Meet Nicole Ray!
Winter 2026 banner by Nicole Ray
Studio Tour with Nicole
Me at a holiday studio open house in December 2024
Hello! I’m Nicole Ray and I run Sloe Gin Fizz, my illustration business, from a studio space in Pinckney, Michigan. I started Sloe Gin Fizz in 2008 and worked out of a room in our home for over ten years. A large part of that business is selling products featuring my artwork: Art prints, greeting cards,
stickers and more.
My work table and studio space at home
The collection — and inventory — has grown significantly over time. This became all too clear during the pandemic when my husband started working at home, too. I would passed back and forth behind him during his living room Zoom meetings, packing orders, prepping products, making art all in different areas throughout the house. We quickly realized how much my work had taken over the whole house.
My first 99 square foot studio
space outside the house
I passed a real estate office every day on my way to the post office with orders and one day went in to ask if I could rent the office that had clearly been empty for quite some time. They said yes and I took a leap and rented a small — 99 square foot — office within their larger office just down the road from home. I moved all of my inventory and production and shipping materials over there. It was such a treat! I jam packed it all in there. I still made art in my home studio but everything else was in that little space.
My current studio all cleaned up and
ready for my first open studio March 2024
After two years there, the opportunity
to move across the road came up and I moved into my current studio in January 2024. There are three other offices around me that remained empty for the entire first year I was in this space. I kind of loved it. I’ve used the large wood work table for production and shipping since the early days of Sloe Gin Fizz back in a small apartment in Ann Arbor. The wacky light setup over the work table is a carry over from doing craft shows that has proved really effective in the studio.
My granddad’s drafting tools in an old
cigar box he stored them in
The work table came from my grandad who was a mechanical engineer who moved to New Jersey to work with Thomas Edison back in the day. He had the most magical basement workshop and was constantly tinkering and making things with us. While I still kick myself for turning down his drafting table and chair, I do cherish his work table. I also have his old cigar box holding all his drafting tools.
SO much shelving packed into this space
With just over 200 square feet, it’s still a tight fit for all of my STUFF. I’ve lined the walls with as many shelves as I can pack in, holding all of my inventory and packing materials. Around all of that I’ve been filling any other spaces available with my favorite art, knick knacks and collected bits and bobs.
My ever-evolving wall of inspiration
featuring artist friends and favorites
This inspiration wall is ever-evolving and includes everything from my first block-printed merch bag turned into a hanging to a screenprint I bought from an artist selling her work from a blanket on the ground in Union Square in NYC.
The mess that is my current drawing table situation.
I try to keep it analog with no computer or monitor but the full holiday chaos all around has landed my laptop there today.
After making art at home for over ten years, I’ve found it difficult to change my habits. I still keep a home studio and often do my drawing there. But I’m slowly doing more and more drawing here. I moved my drawing desk this summer and installed shelving above. (The holiday rush keeps me from getting a prettier picture of this little space!)
Many years worth of sketchbooks
I’ve been moving my book collection and sketchbooks into the new shelving and it’s starting to feel more like a cozy little nook to work in.
I’ve become the drawer of squirrels and as such,
have a growing collection of them.
But also: Two very special goldfish friends.
This little shelf of friends helps! I like to keep the pair of goldfish nearby. They represent a kind of turning point for me in finding my artistic voice. I went back to art school in the late 90s, taking classes at night and on the weekends. I was exploring and having fun but at the same time completely lacking confidence and very intimidated in class. I really loved my oil painting classes, but felt at a total loss for subject matter. After my foundation classes, I shuffled around several other painting classes floundering miserably. I finally stumbled into a class that was exactly what I needed: Still life
painting.
Oil painting from art school of the
two goldfish toys on a letterpress block
By removing the pressure of deciding what to paint, I could finally go back to focusing on learning how to paint. About midway through my second semester with this professor — after painting many kettles and vases and flowers — I decided the subject for my next still life would be these two little goldfish toys. It really was an a-ha moment. They
represented the fun and humor and lightness I wanted in my art! I ended up doing a series of paintings of toys. I still have the 4’x5’ goldfish painting. It’s too large for my studio, but hangs in our guest bedroom at home so I can invite our guests to sleep with the fishes.
My best pal John and I in a photo booth that malfunctioned and just kept taking pictures!
I recently hung this photo booth triptych over one of the windows. It’s my friend John and I in a photo booth that malfunctioned and just kept taking pictures. John passed away in 2022 from pancreatic cancer at just 54. He knew how to easily find the fun in everything and brought out the silliest side of me like no one else can. He had these blow ups hanging over the door in his bathroom for years and years. It’s my constant reminder of him and to find the fun every day.
Ever-changing clouds over the lake
My studio looks out at Zukey Lake and has a paved walking and biking trail between the lake and the building. I love to watch the skies change and the clouds putting on a show. I can walk the trail to take orders to the lakeside post office or to just clear my head and work out ideas. Or I can just stare out the window and watch the trains run by.
I feel like a kid every time the train goes by and am always hoping the conductor will blow the whistle.
Nicole Ray is an illustrator who creates a whimsical line of art prints and paper goods under the name Sloe Gin Fizz. From quirky animal and vegetable characters to cozy, nostalgia-filled interiors and calming views of nature, Nicole’s hand-drawn scenes are highly accessible, infused with a playful sense of humor and a strong narrative quality. Nicole and her mister live in a log house on a lake with a border collie and an ever-changing network of critter friends. Find more of her work at sloeginfizz.com.
|
| Winter 2026 banner by Nicole Ray |
Studio Tour with Nicole
|
| Me at a holiday studio open house in December 2024 |
Hello! I’m Nicole Ray and I run Sloe Gin Fizz, my illustration business, from a studio space in Pinckney, Michigan. I started Sloe Gin Fizz in 2008 and worked out of a room in our home for over ten years. A large part of that business is selling products featuring my artwork: Art prints, greeting cards,
stickers and more.
|
| My work table and studio space at home |
The collection — and inventory — has grown significantly over time. This became all too clear during the pandemic when my husband started working at home, too. I would passed back and forth behind him during his living room Zoom meetings, packing orders, prepping products, making art all in different areas throughout the house. We quickly realized how much my work had taken over the whole house.
|
| My first 99 square foot studio space outside the house |
I passed a real estate office every day on my way to the post office with orders and one day went in to ask if I could rent the office that had clearly been empty for quite some time. They said yes and I took a leap and rented a small — 99 square foot — office within their larger office just down the road from home. I moved all of my inventory and production and shipping materials over there. It was such a treat! I jam packed it all in there. I still made art in my home studio but everything else was in that little space.
|
| My current studio all cleaned up and ready for my first open studio March 2024 |
After two years there, the opportunity
to move across the road came up and I moved into my current studio in January 2024. There are three other offices around me that remained empty for the entire first year I was in this space. I kind of loved it. I’ve used the large wood work table for production and shipping since the early days of Sloe Gin Fizz back in a small apartment in Ann Arbor. The wacky light setup over the work table is a carry over from doing craft shows that has proved really effective in the studio.
|
| My granddad’s drafting tools in an old cigar box he stored them in |
The work table came from my grandad who was a mechanical engineer who moved to New Jersey to work with Thomas Edison back in the day. He had the most magical basement workshop and was constantly tinkering and making things with us. While I still kick myself for turning down his drafting table and chair, I do cherish his work table. I also have his old cigar box holding all his drafting tools.
|
| SO much shelving packed into this space |
With just over 200 square feet, it’s still a tight fit for all of my STUFF. I’ve lined the walls with as many shelves as I can pack in, holding all of my inventory and packing materials. Around all of that I’ve been filling any other spaces available with my favorite art, knick knacks and collected bits and bobs.
|
| My ever-evolving wall of inspiration featuring artist friends and favorites |
This inspiration wall is ever-evolving and includes everything from my first block-printed merch bag turned into a hanging to a screenprint I bought from an artist selling her work from a blanket on the ground in Union Square in NYC.
|
| The mess that is my current drawing table situation. I try to keep it analog with no computer or monitor but the full holiday chaos all around has landed my laptop there today. |
After making art at home for over ten years, I’ve found it difficult to change my habits. I still keep a home studio and often do my drawing there. But I’m slowly doing more and more drawing here. I moved my drawing desk this summer and installed shelving above. (The holiday rush keeps me from getting a prettier picture of this little space!)
|
| Many years worth of sketchbooks |
I’ve been moving my book collection and sketchbooks into the new shelving and it’s starting to feel more like a cozy little nook to work in.
|
| I’ve become the drawer of squirrels and as such, have a growing collection of them. But also: Two very special goldfish friends. |
painting.
|
| Oil painting from art school of the two goldfish toys on a letterpress block |
represented the fun and humor and lightness I wanted in my art! I ended up doing a series of paintings of toys. I still have the 4’x5’ goldfish painting. It’s too large for my studio, but hangs in our guest bedroom at home so I can invite our guests to sleep with the fishes.
|
| My best pal John and I in a photo booth that malfunctioned and just kept taking pictures! |
I recently hung this photo booth triptych over one of the windows. It’s my friend John and I in a photo booth that malfunctioned and just kept taking pictures. John passed away in 2022 from pancreatic cancer at just 54. He knew how to easily find the fun in everything and brought out the silliest side of me like no one else can. He had these blow ups hanging over the door in his bathroom for years and years. It’s my constant reminder of him and to find the fun every day.
|
| Ever-changing clouds over the lake |
My studio looks out at Zukey Lake and has a paved walking and biking trail between the lake and the building. I love to watch the skies change and the clouds putting on a show. I can walk the trail to take orders to the lakeside post office or to just clear my head and work out ideas. Or I can just stare out the window and watch the trains run by.
|
| I feel like a kid every time the train goes by and am always hoping the conductor will blow the whistle. |
Nicole Ray is an illustrator who creates a whimsical line of art prints and paper goods under the name Sloe Gin Fizz. From quirky animal and vegetable characters to cozy, nostalgia-filled interiors and calming views of nature, Nicole’s hand-drawn scenes are highly accessible, infused with a playful sense of humor and a strong narrative quality. Nicole and her mister live in a log house on a lake with a border collie and an ever-changing network of critter friends. Find more of her work at sloeginfizz.com.
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July 2015
Will there be any market ideas such as new publications or publishing companies included in The Mitten?
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, thanks for the suggestion! We'll explore this as we grow and add more features.
DeleteKeep in mind the most up-to-date market research can be found in the members section of the national site, www.scbwi.org
DeleteYou can download it for free or have The Book sent to you for just $5 postage. It's an amazing resource.
Brilliant, Heidi. Huge congratulations and also hugs.
ReplyDeleteI'm a mentee now, too -- let's storm the castle and hang up our artwork. ;) -- And let's pull the rest of our Michigan illustrators up the steps too.
GREAT JOB! Kritstin and Jodie.
ReplyDeleteHeidi, you know I am already a fan, and your work never fails to WOW me!
Heidi, your art is so beautiful! Thanks for your courage in sharing your life challenge with us. I wish you the very best.
ReplyDeleteKristin and Jodie--this is a terrific idea! Looking forward to reading more.
Lindsey McDivitt
Heidi, Thank you for sharing your work and your hard-won wisdom. The depth from which you speak comes through in the strength and vibrancy of your artwork as well. Blessings and continued healing to you. Most Sincerely, Elizabeth McBride
ReplyDeleteThis is a question for Kristin and Jody but I can't seem to find anywhere else to ask it---will we still be sharing marketing news, Hugs & Hoorahs, etc? I don't see any of those at this time. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI emailed Monica, but for anyone else who is reading this, we will definitely have Hugs and Hurrahs - I'm compiling them now for an upcoming post. We'll have to look at market news going forward, but the SCBWI Bulletin and our listserv continue to be good resources for that info.
DeleteWow! Heidi, I can see why you got the mentorship--touching, heartfelt essay. Impressive!
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you. Nice work, Heidi!
ReplyDeleteI'm such a neophyte here that I forgot there might be posts (and replies!). I really and truly very touched by the kind words and feedback. Thank you all, a bit late! XO Heidi
ReplyDeleteThank you to Jeff and Heidi for their gorgeous artwork! And, Heidi, thank you for your honesty and inspiration, all wrapped up in your beautiful essay. It's a touching reminder of what matters in life--the perfect start to the new year. Happy 2015 to everyone!
ReplyDeleteJeff - thanks for a little insight into your creative world, challenges, and motivations. I'm excited to see more of your work! And Heidi,I want that bronco girl! Love her spirit.
ReplyDeleteAmazing artwork Jeff (and Heidi). Fascinating that Matt Faulkner suggested the 3-D look. The value of SCBWI is our proximity to working writers and illustrators. The sparks that fly when creative minds meet fuels the forge of inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLove it, Jeff! Your art is fabulous and it's great to see more of it.
ReplyDeleteGreat art work Heidi and hugs all over for you...And Jeff, the cover is so good - just want to reach out and squeeze the other hand of the tree, or two or more! Love clay too!
ReplyDelete