Niky Motekallem
@royalghostmarch.bsky.social
Anxious Iranian-American illustrator/gallery artist living in the Midwest 🌸🌱
Please don’t repost/use my images! Thank you!✨
https://linktr.ee/royalghostmarch
Have a lovely day🌙
Please don’t repost/use my images! Thank you!✨
https://linktr.ee/royalghostmarch
Have a lovely day🌙
Drawing bugs during DND
October 11, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Drawing bugs during DND
I mistakenly thought a praying mantis painting would be on the simpler side of things. I was wrong.
October 4, 2025 at 10:42 PM
I mistakenly thought a praying mantis painting would be on the simpler side of things. I was wrong.
Over ten years ago, I went on a journey to Ireland and got to experience the Saltee Islands. There I saw puffins hanging about clover, sea campion, and so many vibrant shades of lichen growing on rocks. I hope someday I can return. Maybe then, I’ll also dream walk.
September 27, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Over ten years ago, I went on a journey to Ireland and got to experience the Saltee Islands. There I saw puffins hanging about clover, sea campion, and so many vibrant shades of lichen growing on rocks. I hope someday I can return. Maybe then, I’ll also dream walk.
Dream Walking in the Fields of Your Youth
An Atlantic puffin surrounded by seacampion. He isn’t quite asleep or awake. His mind wanders to his youth. Sounds and images scatter across fields of his day dreams. He misses when things were simpler but at the same time imagines making different choices
An Atlantic puffin surrounded by seacampion. He isn’t quite asleep or awake. His mind wanders to his youth. Sounds and images scatter across fields of his day dreams. He misses when things were simpler but at the same time imagines making different choices
September 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Dream Walking in the Fields of Your Youth
An Atlantic puffin surrounded by seacampion. He isn’t quite asleep or awake. His mind wanders to his youth. Sounds and images scatter across fields of his day dreams. He misses when things were simpler but at the same time imagines making different choices
An Atlantic puffin surrounded by seacampion. He isn’t quite asleep or awake. His mind wanders to his youth. Sounds and images scatter across fields of his day dreams. He misses when things were simpler but at the same time imagines making different choices
BOOK COVER ARTISTS
QRP with your book covers 📚
#BookCovers
One of them is an anthology zine technically but it’s one of my favorite covers I’ve ever done.
QRP with your book covers 📚
#BookCovers
One of them is an anthology zine technically but it’s one of my favorite covers I’ve ever done.
September 25, 2025 at 2:16 PM
BOOK COVER ARTISTS
QRP with your book covers 📚
#BookCovers
One of them is an anthology zine technically but it’s one of my favorite covers I’ve ever done.
QRP with your book covers 📚
#BookCovers
One of them is an anthology zine technically but it’s one of my favorite covers I’ve ever done.
Here’s some old photos from my travels as a child. This place is massive and dense.
June 18, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Here’s some old photos from my travels as a child. This place is massive and dense.
“Words Spoken So Ardently They Burn Your Tongue”
…
A bartlett’s anthias fish swimming in the stars. He’s final of the three fishies for Send Me Across the Sea Volume 6✨🌸🐟
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A bartlett’s anthias fish swimming in the stars. He’s final of the three fishies for Send Me Across the Sea Volume 6✨🌸🐟
March 11, 2025 at 2:06 AM
“Words Spoken So Ardently They Burn Your Tongue”
…
A bartlett’s anthias fish swimming in the stars. He’s final of the three fishies for Send Me Across the Sea Volume 6✨🌸🐟
…
A bartlett’s anthias fish swimming in the stars. He’s final of the three fishies for Send Me Across the Sea Volume 6✨🌸🐟
Snakes snakes snakes
March 9, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Snakes snakes snakes
My second piece for Send Me Across the Sea Vol 6 at helvella. This piece is titled “A Daughter That Has No Fear of Gods”. She is a clouded archer fish, one of the few fish that can spit water. If you would like to give her or any of her fishie companions a home, the show opens this Saturday 🐟✨
March 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM
My second piece for Send Me Across the Sea Vol 6 at helvella. This piece is titled “A Daughter That Has No Fear of Gods”. She is a clouded archer fish, one of the few fish that can spit water. If you would like to give her or any of her fishie companions a home, the show opens this Saturday 🐟✨
A piece for Send Me Across the Sea vol 6 at Helvella opening Saturday 8th. This piece is titled “Translating the Spaces Between Your Sighs”. It’s the season of Pisces, and as a Pisces, I’ve decided to paint some fish 🐟🌸. This one is a black tiger dario fish surrounded by creeping baby’s breath.
March 4, 2025 at 5:51 PM
A piece for Send Me Across the Sea vol 6 at Helvella opening Saturday 8th. This piece is titled “Translating the Spaces Between Your Sighs”. It’s the season of Pisces, and as a Pisces, I’ve decided to paint some fish 🐟🌸. This one is a black tiger dario fish surrounded by creeping baby’s breath.
Without downloading any new pictures, where are you at mentally?
Overwhelmed and tired is the vibe.
Overwhelmed and tired is the vibe.
January 24, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Without downloading any new pictures, where are you at mentally?
Overwhelmed and tired is the vibe.
Overwhelmed and tired is the vibe.
QRT with your sketch and your final
I have a couple phases in my process: Loose sketch > tight sketch > digital color study (not shown) > final painting.
I have a couple phases in my process: Loose sketch > tight sketch > digital color study (not shown) > final painting.
January 24, 2025 at 5:16 AM
QRT with your sketch and your final
I have a couple phases in my process: Loose sketch > tight sketch > digital color study (not shown) > final painting.
I have a couple phases in my process: Loose sketch > tight sketch > digital color study (not shown) > final painting.
Fish on my mind. Wish I lived under water too.
January 20, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Fish on my mind. Wish I lived under water too.
HUMAN ARTISTS, use only one piece to convince people to follow you
January 15, 2025 at 11:11 PM
HUMAN ARTISTS, use only one piece to convince people to follow you
Hello #PortfolioDay! I’m Niky, an Iranian-American freelance illustrator and gallery artist in the Midwest that draws flora and fauna. I’m available for commercial work! I’d love to do more book and album covers this year!
January 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Hello #PortfolioDay! I’m Niky, an Iranian-American freelance illustrator and gallery artist in the Midwest that draws flora and fauna. I’m available for commercial work! I’d love to do more book and album covers this year!
Finally working on something. I’ve been in a weird space when it comes to making. Feel very tired. But here’s a fish friend!
January 12, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Finally working on something. I’ve been in a weird space when it comes to making. Feel very tired. But here’s a fish friend!
January 11, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Sharing older work: A happy valley carpenter bee just bumbling about their day. A coaster for the last year’s Salut, titled “She Stumbled Upon a Mysterious Mode of Conveyance”.
January 11, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Sharing older work: A happy valley carpenter bee just bumbling about their day. A coaster for the last year’s Salut, titled “She Stumbled Upon a Mysterious Mode of Conveyance”.
I’m late to the game but here’s an art vs artist for the year of 2024.
December 31, 2024 at 3:05 AM
I’m late to the game but here’s an art vs artist for the year of 2024.
A type of damselfly known as beautiful demoiselle for this last year’s Salut coaster titled “Set Upon the Garden to Sigh and Sleep”. I love damselflies. They remind me of summer and being in rivers.
December 29, 2024 at 9:01 PM
A type of damselfly known as beautiful demoiselle for this last year’s Salut coaster titled “Set Upon the Garden to Sigh and Sleep”. I love damselflies. They remind me of summer and being in rivers.
My favorite piece from this year titled “He Asks: Won’t You Fly Away With Me?“. A couch’s spadefoot toad nestled in desert globemallow. He looks for company in the night sky. Your eyes connect. There are stars in his gaze. He asks “Won’t you fly away with me?” What will your answer be?
December 28, 2024 at 7:27 PM
My favorite piece from this year titled “He Asks: Won’t You Fly Away With Me?“. A couch’s spadefoot toad nestled in desert globemallow. He looks for company in the night sky. Your eyes connect. There are stars in his gaze. He asks “Won’t you fly away with me?” What will your answer be?
I should finish this piece of him.
December 22, 2024 at 11:09 PM
I should finish this piece of him.
Heart broken that my sweet nephew cat passed away from cancer. I will miss you very much. Thank you for 14 magical years, Boots. Hope you’re having a have all the chicken your heart desires.
December 22, 2024 at 9:17 PM
Heart broken that my sweet nephew cat passed away from cancer. I will miss you very much. Thank you for 14 magical years, Boots. Hope you’re having a have all the chicken your heart desires.
I’m slowly uploading my art on bluesky so here’s some older work I did for a year’s Salut coaster show! This is a pink strip oakworm moth titled “Dew Drops Hemmed Upon Her Summer Cloak.”
December 18, 2024 at 7:03 PM
I’m slowly uploading my art on bluesky so here’s some older work I did for a year’s Salut coaster show! This is a pink strip oakworm moth titled “Dew Drops Hemmed Upon Her Summer Cloak.”