TheArtfulAuni
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Buyers bought gifts from this shop and gave them 5-star reviews!
Announcement Hi there! Welcome to my Etsy shop. Original art makes a great gift, or maybe you want something for your own home! Shoot me a message if you have any questions. *: ) Auni
Announcement
Hi there! Welcome to my Etsy shop. Original art makes a great gift, or maybe you want something for your own home! Shoot me a message if you have any questions. *: ) Auni
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Reviews
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wgstrauss on Apr 18, 2022
5 out of 5 starsNice piece. Well made. Unfortunately, it was damaged in transit through no fault of the seller. I'm pleased with how we solved the problem. I did not hesitate to order an additional item.
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Lisa on May 17, 2022
5 out of 5 starsSuch a great experience start to finish! Our custom made crow made a perfect gift for a friend who has a new vacation home in the mountains of Washington state. Communication, shipping, all were outstanding as well! Something to really “crow” about!!
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Chartreuse on Apr 18, 2022
5 out of 5 starsHave you ever purchased a piece of art that was so perfect that you couldn’t stop staring at it? The cats think it’s real so we are all staring. This Blue Jay is so gorgeous with the sweetest details. I will definitely be back!!
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Sioux on Jan 2, 2022
5 out of 5 starsSuper cute, well made novelty Owl! I love her. Sent quickly and with great communication.
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David on Dec 15, 2021
5 out of 5 starsjust received the most fantastic little blackbird sculpture. The detail is amazing. I can absolutely tell that Auni is not only an artist but someone who cares deeply about her work. She even asked me what expression I wanted it to have. And thenTHAT IS WHAT SHE GAVE ME! This is a gift for my wife who collects bird sculptures. She is going to love it!
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Hilary on Sep 22, 2021
5 out of 5 starsThe raven is wonderful , full of personality. I also really liked ArtfulAuni. She was so mindful of what I wanted and obviously cared about her creations. The whole experience was a big win. Thank you.
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jane on Aug 28, 2021
5 out of 5 starsWhat an adorable little guy! Enjoyed working with the artist, too.
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Chris on Aug 16, 2021
5 out of 5 starsThis was such a great experience. The seller was so sweet and thoughtful. She even personally delivered to to our door and she lives on the other side of the country!
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cheryl on Jul 19, 2021
5 out of 5 starsZiggy the Raven has made himself at quite at home on our living room window sill. Beautifully sculpted by Auni, this cheeky bird brings mischievous delight to our days. Many thanks Auni Milne for sharing your talent and your love of the natural world with us!
About TheArtfulAuni
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The gallery setup for the annual Crown & Pumpkin Studio Tour. -
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The view of the studio from the upper garden. -
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I wonder if other painters have this problem! -
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This is the view from the studio. -
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This is Badger. He is a good guarder. Well, actually, he's terrible because he loves everybody! Carry on, Badge.
The Artful Auni – Whimsical Sculpture & Painting by a Small Town Girl
My name is Auni and I am crazy about animals. I keep them as companions in my house, I keep an eye out for the wild ones outside, I photograph them, I draw them, I paint them, and now I’ve started sculpting them. I can state with some certainty that animals, art, and animal art have been an enduring constant for my entire life, and will surely remain a passion of mine for the rest of my days.
I started drawing animals as soon as I had the motor skills to hold onto a piece of chalk and haven’t stopped since. There is a story told about when we were living in Ohio when I was about 3 and my nursery school teacher phoned my dad out of the blue, absolutely confounded because apparently I’d drawn my Thanksgiving turkey in a way that no 3-year-old should be able to do!
As an adult I’ve been lucky enough to hold jobs in the creative industry, but you know, what with marriage, kids, and a mortgage, my personal artwork took a back seat for far too long. Once my kids moved out my wife and I moved to the country (near Ottawa in Ontario Canada) and I made room in my life for art making once again.
We had a crazy double whammy about 10 years ago where we first lost most of our possessions in a furnace accident, followed by a house fire 4 months later where we lost our house completely. It was a pretty awful time for a while but now of course we have a beautiful new house with a purpose-built studio for me to make my art in.
In late 2020, after struggling as we all have with this terrible global pandemic, I took a little online course about how to make birds with clay. It has turned my life upside down because it’s the perfect medium for me to make animals that make me truly happy. I always secretly wondered if sculpting was an art form for me, and it turns out that I love it. So I started The Artful Auni. The name of course is inspired by The Artful Dodger in the Charles Dickens novel, but it also comes from the Milne Scottish clan motto: As Much by Art as Strength. So many of my family members have adopted this adage as their own personal motto to deal with the challenges that life presents. More than one of us even have it tattooed on our persons!
I still have my day job as a graphic designer, but evenings and weekends and sometimes even playing hooky during the week, you’ll find me making armatures out of paper and wire, building clay suits, carefully carving and molding, making little tiny smiling eyes and grinning beaks. They give me so much joy that sometimes I simply hold them and let the happiness fill me up. Many of my customers say they are magical and seem to get the same sense of fulfillment out of these little beings. They make great gifts since they are so unusual, especially for bird lovers and nature enthusiasts.
Each Aunimal (as my 84-year-old mother coined them) is hand built and hand painted with love and care. I work with my hands, slowly, taking great care to build them in a way that they are sturdy and have great balance. They look wonderful on coffee tables or tucked away in unexpected places such as book shelves or phone tables.
The Artful Auni is just me in my studio. Drop me a line! Let’s have a chat.
*:) Auni
Shop members
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Auni Milne
Owner
Auni Milne is a visual artist living in the Lanark Highlands in Ontario, Canada. When not creating her personal work, Auni works as a graphic designer and illustrator.
Shop policies
Shipping
Customs and import taxes
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Returns & exchanges
I gladly accept returns, exchanges, and cancellations
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
- Custom or personalized orders
- Digital downloads
I accept returns I do not accept returns
I accept exchanges I do not accept exchanges
I accept cancellations I do not accept cancellations
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for: