with a green blanket and a desk with a laptop below. Light from a round window catches the corner of the bed and casts onto a yellow flower rug on the ground. The room on the right is in a more painterly style. It features bare furniture and walls. There is a pile of clean clothes and a few dishes at the foot of the bed. A cat person sits on the bed with crossed legs looking at a phone. Behind them, bright light casts from a single large window. You can also see into the closet where various clothes hang from a rod. The shirt in the front is black with a stylized skull. The room on the right is loosely based on the artist's room.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Forgot to post my last #pleinairpril paintings! I only got to 20/30 this year but I'm glad I took a break didn't push it while my wrist was healing.

A gouache painting of field and a rocky mound looking down onto a valley. The grass is pale and sparse with orange tips. The rock is dotted with lichen and bits of grass. The light is strong and low from the left. Behind the rocks is a large fluffy cloud. Similar clouds recede into the distance. Far off, a reservoir catches the light.

An unfinished gouache painting of a round boulder on the side of a path late in the day. The image has a warm light, implying that it was painted near sunset. The rock is surrounded by abstract foliage in a variety of greens. Behind it are pale blue and yellow spots, implying wildflowers. The path is painted in a large swath of violet with orange dappled light in the distance.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 27/04/2025

18/30 of #pleinairpril Benches! I also wayy understated the number of wildflowers there were so many.

A gouache painting of a picnic bench on a field of grass and wildflowers in a forested park. Dappled light plays across the bench and the grass in vibrant oranges and yellow greens. In the distance a shaft of light illuminates the base of a pine tree with droopy branches. Up the hill even further behind lies a path and another set of benches. Behind them trees and foliage are indicated with blobby brush strokes.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

17/30 of #pleinairpril I thought it would be fun to put my painting in my painting

A photo of a gouache painting clipped to an easel. Behind it is a field of tall grass that ends at a line of bushes and trees. The treeline is lit ip while the field and painting are in shadow. The painting show the same field in chunky brush strokes. The top of the easel and the corner of the painting are depicted in the painting.

A gouache painting of a field of grass on a sunny day. In the foreground an easel and the same painting is clipped to an easel. The painting is in light while the field is in shadow. The easel is metal with a black clip top. The metal reflects a pale blue sky. The clip is made from shiny metal with multicolor bits of paint splashed across it. It reflects the pale blue sky from above and the golden green grass from below. The corner of the painting shows it clipped at a taped edge, splashes of green and brown show it in a less finished state than the full painting. The edge of the tall grass closest to the viewer is lit up in vibrant yellows and greens while the field stretches behind with deeper greens. The distant edge of the field is lit up with a shaft of bright light. Behind it, bright spring foliage and trees are implied with chunky brush strokes.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

16/30 of #pleinairpril I'm having a hard time getting back on track after falling so far behind but I did get to paint with my friend last Saturday! My wrist is at a point now that I can carry my supplies so I'm gonna try to do the last week!

A watercolor painting of a fallen tree in a forest clearing. The ground is covered in bright grass and tiny round leaves. The roots of the fallen tree are gnarled and twisted. In the distance hazy blues and yellows imply that the forest continues past the point of view. The sketch is visible and some trees are missing from the background.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Back with 15/30 of #pleinairpril Sprained my wrist on Monday so the next few will probably be digital. My goal this year was to do 30 paintings traditionally from life but it's actually refreshing to paint digitally again!

A digital painting of a large brick building on a sunny spring day. The building looks skewed because of the wide angle lens. It starts with an angled overhang and reaches up with stories of pink brick and no windows. To the left an orange cat person rides a bicycle down the sidewalk. Down the street are a line of fluffy trees and a car emerging into light behind the building. Everything is blocky and messily painted except the cat and bicycle; which are drawn with lineart.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

14/30 of #pleinairpril I was playing with mapcrunch and found out that you can set it to a specific range. It gave me this spot after a few refreshes. I also may have forgotten to remove the shadow of the car I didn't paint lol

A gouache painting of an alley on a sunny day. Blue shadows cast across a row of buildings to the left. A tree on the corner casts a shadow across a light grey building with a graffiti style sign. Behind the grey building looms a large tan building with big reflective windows. To the right of the grey building the alley continues where a bright red stop sign catches the light.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

11, 12, & 13 of #pleinairpril This is a combination of late posts and a catch-up painting for a day I missed. The second two are the same hill from different viewpoints at different times of day.

A gouache painting of a building in a forested park on a sunny day. The building sits in the distance, shaded and partly covered by branches. In front of it the light catches two rows of mossy logs surrounding a paved pathway. The painting is loose with a sense of bright sunlight.

A gouache painting of a distant hill at midday. A road cuts across the hill and far in front of it a bank of trees catch the sunlight. The hill is hazy and distant while the trees, lit from above have a vibrant outline. The lack of ground in the scene makes it feel flat and far away.

A gouache painting of the same hill at sunset and from a closer viewpoint. The sky is a bit darker and cooler, with trees in deep blues and browns sitting in front. The same road high on the hill is lit by the fading light. Below a line of vibrant orange streetlights peek through the trees. The trees that were lit with an outline in the previous painting are now dull and indistinct. The lack of ground gives the same flattening effect.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

10/30 of #pleinairpril I came across this super ivy covered tree at blue hour and had to paint it. This time I attached my bike light to a headband and covered it with some parchment paper. It looked really silly but worked pretty well!

A tall gouache painting of a tree covered in ivy in the hour following sunset. Everything is cast in a deep blue light except for the buildings behind the tree; which are lit by a warm lamp. The tree has two curved trunks that are completely covered with ivy. Below the tree is some ground blanketed with ivy. Between the tree and the buildings is a car that reflects just a bit of light from the lamp in a vibrant red of the tail lights.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Studio Ghibli studies for #studybuddies The box one almost destroyed me D:

A digital study of a studio ghibli scene composed of boxes, books and ornate jewelry.

A digital study of a Studio Ghibli scene of sunflowers in front of a grass field with a large cloud behind. The season feels like spring or summer. The sunflowers are drawn with linework and the background is painted with messy brush strokes.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

9/30 #pleinairpril Oops I forgot to post yesterday! My plan to catch up was foiled by me not checking the weather. I got a quick painting in before the rain though!

A gouache painting of a valley with a foggy rodge behind it. The valley is lush with early spring growth and the hill is covered in dark pines. Bits of green grass are visible between the trees. A mist rolls over the hill from the right. In front of the valley is a small tree with orange buds.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

8/30 of #pleinairpril A quick tree painting after work! I tried to paint yesterday but it was extremely humid and rainy. The paint bloomed and ran together so I ended up without anything to show. I'll try to do two tomorrow to catch up! (If you have tips for gouache in humid weather please lmk)

A gouache painting of a pine tree surrounded by green foliage. Bits of yellow and pink in the background show that the season is spring. The tree trunk is ringed with twisted bare branches. Behind it, a raised ledge of dirt catches the last light of the day. Everything is indistinct and blobby.

The same painting clipped to an easel. The light is purplish and dim, showing that the artist started painting at sunset and finished in early twilight.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Day 7/30 of #pleinairpril Different bridge today! I almost finished it before the rain too. The lower water is from memory. I tried blue then switched to brown at the last minute. Also congrats to everyone who made it through the first week even if you didn't do all the paintings!!!

A gouache painting of the base of a red bridge and the water below. The bridge is narrow and faded by the sun. Below and behind the bridge are tall trees and spring foliage. At the place where the ground meets the water are chunks of stone. Below that a reflection of the bridge ripples towards the bottom of the image. The light feels like a break in a storm.

The same painting but with blue water instead of brown.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Day 6/30 of #pleinairpril It was rainy all day so I ended up painting under a bridge with my friends Annie and Avery. I'm gonna try to find something different or stylize colors more tomorrow since I ended up with another green/grey color scheme.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Day 5/30 of #pleinairpril Went to the park with my friend Allie! Tomorrow I'm going to look for something with a different color palette since I've painted a lot of green.

A gouache painting of a field of grass in a forested park. The trees cast long shadows across the field, conveying a bright day. Patches of small white wildflowers blanket the field. In the distance pine trees and blossoming trees alternate between vibrant pinks and deep greens. Near the top and center of the painting is a massive pine tree on a small hill of grass. Only a small portion of the trunk is visible. To the right are some parked cars painted as blobs of color.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

Day 4/30 of #pleinairpril My clip lamp broke and I tried nocturne painting with a shop light. It ended up being so bright I couldn't see much around me. It was a fun challenge even though I'm not happy with the result!

A gouache painting of some cars parked along a sidewalk at night. The cars are illuminated by a street light. Behind the cars is a house, implying the area is suburban. The painting is messy with few distinct details. The photograph also shows a strong glare on the sky and dark hills.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Day 3/30 of #pleinairpril Tried out a bike path for the first time and saw a cool boat c:

A gouache painting of an upside down boat at a dock on a small river. Ripples lead up to the boat, which stands out brightly against the background. Behind the boat is a large willow tree. The light and grass color convey a bright early spring day. Some of the tree branches in the scene are still bare.

A photo of the same painting still clipped to the easel. Behind it is the river and the boat. The light has changed, now being overcast with a partly cloudy sky in the background.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Day 2/30 of #pleinairpril Windowsill at work in heavypaint and a quick painting of my cloud sculpture in the dark. My plan was to go out for a nocturne but it was pouring rain when I got home. :c

A digital painting of a string of turtles plant on a windowsill. The window behind the plant shows a hazy field and blurry branches. It gives the impression of a moment of light on a cloudy day.

A gouache painting of a cloud sculpture in the dark. Most details are indistinct. There are a few things hanging from the bottom of the sculpture: a hanger with a black tank top, an orange bat stuffed animal, a long chain with jewelry hanging from it, and a worm stuffed animal. Below the cloud are shapes representing two leaves of an arrowhead plant and a blue clothing iron.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Day 1/30 of #pleinairpril Had to finish this one at home because it started raining. This is my third year and I'm super excited!!

A gouache painting of a stream curving between two hills of dirt and foliage. The lighting is overcast; contrasting with the vibrant leaves.

A photo of the same gouache painting clipped to an easel. Behind the painting are the same stream and leafy hills. The painting is unfinished with a golden underpainting showing through.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Some sketches and things from this month!

An unfinished gouache painting of two wooden cats. The cats are exaggeratedly tall with almond shaped eyes and long necks. They are painted with patches of color that mirror the oval shaped eyes. There is some white space where a jar holding some flowers should be.

A messy oil pastel drawing of a field of flowers sitting on a wooden table. The flowers are multicolored and appear to be blowing in the wind. The atmosphere appears to be warm, clear, and breezy. Behind the flowers is dense, vibrant foliage.

A digital painting of a spray bottle and some dry erase cleaner painted in heavypaint. The objects are vibrant and lit by blue ambient light coming from the window, implying that the scene occurs on a bright day. The painting is done with blocks of color that ignore the details in the scene.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

This weekend I tried designing a background for a 360 view. My plan is to use it as a base for a practice animation. The perspective grid I used was made by António Bandeira Araújo. Here's a link if you want to see it in 360 degrees: renderstuff.com/tools/360-pa...

A digital drawing of a graveyard in panoramic perspective. The scene and objects are distorted with curves like a globe. The graveyard has three main areas. A crypt flanked by two overgrown angel statues. The crypt is made from cracked stone bricks and features an ornate sculpture of a skeleton with bat wings. The second area is a smaller crypt next to a leafless tree. The tree is tall with winding branches and the crypt is almost overtaken by leaves. The final focal area is a wooden bench below a thick, gnarled tree. The tree is covered in bulbous bumps and it's branches curl into knotted spirals.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

I LOVE drawing (unpleasant) chairs. wip

A work in progress digital drawing of five strange chairs. The chairs are depicted as blocks of color. The first chair is a tprn up red plush armchair with a strange blue interior. The tron fabric looks like a peeled apple. The second chair is a squat flow backed chair with pink tentacles covering the seat and underside. The third chair is a rusty metal chair with a deep green cushion. The back is tall and ornate. The fourth chair is tall with a tiny curved back. It is tied up with tense wire including the cushion. The legs are two half circles that split at the bottom. The final chair is absolutely covered in various fungi, lichen, and mold. The legs are thin like branches. Ropey orange slime mold pools from the seat to the ground. The cushions are covered in various colors of fluffy mold and pale violet lichen.

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Nico @bewaremirror.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Hi! I love drawing monsters and painting gloomy landscapes. It's been a while since I've really had social media but bluesky seems really cool!

A digital painting of a plant creature on a gloomy day. The plant creature sways above long dead grass and a bank of fog covers a distant treeline. The creature looks like a dry plant with a catlike face surrounded by a crest of small flowers and white fluff.

A drawing of a biomechanical ship in three views. The ship looks like a long segmented eel with a fleshy eye at the center of the hull. muscle is visible between the metal segments. The main view is of the side and the other views are of the ship in motion and the entry hatch open above the eye.

A collection of sketches of an anthropomorphic dark grey rabbit character. The sketch on the far left is a painting of the character standing in a foggy field with pale green grass. The character has tall upright ears and wears industrial style clothing. They have two different knee pads; one in a dark grey flexible material and one in shiny metal. In the second and third sketch the character holds a rope that comes from off screen.

A digital painting of a large white bird creature on a gloomy day. The creature passes by two mounds of mossy rocks and trees. On the ground small pools of water flow between lush grass. The creature looks like a crow with the body of a mammal with long fur. It's eye is scarred and clouded over.

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