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Nela Dunato Art & Design

Nela Dunato Art &...
Emotional labor in creative professions + mixed media art journal page video Doing creative work on behalf of a client requires a tremendous amount of empathy for their needs....
a year ago
86
a year ago
Doing creative work on behalf of a client requires a tremendous amount of empathy for their needs. This emotional labor should be recognized and valued. In this episode of Art Chat I explain the source of emotional labor and its impact on our well-being, and provide tips to...
Nela Dunato Art &...
How to find clients without social media Social media platforms have helped many people establish their business, but what if you don’t want...
8 months ago
85
8 months ago
Social media platforms have helped many people establish their business, but what if you don’t want to play the algorithm game? Is it possible to find clients without social media in 2024? The short answer is yes, and here's how.
Nela Dunato Art &...
Journaling technique: Polarity integration journal spread Journaling is the most potent way to resolve inner challenges, find solutions to problems, and...
7 months ago
85
7 months ago
Journaling is the most potent way to resolve inner challenges, find solutions to problems, and develop your own creative voice. Today I’m sharing one of my favorite journaling techniques that I use quite often when I want to explore two sides of a problem.
Nela Dunato Art &...
Free Mixed Media Art Supplies Compatibility Chart Behold: the most detailed free art mediums compatibility reference! The chart shows how different...
11 months ago
83
11 months ago
Behold: the most detailed free art mediums compatibility reference! The chart shows how different art mediums interact together and whether they can be safely layered on top of each other.
Nela Dunato Art &...
Motivate Yourself to Create More Art + Fantasy Watercolor Portrait Painting Process In this episode of Nela’s Art Chat I'm showing the mixed media drawing and painting process of a...
10 months ago
82
10 months ago
In this episode of Nela’s Art Chat I'm showing the mixed media drawing and painting process of a forest fae portrait, while sharing lots of tips that can help you create more art. I often struggle finding motivation, energy, and time to create elaborate pieces of art, so I’ve...
Nela Dunato Art &...
My policy on the use of generative AI in creative work I have never used generative AI software to produce original written content, images, code, audio,...
8 months ago
72
8 months ago
I have never used generative AI software to produce original written content, images, code, audio, or video, and do not intend to in the future. All of the art, design, photography, writing, video, and audio material published on NelaDunato.com and other websites I own have been...
Nela Dunato Art &...
Nela Dunato Art & Design got a brand refresh! My previous brand identity design lasted from 2015 until 2023, and it has served me quite well. But...
a year ago
66
a year ago
My previous brand identity design lasted from 2015 until 2023, and it has served me quite well. But my new professional photos sparked the need to overhaul the website, which led to a more substantial brand redesign including new typography and updated logo design. Come see what...
Nela Dunato Art &...
Why you’re not getting hired as a designer & how to fix it Starting out in any new career is hard. Especially nowadays, when you’re not only competing with...
a year ago
66
a year ago
Starting out in any new career is hard. Especially nowadays, when you’re not only competing with other designers in your hometown, but those from all over the world! But you do have a chance to make it, if you change whatever currently isn’t working. Let’s troubleshoot and see...
Nela Dunato Art &...
My new mixed media portrait painting process: more ease, confidence & fun In this episode of Nela’s Art Chat I share a watercolor & mixed media drawing and painting process...
2 months ago
62
2 months ago
In this episode of Nela’s Art Chat I share a watercolor & mixed media drawing and painting process that I’ve developed in recent months, which enabled me to create the kind of paintings I want with more ease and confidence. I’ll be talking about the challenges with the "ugly...
Nela Dunato Art &...
Art Day: How to make time for creative projects while busy with client work Self-employed creative professionals have significantly more control over our schedules than those...
3 months ago
61
3 months ago
Self-employed creative professionals have significantly more control over our schedules than those employed in other organizations, but finding time for our own art can still be a challenge. While I was writing and editing my first book, I started using a technique that helped me...
Nela Dunato Art &...
Why people avoid social media detox (let’s bust those excuses) I truly believe everyone would benefit from taking a long break from social media at least once a...
a year ago
59
a year ago
I truly believe everyone would benefit from taking a long break from social media at least once a year. In my many articles on this topic I gushed about the benefits of digital media sabbaticals, and my own experiences with increased mindfulness, focus, and productivity. So let’s...
Nela Dunato Art &...
Personal branding for neurodivergent professionals Personal branding can be awkward for everyone. Combine it with social difficulties, anxiety,...
a year ago
55
a year ago
Personal branding can be awkward for everyone. Combine it with social difficulties, anxiety, masking, and emotional reactivity that often come packaged with a neurodevelopmental condition like autism or ADHD, and you find yourself in quite a predicament. I’ve been writing about...
Nela Dunato Art &...
My art studio renovation (that took 4 years to complete) Having a dedicated office or studio is not a requirement for creating great art, but I think we can...
a year ago
52
a year ago
Having a dedicated office or studio is not a requirement for creating great art, but I think we can all agree that it helps. After years of moving around and making the best of what I had, I embarked on a mission to turn a tiny, cluttered space into a beautiful art studio and...
Nela Dunato Art &...
Mixed media sketchbook tour 2009–2023 I recently completed a 98-page mixed media sketchbook that I've been using since 2009! In the...
a year ago
40
a year ago
I recently completed a 98-page mixed media sketchbook that I've been using since 2009! In the sketchbook tour video you can see my fantasy character portraits, surreal artworks, watercolor landscapes and urban sketches, many many skull studies, as well as lots of fun colorful...
Nela Dunato Art &...
Why I don’t want to grow my freelance design studio into an agency As of September 1st 2023 I’ve been self-employed for 10 years. For this anniversary, I decided to...
a year ago
36
a year ago
As of September 1st 2023 I’ve been self-employed for 10 years. For this anniversary, I decided to answer a question I'm often asked by family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers: do I plan to hire more people and grow my own design agency? I don't, and in this article I...
Nela Dunato Art &...
Talent exists, but it’s not what you think + mixed media portrait drawing process In this episode of Nela’s Art Chat I'm sharing the process of creating a drippy mixed media portrait...
a year ago
33
a year ago
In this episode of Nela’s Art Chat I'm sharing the process of creating a drippy mixed media portrait in a sketchbook and talking about the difference between skill and talent. How can we recognize and use our own talents? What to do if you donʼt feel like youʼre talented?
Nela Dunato Art &...
How to create a brand mood board A brand mood board is a collage that represents your core values and aesthetic brand qualities in a...
a year ago
33
a year ago
A brand mood board is a collage that represents your core values and aesthetic brand qualities in a visual way. It’s the first step in translating these abstract concepts into visual language. Whether you decide to work with a designer or by yourself, creating a mood board is a...
Nela Dunato Art &...
5 things you need before raising your prices Many freelancers feel like they “deserve” more money, but are confused about how to make that...
a year ago
33
a year ago
Many freelancers feel like they “deserve” more money, but are confused about how to make that happen. The hard truth is, you may not be able to raise your prices overnight. But in this article I'll tell you exactly what you need to do in order to become appealing to higher-paying...
Nela Dunato Art &...
Quest for the best black paint: Gouache, acrylic, india ink, pastel & more compared I love adding black backgrounds, borders, or other large areas of black to my artwork! In the past I...
over a year ago
23
over a year ago
I love adding black backgrounds, borders, or other large areas of black to my artwork! In the past I mostly used India ink because it’s affordable, easy to use, and easy to find in stores. But now I'm curious if I can find something better. I tested and compared 14 different...
Nela Dunato Art &...
How can selling services be easy? I find selling easy, but it has nothing to do with my “ability to sell”. I’m not a good sales...
over a year ago
22
over a year ago
I find selling easy, but it has nothing to do with my “ability to sell”. I’m not a good sales person. I’d hate doing a sales job for a living. But I happen to do a lot of other things that remove all the pressure from the sales conversation. I do the hard work in the marketing...
Nela Dunato Art &...
Messy recycled mixed media sketchbook tour video I recently completed my recycled sketchbook that I've been using for messy mixed media experiments....
over a year ago
20
over a year ago
I recently completed my recycled sketchbook that I've been using for messy mixed media experiments. I originally used this notebook as my intention journal, and then painted or collaged over the text and turned it into an anti-perfectionist mixed media “junk journal”. It's a...
Nela Dunato Art &...
How to tactfully answer awkward client questions The first time you get a challenging question will always feel uncomfortable, and you’ll probably...
over a year ago
17
over a year ago
The first time you get a challenging question will always feel uncomfortable, and you’ll probably say something you’ll regret later. But that interaction is a valuable lesson, and the trick is to get prepared for the next time someone asks you the same question—because there will...