iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

SOLD! The Tarantula Guitar found its home at the Columbia Fine Arts Show earlier this month. #woodburning #tarantula #guitar

A woman with short brown hair and glasses stands in front of a guitar in an art gallery. On the guitar back a design of a California Black Tarantula has been burned in.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Delivered my commission for Central Valley Community Foundation as of 2 hours ago and am now having a well earned lunch. Largest scene yet. Many thanks to my funding bodies.

Painting of Larry Itliong talking to a group of striking farm workers in a grape vineyard. Across the front of the scene are overturned grape boxes stating "Delano Grapes" in purple. In the hands of some workers are yellow papers.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Art research days are the best. This morning I'll bike over to the museum for reference material on the Delano Grape Strike. Then the rest of the day should be motif sketching and board prepping. Brilliant. The day I get to do this kind of thing for others on the regular will be a great day.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I've been a paid note taker for a variety of differential learning needs.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

An artifact detail to both test the new Kuretake set and for #SciArtSeptember. Most of my scenes are landscapes or architectural so I'm trying to practice on some smaller focused works. My mom had a string of malachite beads when I was little so I've recreated those for today's prompt. #sciart

A watercolor painting of malachite beads. A red signature stamp is in the lower right hand corner.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I might be able to do this one. My fancy paints and new brushes are supposed to be on the FedEx truck for delivery already. *Shout out to my grant including a supplies stipend. The last time I was able to invest in my working supplies like this it was when my funds came from Kickstarter.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Grant money landed and I've ordered my archival boards and 100 pan set of Kuretake. Come on delivery truck. This commission is due in a month. Anyone I know used aluminum mounted art boards from Legion? It would be good to know if there are quirks to using them.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

I see your Roman reader. Behold my 2002 History 155A reader from Europe in the Early Middle Ages, 2003 Scandinavian C-160 Scandinavian Myth and Early Religion, and Scandinavian 123 Viking and Medieval Scandinavian readers from my time at UC Berkeley.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I know its a joke but I've actually been told this in all seriousness by the local groups that gatekeep me out of paid work here. I am so tired y'all.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I managed to finished two of these paintings on site during the Oakdale morning market. The third- the horse- I finished Sunday morning. All three then went on display at my pop-up at the historic Fox Theater a few hours later.

Three paintings sit on a white table top. From the left is a vaquero's saddle. In the center is a rearing chestnut colored horse with a golden sheen on the coat in front of the bleachers at the Oakdale Rodeo Grounds. The painting on the right is of a tune shoe.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

I have two events this weekend. These scenes are for the Oakdale morning market on Saturday. Its my first artist residency as Stockton doesn't do anything like that yet. Sunday I'll be back at the Fox Theater for a pop-up gallery display there.

Three sketches sit on a table top. From the left is a vaquero's saddle, a tule shoe, and the final sketch is of a rearing horse in front of the Oakdale Saddle Club sign.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

I found out I'm one of the Central Valley Community Foundation grant winners. Second grant of the year- this time for a proposed historic themed scene about the Delano Manongs. Also I wanted to try one of those hot press mounted aluminum artboards for something that I know is going to be archival.

static.klipy.com

Man Performing the Good Boy Dance

ALT: Man Performing the Good Boy Dance

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I have been going through old project boxes recently. I just came across the decisions from my second Immigration Tribunal versus the Home Office. 16 years since it was stamped and sent to me. It was tucked amongst papers from the early days of The Viking Coloring Book with Viking World 2016.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Win a prize in my new vending machine and help support my presenting about historic coloring books at the Society of Historical Archaeology conference in Austin in January. It will be at the Fox Theater tomorrow as well as in Oakdale on August 1st during the Morning Market. #localartist

On a wooden shelf sits two gummy bear shaped pins. The one on the left is green while the one on the right is red. In the background are two opened plastic capsules that once held the bear pins.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Happy Guinea Pig Day! These are some portraits I've done previously. I've had up to 7 in the herd, but now its only 4 and Madam Rabbit.

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Reposted by Dayanna Knight

ROWAN @rowanclair.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Hello, I'm an illustrator and surface pattern designer, I love depicting themes of nature, fantasy and the environment with vibrant colours and detail. #PortfolioDay ⭐portfolio - rowanclair.com ✉️contact@rowanclair.com 🌟further links - linktr.ee/rowanclair

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Hi #PortfolioDay ! I'm Dayanna. I'm an archaeological illustrator and Jill-of-all-trades. Historic coloring book creator officially since 2016. My birthday is later this month- it would be great if you find me on Patreon where I've got all sorts of things posted. Website: www.dayannaknight.com

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Yesterday was a black dog day on my end so I made an octopus stamp. Then I upcycled some iron-on patches because I had all the parts. Octopus scenes tend to be good tests for new-to-me mediums because of the variety of shapes needed to do them properly. #SciArt

An octopus is being cut out of a pink rubber block. The carving tools and a pile of rubber shavings are next to it.

Two iron-on octopus patches sitting on a bamboo board. The top one is printed in white, while the other is printed in black.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

The most recent issue of Sketches and Sagas is available on my Patreon for free download. There are lost of other things there too 😀

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

I can't make it cooler for y'all that are far from here. I wish I could. What I can do is give you some hacks to make the heat a little more tolerable as someone who's from an area with intense summers and once lived in an area where it was worse.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

I occasionally put out a newsletter with project updates, sale times, and more. You can find the most recent for free download through my @Patreon.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

6.0 in Willits just now. No aftershocks in Stockton. The soils around here absorb the movement too much normally.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Independent scholar life in the Central Valley involves getting laughed at by nonprofit boards for wanting to be paid a living wage. Then they decide to use AI for a rather similar idea. 🫠 Just sayin' this keeps up and I'm going to get every tweaker in 50 miles on y'all's data centers.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

The life scene on this book's cover is my very first commission cover for a client. I also did a few interior scenes. This title will release in August.

The cover of Medieval Disability Heritage: The Museum Exhibition Reimagined by Kisha G Tracy. Behind the text is a life scene of a medieval man cutting an apple on a table. His right arm is missing and instead there is a prosthetic made of a knife attached to his forearm with a leather cup.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Looks like the Valley heat is here in force today. Its supposed to be 103 or so [40 for my Celsius using friends]. Indoor activities it is. I have a grant application to work on, job applications to work on, and art to prep for upcoming events. The machine is full of Historic Stockton pins now.

Two unit gumball vending machine sits empty in an artist's office.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Just got accepted for the Makerspace that will be during the SHA conference. I genuinely can't wait to show the Stockton volume off. And my fancy visual essay should be well out by then. Now to figure out how I will afford to get to Austin.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

This week I shift from the on-call schedule of subbing to whatever schedule my chaos-goblin brain comes up with to accommodate. Am I still up at 4:30a? Yes. However, now I get to do other things that involve more thought. Its really hard to do writing and art production tasks when you're on call.

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Reposted by Dayanna Knight

Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Commission sale time for digital motif renders. #IMC2026 attendees- do you still need illustrations for your presentation and/or poster? I'm an archaeological illustrator and don't use AI. $50 USD per digital render. I take PayPal and can promise I'm fast #MedievalSky #SkyStorians #SciArt

Line art of a Taino pendant showing a figure covering their ears while crouching.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

My area is particularly bad about this view as its supported by some of the local museums. I have all sorts of very salty thoughts about the pay to participate model that gets promoted around both art and public history in this state and country.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

My edits are officially submitted for my visual essay and reflection piece. My very kind reviewers both said its understandable, accessible, and stunning. Boom! Coloring book slinging archaeologist can do peer review journals too, even if its a bit of a slower timeline as an independent scholar.

static.klipy.com

Man Performing the Good Boy Dance

Alt: Man Performing the Good Boy Dance

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Took a second look at my reviewers' comments. They are still really lovely and I didn't dream it. Way to go visual essay! Way to go nice reviewers!

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

My #worldbeeday post comes from the stack of motifs that will become the next five volumes of the Viking Coloring Book when I can find a publisher for the whole kit and caboodle.

European Black Bee and blackberry blossoms.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Its graduation season. I graduated in absentia more than a decade now but I never got the chance to wear the claret and blue robes. I'll never be able to afford them now that I am back in California. When I was supposed to walk I didn't even watch the webcast- most of my cohort had graduated prior.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Its a weekday which means I'm on call for subbing. Its down to the last couple of weeks of hands down the worst year in this work since I began in 2015. Its depressing so here is a photo of my opinionated rabbit looking out the window.

A very fluffy rabbit is sitting up on a rolling saddle stool. She overlooks a guinea pig house and cages. She might be staring out the window.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

#medieval friends and neighbors guess who has peer reviews from the journal reviewers for that visual essay that are actually really great and supportive. I got some extra polish because, well, I've basically been out of this level of game for 12 years. I make my own game with the coloring books.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

One of the balcony views from my event yesterday. The view looks down on the lobby of the Fox Theater in Stockton, California. Medieval decorated columns are on both sides. They are concrete mimicking carved stone with a lattice of gold ribbons. On the floor upside down is a mosaic.

The view looks down on the lobby of the Fox Theater in Stockton, California. Medieval decorated columns are on both sides. They are concrete mimicking carved stone with a lattice of gold ribbons. On the floor upside down is a mosaic of a conquistador's face.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Good morning friends and neighbors! I had a poke through my hard drive and found the scan of the fishing for the world serpent scene I did before it sold. There is a lot of metallic highlights around this one that didn't scan well.

A bulls head is being used as fishing bait for a sea monster.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Some of last weeks glasses test at Big Trees State Park. Normally I use these when I ride around town on my bike since I don't have a go-pro. It was raining during much of the full walk and I was a bit concerned about getting a drop smack on it though.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Another K'zoo I couldn't afford. *Sad medievalist face here* BUT as each year goes by more illustrations I've done for others' publications are in the book rooms for me. That's worth the early mornings I get up to be able coordinate around my on-call schedule.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Hey #archaeology and #publichistorian friends I'm looking for a writing accountability buddy for today. I've been trying to do more academic writing this year. I kinda reminded an editor that having author publication fees no matter what literally would gate keep me out of the conversation.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Timeline cleanse from my reference photo walk on Monday. North Grove Trail, Big Trees State Park.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

I am trying to make a writing deadline. Focused, typing, biscuits next to me, all of it. Some bunny is being a jerk and has thumping directly under my chair exactly 3 minutes after I get to work everything I get to work for the past hour. Bunny tax included.

A human in a green sweatshirt is holding a very fluffy bunny up to the camera. The bunny is a jerk and is not sorry for what she keeps doing.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

This is excellent news and means people like me will be able to quit offering trade of illustration services to cover fees. Not this publisher, obviously, but I did just that with another major publisher this month alone.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

I made a giant scratcher ticket for my booth next weekend as a break from line work. I might still put some lettering around the edge, I haven't decided yet.

A pink and purple dragon is coming through a gold ring. Around the ring are scratcher stickers.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

@aidanosullivan.bsky.social Would you happen to know anyone working on medieval assaying? I'm working on a commission currently and want to make certain I understand the process enough to do the sequence properly.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 31/01/2026

Hey #archaeology and #arthistory friends I'm working on a local illustrated map at the moment. I was wondering if I have anyone working on WW2 material amongst my extended network. I'd like to make this one hit particularly hard because *dumpster fire times*.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Today is the last work day my subbing permit is valid. I can't afford to replace it. I've only been booked 3 days out of the last 3 months. I have worked for 2 companies this year and it's the worst yet. Last couple of years I was booked out a couple of months in advance.

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Dayanna Knight @dayannaknight.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

I never apply for any of those "opportunities". Not only can I not afford it but also it takes time from doing the visual work that actually does pay. Even bartering art for research pdfs pays me better.

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