Whimsy Cottage
A Project By nearlytuna | Artist & Writer

Three stylized, dark gray stars with shiny, reflective surfaces.
hand drawn, dark sparkles, little stars

Welcome to Whimsy Cottage!

A delightful haven of handcrafted wonders where clay, paper, ink, and imagination meet. These handmade creations are shaped with gentle care, echoing the charm of forgotten tales and candlelit studios. Each piece is a keepsake of a quiet magic, made to bring a touch of enchantment to your home and heart.

Hello! I'm nearlytuna, an artist in Otago, Aotearoa NZ - previously of Kaurna Yerta, AUS. I studied visual arts in my late 20's and my artistic practice most often explores the themes of belonging, trauma and home.

I have begun to embrace my deepening need for whimsy, delving into cottage and forestcore aesthetics, coziness and everyday magic - through paint, print, drawing, sculpture, bookmaking and zine creation. I'm a constant work in progress!

So please, pour yourself a cuppa, have a scroll through some of my previous work below, check out my store, and don’t forget to follow the whimsy!

Drawing of a deep red mushroom, with white flecks on its top
Illustration of a brown mushroom with a rounded cap and white spots, and a thick stem.
Illustration of a brown mushroom with a rounded cap and white spots.
Illustration of a brown mushroom with a rounded cap, light-colored spots, and a thick stem.
A cartoon illustration of a dark brown mushroom with a thick stem and a rounded cap covered with small light gray spots.
Digital illustration of a brown mushroom with a rounded cap and a thick stem, with white spots on the cap.
Illustration of a brown mushroom with a large, rounded cap with white spots and a thick stem.
Replacement Mother Figures (2020)
Untitled
The Organization of Space Over Time
Sanctuary
Dysphoria
A vertical, rectangular stone lamp with a carved, ancient-style design, lit from within, emitting a warm glow against a dark background.
A brunette woman is sitting in a studio space, drawing, with a slight smile on her face. She wears a yellow shirt under black overalls.
A black background with a thin, dark green branch with small leaves on the left side.

nearlytuna is an artist, a tinkerer, a book club enthusiast, a zine creator, a dungeon master and permaculture fiend based in Otago, Aotearoa. After a three year hiatus, she is back in the studio, pottering away, following wherever the materials and inspirations take her.

She’s a sucker for fantasy and science fiction, but cannot deny the stranglehold that Pride and Prejudice, The Body Keeps the Score and gardening has on her heart.

Previous creative work has explored the influence of trauma on the way that we create and feel about the idea of home, through ceramics, sculpture, poetry, printmaking and mixed media.