From Designer to Artist: How Sketching Unlocked My True Creative Calling

Polish artist Gabriela Niko was building a career in design when she realized her true passion lay elsewhere. A deep love for sketchbooks and a fascination with depicting imperfection as beauty led her to pivot from design to become a full-time artist and illustrator.

Today, she creates using traditional mediums, embracing an intuitive, joy-driven practice with alcohol and acrylic markers, graphite, and colored pencils.

Ariel (In Between)

"This was colored pencil fan art of Ariel from The Little Mermaid, blending the animated version with the live-action reinterpretation. I imagined her floating between both: soft, self-possessed, and a little timeless."

Soft Armor

"They say women barely flinch or complain during tattoos. I liked that quiet toughness. This portrait mixes softness and stillness, drawn with alcohol markers and colored pencils."

First Star Tonight

"Drawn with colored pencils and markers, this piece was inspired by my love of stars and quiet moods. I like capturing that in-between mood when a character looks calm, but you're not sure why."

Frog Hair Day

"This is a playful portrait that blends fantasy with sketchbook looseness and overgrown details. I aim for subtle emotions in my characters: open to interpretation, but deeply felt."

You can see more of Gabriela's work on her Instagram profile.