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Illustrator & Designer
 
Blog
5 Non-Fiction Books That Changed My Life
5 Non-Fiction Books That Changed My Life
How to Ship Etsy Orders from Your House
How to Ship Etsy Orders from Your House
10 Happiness Habits for Creatives
10 Happiness Habits for Creatives
How to Run a Better Business
How to Run a Better Business
Embracing Imperfect Illustrations
Embracing Imperfect Illustrations
How to Make Time for a Creative Venture
How to Make Time for a Creative Venture
My Holiday Social Media Hiatus
My Holiday Social Media Hiatus
Become A Better Illustrator With This Quick Exercise
Become A Better Illustrator With This Quick Exercise
5 Books All Artists Should Read
5 Books All Artists Should Read
How to Become a More Organized, Productive Creative
How to Become a More Organized, Productive Creative
 

Welcome! I’m Nicole, freelance designer & Illustrator.

I live and work out of my home in the Chicago suburbs. I’m a self-taught artist, and have learned everything I know through my lifelong obsession with creating. I balance my time between client work, and creating helpful content for my fellow creatives.

I earned my Bachelor's degree in communications from Miami University in Ohio. I then studied Art Direction at the Chicago Portfolio School. I left my corporate graphic design job in 2015 to start my own business out of my first home on bustling Lane Avenue in Columbus, Ohio.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with:

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What’s New

 
 

I recently won Editor’s Pick in the Minted Dream Big Nursery Wall Challenge. My wall mural will soon be available for purchase on Minted!

 
 

You can purchase this new Kentucky Derby print this week in my Etsy Shop.

 
 

Purchase this wedding suite stock photo on my creative market shop.

 

Where Makers Make

Follow along as I interview my fellow artists and tour their beautiful studios.

 

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Find me on Instagram

Here are the five non-fiction books that changed my life. Have you guys read any of these? You can read more about them in today’s blog post. Link is in my bio 🙌 #readinglist #nonfictionbooks #entrepreneurbooks #entrepreneur #creativepreneur
I hope you all had an awesome July 4th holiday! 🇺🇸 I got to spend some much needed time with my sister in the city - getting brunch, drinking oat milk coffee, and shopping. She even dragged me to my first hot yoga class. For the record - I love yoga, but I HATE being hot, so it was quite the bonding experience 😂 Thanks for hosting me @aesimon23 😘 #july4th #independenceday #sistersister #sisterlove
Congratulations @krist_tang on winning this original gouache painting I created 🙌 Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway 💕You guys are the best!!
Opera Pink, you make me very happy 💅
GIVEAWAY ALERT - I’m giving away this original 5x7 gouache painting to a lucky winner! Tag a friend to enter you both in the contest 👯‍♀️ I’ll be drawing winners Wednesday afternoon. Good luck 🍀
I’m going to be an Auntie again in just a few weeks!! ❤️ This is the first baby on my side of the family, and I’m crazy excited to meet the little guy 😆 I recently made these 16x20 palm paintings for his adorable nursery. It felt so special to make some artwork for my little nephew! Thanks for the pic @jsimon919 😘 #babysimon #nurseryart #babywatch
A closeup of my Opera House painting. I’m selling the original, framed and ready to go, if anyone is interested. Link to purchase is in my bio 😊
Yesterday’s creation. I tried out a new shade of @winsorandnewton gouache called Opera Pink. Obviously I had to paint an Opera House with it 😊
One of my favorite illustrations I’ve done this year was this quick Churchill Downs painting from my sketchbook (I snapped this shot before I decided to add horses)😂 I’ve been trying to use gold paint as much as I can in my work, because I just can’t get enough 🤩
My work buddy today ❤️🐶 Side note: I just realized I haven’t changed my calendar since February 🤦‍♀️
Happy Monday!!! Today’s #wheremakersmake guest is the gifted @theweekendtype! Korie is a professional graphic designer and calligrapher, but also has a degree in Interior Design. Talk about multi-talented! Click the link in my bio to see her stunning space!
Today’s #wheremakersmake interview is with the amazing @ruthhengeveld. She’s an illustrator who was born and raised in the Netherlands. Click the link in my bio to see her beautiful work and studio space!
Another semi-custom nursery painting I’m selling in my Etsy shop 🎉 Send me three color swatches, and I’ll paint one of these ice cream cones to match your child’s bedroom 🍦
I can’t think of anything more special that hand-illustrated wedding invitations! This is a wedding suite I designed and illustrated earlier this year. It is for an upcoming wedding in Seattle. It has taken me so long to post, because I needed to shoot some photography for the mockups. I had so much fun working on this, that I’m considering adding this to my list of services. Is this something anyone would be interested in?
Today’s #wheremakersmake guest is the talented @laurieanneart. I’ve been following her work for years, and I can’t get enough of her desert landscapes. You can check out her gorgeous kitchen studio by clicking the link in my bio 🙌
 

Education

Miami University

B.S. ARTS AND SCIENCES, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
Graduated May 2009

 

Chicago Portfolio School

CERTIFICATE, ART DIRECTION
Graduated October 2010

Awards

2013 Wendy’s People’s Choice Award
2015 Wendy’s People’s Choice Award
2019 Minted Dream Big Nursery Mural Challenge

Mentions

How She Does It: Secrets of Success Interview
The Paper Chronicles: Who We Are + Writes for Women

Contact

Email: nicole@onlaneave.com
Phone: 847 431 9015
Address: Chicago, IL

Contact Me