Author: Nicki Chaput

Nicki Chaput is a writer and illustrator based in Huntington Beach, California. Their artwork takes inspiration from fashion, acrobatics, media, folklore, mythology, and the macabre.
drawing of an anthropomorphic pig

Art Fight

Posted on by Nicki Chaput

Here are the rest of my drawings from Art Fight 2021! I mostly stuck with anthro characters, how unexpected. I had a good time experimenting with slightly different styles and converting others’ characters into my own style. I definitely procrastinated, and I would love to do more detailed pieces (and possibly draw more characters) next year!

  • drawing of an anthropomorphic Siamese cat
    Hakura
  • drawing of an anthropomorphic rabbit with one eye and one severly bitten ear
    Doco
  • drawing of an anthropomorphic red panda
    Boni
  • drawing of an anthropomorphic pig
    Molly
  • drawing of a pastel-colored anthropomorphic bat
    Milk

I also sketched some friendly fire that I may end up completing at some point in the future:

sketch of a young girl in a sailor top with her eyes stitched shut
Carrie

photo of a black skimmer skimming the surface of water for food

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Photos

Posted on by Nicki Chaput

Some photos I took while roaming the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve a few weeks ago. I’m clearly a novice birder, but I did my best to identify the birds!

  • photo of a Ridgway’s rail with its baby wading in some water
    Ridgway’s rails
  • photo of a Forster's tern in flight over the Bolsa Chica wetlands
    Forster’s tern
  • photo of a snowy egret wading in some wetlands
    snowy egret
  • photo of a great egret with its wings spread in the Bolsa Chica wetlands
    great egret
  • photo of a double-crested cormorant sticking its head out of some water
    double-crested cormorant
  • photo of a willet wading in some water near rocks
    willet
  • photo of a Belding's Savannah sparrow in some tall grass
    Belding’s Savannah sparrow
  • photo of a great blue heron standing on some rocks near water
    great blue heron
  • photo of a great blue heron hidden behind some brush
    great blue heron
  • photo of a whimbrel wading in shallow wetlands
    Whimbrel
  • photo of a black skimmer skimming the surface of water for food
    black skimmer
  • photo of a snowy egret standing in some wetlands
    snowy egret

I’m also including some less-than-stellar photos of other birds I saw that day.

  • photo of a black-necked stilt in the Bolsa Chica wetlands
    black-necked stilt
  • photo of two California least terns in the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
    California least terns
  • photo of a group of brown pelicans in water
    brown pelicans
  • photo of a group of western gulls, California gulls, and double-crested cormorants on a sandbar
    western gulls and double-crested cormorants
  • photo of a marbled godwit in shallow water eating
    marbled godwit
  • photo of a horned lark at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
    horned lark
  • photo of a brown pelican in flight over water
    brown pelican
drawing of a creepy-cute anthropomorphic rabbit

Art Fight Begins!

Posted on by Nicki Chaput

The annual Art Fight competition (if it can truly even be called that) is something I have heard about for years but never really understood. But this year, I bit the bullet and signed up, uploading a photo of Klaasje I made a while back as reference. I’m super inspired seeing tons of cool character designs, many of which I can’t wait to draw! The first of those was KrazyKay’s Snowbelle. Her design is so cute and reminds me a lot of my first Living Dead Doll Posey. I’m not 100% satisfied with how it came out (I ambitiously tried to do some foreshortening), but I am super proud of myself for being able to sit down and bang out a drawing, a trend I hope will continue for the rest of the month.

drawing of a creepy-cute anthropomorphic rabbit