iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

This Sunday, come join me at the Self Published Book Fair. It is being held at Sidekick Coffee & Books in Iowa City! July 12, 2026 from 2:30pm-4:30pm. #selfpublish #iowacity #iowacityevents #bookfair

Illustrated poster of a ghostly woman's figure floating in the sky above the ocean with a crescent moon behind her and seagulls in the sky. There is a cat sitting in a cluster of trees in the lower left.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

The Unpub Mentorship is just one example of the ways that the tabletop game industry is aggressively friendly and helpful! Read a little more about it at shrumans.com! ✏️ #unpub #tabletopgames #mushrooms

Artwork of a red coral mushroom character kneeling while reaching for a floating seed pod.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

If this is your first time seeing strange anthropomorphic mushrooms, fear not! These characters are part of a card game I am working on. You can find the newsletter sign-up on the front page of our new website! www.shrumans.com #mushroomgame #mushroomart #indiegames

A group of three anthropomorphic mushroom characters based on a milk cap mushroom, a bolete, and an oyster mushroom.

Cute, anthropomorphic mushroom character holding a thumbs-up sign and winking.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

I just read through the Green Games Guide and it is incredibly well-composed. No complicated jargon and actionable steps for anyone in tabletop gaming. It makes getting preliminary estimates easier knowing what to ask for! #indiegame #tabletop #cardgame greengamesguide.com/the-guide/

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Here are my new mockups for middle grade book covers that I designed and illustrated. Neither myself nor the authors I work with use generative ai. Human creativity is strength! #noai #middlegrade #fantasyart #bookcover #humanart #bookdesign

Book cover for "Buddy the Knight" showing a teddy bear holding a flaming sword in the middle with a floating ominous castle in the background. The teddybear has a clockwork butterfly at his side, a mandolin-playing monkey plushie in the upper left, and a white tiger plushie in the upper right. There is a gold filigree border illustration that culminates with an owl shape at the bottom, center.

Book cover showing a girl holding a wood staff and surrounded by animal companions in a field of wildflowers. There is a deer, bear, woodchuck, otter pair, and quails. In the background is a giant cloud forming a wolf head.

Book cover for a sci fi novel featuring an illustration of a girl watching her girl friend being abducted by a space ship.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

I also make illustrations like this! My new book cover designs are an exploration of conceptual, folky, and vintage styles that fit their respective genres. I love that I can work with self-publishers and branch out! #bookcover #coverdesign #bookartist #bookcover #selfpublish #noai

book cover of a woman floating over an ocean with a crescent moon, clouds, and seagulls behind her. There are Monterey Cypress trees in the lower left with a cat perched on top.

Book cover in a folk art style showing many objects along the cover border. From top to bottom these include bird wings, an arrow, flowers, a needle and thread, and two hands cupping a geometric sun.

A book cover in a vintage style with a cloud motif border and a steampunk flying ship in the center.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

More illustrations I did for Pearls of Wisdom by Catherine Ann Russell. For this series I used line art and stylized characters, which was helped by Procreate's excellent line drawing tools. I used Photoshop to color and shade most of the art in the series. #Procreate #noai #kidlit #fantasyart

Kids book illustration of a mouse with armor that has fallen down in a snowstorm and is being helped up by a monk-like figure. There are three other celestial beings and a snowy forest in the background. Artwork © Candice Broersma.

Kids book illustration of a monk-like figure dancing with a baby black goat. Artwork © Candice Broersma.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

I got my wish of illustrating animal protagonists! Here are a couple of my illustrations for Catherine Ann Russell's Pearls of Wisdom series. #kidlit #noai #illustration

Kids book illustration of a blue horse being ridden by a mouse who is holding the arm of a dangling frog. There is an owl behind them as well as trees and fireflies. Artwork © Candice Broersma.

Kids book illustration of a sinister queen mouse sitting in a chair by a roaring fireplace with a magic staff on the mantle. Artwork © Candice Broersma.

Kids book illustration of a crying mouse kneeling next to an injured lion. Artwork © Candice Broersma.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Guess who also illustrates stylized watercolor maps! Me! This is the map I revamped for the re-release of the Pearls of Wisdom series by Catherine Ann Russell. I also did interior illustrations for Books 4 and 5. Looking forward to sharing some of those with you! #middlegrade #mapart #fantasymap

Illustration of a fantasy map for the Chokmahdon Kingdom with a watercolor style. The middle shows the Great Plains with a mountain to the west and an orchard to the east. To the north is the elf territory next to the Northern Tundra. To the south is the Kingdom Wildlands with the King's Palace in the Southeast. Artwork © Candice Broersma.

Closeup of the fantasy map for the Chokmahdon Kingdom with a watercolor style. Visible is the King's Palace on a plateau with a greenhouse, stables, and Ant Caves adjacent to it. Artwork © Candice Broersma.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Watch me noodle around in Procreate to sketch out variations for heraldry-inspired family emblems! Be healed by the tranquility of auto-symmetry. :) #procreate #sigil #heraldry #familycrest #heraldicart

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

There is a crazy rabbit hole to go down for heraldic art. I only grazed the surface, but I loved learning about it! This is a heraldry-inspired emblem I designed for a client with a modern style. #heraldry #heraldicart #familycrest #sigil #sigilart #medieval

Three sketches showing heraldry-inspired family emblems that feature common elements like a lion, nightingale, lute, lyre, suns, and stars. They all have scrolls in different orientations which feature the text "Per honorem et passions".

A monoline heraldry-inspired family crest showing a lion head on top with paws holding a shield that is divided into quadrants. The quadrants show a lyre, open book, star shape, and nightingale. A scroll flanks both top corners with the text "Per honored et passionem".

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Prairie States Mushroom Club is an Iowa non-profit doing great work in fungi education. Look at the interview I did with them about my Shrumans card game! www.candicebroersma.com/news/2026/1/... Photo Credit: Prairie State Mushroom Club iowamushroom.org #forage #indiegames #mushrooms

Macro photo of a human hand holding a tiny mushroom with a long, skinny stem.

Photo of human hands holding an oyster mushroom and a foraging knife next to a cluster of fruiting oysters.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Map for Iowa City #holidaymarket THIS Saturday. Find me: Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, #IowaCity 8am-1pm, Dec 6 🎨 Two floors of crafts 🌯 Breakfast nibbles 🪙 No cash? Buy with tokens! Diversions Tabletop Game Lounge, #Coralville 3pm-7pm, Dec 6 ☕ Free Cocoa 🎁 Discounts 🎲 Gaming gifts #noai

Map of stalls for Iowa City Holiday Market on December 6 pointing out booth for Broersma Studio.

Image featuring mushroom-themed illustrations by artist Candice Broersma including a mushroom valentines card and mushroom stickers.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! My postcard features an interior illustration for the upper-middle grade sci fi series "Worlds Apart". I work with a line-based, graphic-novel-inspired illustration style for this book! Find more of my book illustration at candicebroersma.com. #kidlit #noai

Black and white illustration of a girl sitting in the foreground while watching a crowd of aliens on a bustling street with alien neon signs. There is a clam-headed humanoid, a giant insect leg, a lion made of vines, crab creature, female with bubble arms, hairy blob, and giraffe-like beast. Illustration by Candice Broersma.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Iowa City AND Coralville #holidaymarket events on Dec 6! Robert A. Lee Recreation Center 8am-1pm 🎨 Two floors of hand-made goods 🌯 Breakfast nibbles 🪙 No cash? Buy with tokens! Diversions Tabletop Game Lounge 3pm-7pm ☕ Free Hot Cocoa 🎁 Discounts for purchasing from vendors 🎲 Gaming gifts

A holiday markets poster for December 6 featuring illustrations of Christmas ornaments, decorations, and candy canes.

A photo of a vendor booth at the Iowa City Holiday market featuring greeting cards and mushroom themed stickers.

A vendor booth at the holiday market featuring a canvas print with mushroom characters and a rack of fantasy illustration art prints.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Human or mushroom? The world may never know... Pics from the Holiday Market in Iowa City. Fingers crossed that I will have a second show December 6! Freelance illustration is my main gig, but I would love to travel around to mushroom and art conventions one day. #mushroom #mushroomart #iowacity

Woman with a mushroom hat next to a booth displaying mushroom character greeting cards and stickers.

A booth displaying fantasy illustration greeting cards, stickers, and prints

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

See me and my mushroom artwork THIS Saturday at the Holiday Market in #IowaCity! Support human artists, small businesses, and find unique gifts! Saturdays, November 15 & December 6 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Robert A. Lee Recreation Center Image by freepik #iowacityparksandrec #holidaymarket #holiday

Illustrated graphic with a red bird, Santa hat, and a candy cane with the event text including "November 15, Holiday Market, 8am-1pm at Robert A. Lee Recreation Center in Iowa City"

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Skeletons are seriously amazing! I sketched these in Clip Studio in my quest to explore Photoshop alternatives. Clip Studio wins at: - Liquify ability in symmetry mode - Using liquify directly on canvas - Organic Vector line drawing and editing - Perspective drawing guide - Timelapse #clipstudio

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

Made my first card game box prototype! Stop by Game Store Day at Diversions Tabletop Game Lounge in Iowa City on November 1 (tomorrow) for free play testing of local-made games, including my Shrumans! #gamestoreday #mushrooms #mushroomart #gameart #illustration #mushroomart

Photo of a mushroom-theme card game box titled "Shrumans" against a background of grass and fall leaves.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

Since my first public game testing of Shrumans at Diversions Tabletop Game Lounge, I have been honing my mushroom card game! The next one is happening Nov 1 on the inaugural Game Store Day. Prairie States Mushroom Club will be joining the fun! www.diversionsic.com/events #gamestoreday #mushrooms

Ad featuring artwork from the mushroom card game "Shrumans" with an anthropomorphic Ramaria rasilispora running and a Chorioactis geaster with a surprised expression.

Ad featuring artwork from the mushroom card game "Shrumans" with anthropomorphic mushrooms on "action cards" including "steal" and "beetle bust".

Ad graphic for Game Store Day featuring a hand clenching a wrench encircled by the words "improved game mechanics"

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Are you in town for the Iowa City book festival? Stop by the vendor hall for a sci fi/fantasy convention at the Masonic Lodge called ICON. Open to the public from 11am-5pm. #iowacity #iowaconvention #iowacitybookfestival #icbookfestival #icon49.5 #icon50 #iowacityevents #iowacityart #fantasyart

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Happy #kidlitart postcard day! I am a fantasy illustrator doing creative illustration in publishing, advertising, and gaming. Stay weird and wonderful like a somewhat feline humanoid fairy queen with a thistle sword! #illustration #fantasyart #kidlit #bookart #fairyart www.candicebroersma.com

Character illustration of fairy Queen Titania flying with a thistle sword, flowing gown, and long sleeves resembling insect wings.

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Reposted by Candice Broersma

Karla Ortiz @kortizart.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Surprise #lacomicon I’m doing a panel in about 20 minutes! It’s gonna be a fantastic group discussing GenAi and its impacts on creatives! Come on by if you’re around! It’s gonna be a blast!

Poster for a panel

NAVA
Creators in the Age of Al
Presented by NAVA
Tim Friedlander
JP Karliak
Cissy Jones
Phillip Boutté
Karla Ortiz
Philip Bache
MODERATOR
Linsay Rousseau
Saturday Sept 27 11:00am - 11:50am PDT
Los Angeles Convention Center
Panel Room 404 AB

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

My first tabling event for this fall! Come to a quaint sci-fi and fantasy con in Iowa City on October 10-11. Iowa City Book Festival is happening at the same time, so it's a 2-in-1 event weekend! Check out Iowa-icon.com for more information. #iowa #conartist #iowacity #scifi #fantasy #fantasyart

Image of the outside of the masonic building in Iowa City with text above stating "October 10-1, Icon 49.5, Sci-Fi & Fantasy Half-Season Convention IOWA-ICON.COM"

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Did you know that you can paint with coffee? It works similarly to watercolor, but is more permanent once it's dried. Mix up cheap instant coffee with a little hot water and you're good to go! #coffeeart #illustration #coffeepainting #animalart

Painting studies made with coffee featuring a demon-like sculpture, a pig head, and a lion.

Painting studies and illustrations made with coffee featuring a cat wearing a victorian collar, a Weiner dog holding a tulip, and a bird wing.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

Here's a fancy witch for the fall season! I illustrated this for an article, trying out a simplified style (or, simple for me). Enjoy! #witch #fallvibes #digitalart #illustration

Digital illustration of a witch on the right with a big fancy hat and Edwardian dress drawing with a feather pen and holding a magic wand in the other hand. She is enchanting coins to float through the air into a small bag being held by a magpie that is perched on a succulent terrarium.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

I started at Iowa City's Natural History Museum with a mountain lion and a bushy-tailed mouse. I finished at home with a cat and mouse theme. It made me wonder if people can tell right away if a drawing is from life or from a photograph/2d image. Can you tell the difference? #procreate #digitalart

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

I use 3D models to help with lighting the scene and some of the tricky aspects of perspective. Here is a look at some of my 3D reference so you can get a sense for my process! Also, I NEED you to see my flapper-inspired caterpillar. #digitalart #illustration #fantasyart #bookcover

Alice from the book Alice in wonderland splashing in the pool of tears with the Red Queen looming in the background flanked by the painted rose trees and toadstools. The smoking caterpillar is sitting atop a toadstool to the bottom left of the Red Queen. Also trapped in the pool of tears are two crabs, a mouse, and a dapper dodo bird.

A 3D model composite of Alice from the book Alice in wonderland in a splashing pose with the Red Queen looming in the background flanked by rose tree. In front of Alice are two crabs, a mouse, and a dodo bird with a bowler hat.

Close-up of digital painting of a smoking anthropomorphic caterpillar made to look like a flapper from the roaring twenties sitting on a group of toadstools.

Close-up of a digital painting of Alice from Alice in Wonderland with pink bob cut hair who is splashing in the pool of tears.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

This is an oldie, but goodie! I did this digital painting as part of a reimagined "virtues series" and was fortunate enough to receive an award in the Infected by Art annual. I love reinventing classic mythological creatures like unicorns and dragons! #digitalart #fantasyart #characterart #unicorns

Digital artwork of a blue elven youth with silver hair and a robe sitting in a meditation kneeled posture and being circled by two small unicorn-like deer. There is moonlight lighting the scene in a forest thick with vines and an ancient stone head in the background. Lotus flowers surround the elf and are falling from above.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Iowa City has an amazing Natural History Museum that is free of admission and I don't go enough! Here are some crazy animal sketches I made in #Procreate. @pentacrest.museums #sketchbook #procreate #timelapse #sketch #digitalart

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

I enjoy using Procreate the most for sketching this was my first try at drawing in Procreate. Somehow the execution is better than my more recent projects in Procreate which is confuzzling. Or maybe I just really like gargoyles! #sketch #procreate #drawingstudy #gargoyles #gargoyleart

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 06/09/2025

This is an interior illustration I made for "The Duchess and the Journey Under the Eternal Clouds" by Jeremiah Brennan. Airships for everyone! #bookart #bookillustration #middlegrade #steampunk #digitalart #kidslit

Greyscale artwork of two young sisters in overalls holding hands at a low angle while looking up to see giant airships bursting through the clouds.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

Congrats to Thomas L. Martin's novel release today, "A Silver Cord". Here are the concept sketches! I worked with more stylization both at the beginning and final execution. I am learning the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" approach to maintain the energy in the sketches. #bookcoverart #kidslit

Book cover concept art of a young girl with a staff facing the viewer with a shining string swirling in her hand that forms a window to another scene of a cloud inside. She has a dragon behind her and is flanked by a bear and a deer. There are otters and a woodchuck in front of her waist.

Book cover concept art of a young girl facing the viewer with a shining string swirling in her hand. beside her is a cloaked figure and a whimsical boy holding a staff. There is a shining dome that takes up the background with the silhouette of a coachman driving several bears pulling a small carriage on top.

Book cover concept art of a young girl facing the viewer with a shining string swirling in her pocket and holding a wood staff. At her feet are a bear, deer, otters, a woodchuck, quail chicks, and flowing grass. There is a swirling cloud behind her forming the face of a wolf looming over a distant city.

Book cover of a young girl facing the viewer with a shining string swirling in her pocket and holding a wood staff. At her feet are a bear, deer, otters, a woodchuck, quail chicks, flowing grass, and wildflowers. There is a swirling cloud behind her forming the face of a wolf looming over a distant city.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

Part 1 of the mushrooms I found this summer and my desire to poke all of them. #forage #mushrooms

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Reposted by Candice Broersma

Armadillo Stock @armadillostock.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

Our Kickstarter launches in two days—don't get left behind! www.kickstarter.com/projects/dia...

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

I'm getting these Shrumans finished! Corals are done and I am getting through boletes. Here is a cute coral fungi!   Follow me on my journey to make my Shrumans card game a reality. 🍄 Image credits: © Alan Rockefeller #mushroom #cardgame #shrumans #mushroomart #mushroomforage

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

Here is a book cover I designed for Joyce Sherry. She trusted my departure of style from my typical portfolio and the result is an exciting new technique for my artistry arsenal. Congrats on a Booklife Editor's Pick! #bookcoverart #bookartist #bookillustrator #fantasyart #bookdesign

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

Happy #kidlitartpostcard day! This illustration is for "A Silver Chord" by Thomas L. Martin that is part of an epic wraparound cover illustration. The novel comes out in September. Middle grade fantasy is my jam! #illustration #fantasyart #bookart #bookillustrator #bookcoverartist

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Happy Portfolio Day! I am a fantasy illustrator for #bookcovers, #characterart, and #gameart. Open to projects needing a quirky assortment of characters and creatures. I create lush, artful environments from scratch. Contact: candicebroersma.com #portfolioday #fantasyart #illustration #animalart

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

My style of post is wait for a month and then toss in everything! You can see my sketch dump at candicebroersma.com/blog. I also have photos from my Istanbul trip. 🐈‍⬛ It has cats, so you’re welcome in advance. #sketchbook #drawingstudy #watercolor #ballpointpen #drawing #urbansketch #travelsketch

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Reposted by Candice Broersma

Karla Ortiz @kortizart.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Call your senators asap. (You can do so via 5calls.org ) and ask them to support Senator Blackburn’s AI amendment! We only need 4 GOP senators and all Dems senators to stop this abomination (amongst many other abominations within that terrible bill)! Let’s go get em!

axios.com

Scoop: Blackburn to offer amendment to strip AI pause from budget bill

Sen. Marsha Blackburn will offer an amendment to strip the AI pause in the reconciliation bill.

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Hey friends. Enjoying Iowa City for the summer? Come see a wonderful collection of artists at Bitchin’ Market just across from the Farmers Market this Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Thanks to organizing from @bitchinevents! #icevents #iowacity #downtownic #icevents #iowacityevents #greenhouse

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Introducing coral fungi Shrumans! I like to sketch in Procreate, but painting in the style similar to how I work in Photoshop is more challenging. If and when Procreate introduces vector paths, that would be super helpful! One big perk is the timelapse feature. :) #procreate #shruman #cutemushroom

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Introducing my new Shruman stickers! This time, we even have shiny holographic ones. ✨ Find them on my website at candicebroersma.com/shop. #catprinted #catprint #mushroom #fungi #mushroomgift #mushroomart #mushroomsticker

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Reposted by Candice Broersma

Emily Hare @emilyhare.com · 30/04/2025

THANK YOU!! Amazing, 11k already? This platform is something else. Thank you to everyone who interacts, it's brilliant 🥰 💜Share your art WITH ALT TEXT!! 💜Spread the love! ❤️ 😀Share this post for more visibility 👀 🚫No AISlop,nf/ts. Keep it SFW. #art #artshare #dragon #dragonart #watercolour

a blue winged dragon prepares to land on her nest which has two baby dragons waiting to be fed in it. Text says artshare 11k emilyhare.co.uk

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Here is my book cover art for #portfolioday! I love, love doing book covers. I design both typography elements as well as illustrations. Most of my work is in #middlegrade and #ya fantasy. contact: candicebroersma@gmail.com #bookcover #fantasyart

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Candice Broersma @candice-mantis.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Newly opened Diversions Tabletop Game Lounge in Coralville, IA is featuring my art! Come check it out on April 19 and go to Diversions' grand opening on April 12! #mushroomart #cardgame #cardart #mushroomgame

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