Artist Feature: Cinder Block
Creative flow loaded with wide-eyed duckies hitching a ride!
I discovered Cinder Block in my BlueSky ACEOs feed a couple months ago, and I was instantly charmed by their storybook-style little duckies. Precious, round, and each bursting with a single big emotion, like a fairy. I find myself relating to each big emotion Cinder Block captures — from the wonder in the face of their Pisces ducky, below, to the baffled shyness of the ducky in, “Yer not from around here are ya?” (covered later in this article) — each ducky’s innocent experience of these big emotions tugs on my own heart strings. I want to gather them all up, like a protective mama ducky… and trap them in my ACEO collection! Bwahahahaha!
Let’s meet the artist!
Welcome, Cinder Block! How would you describe your personality and your approach to life?
That’s a bit hard to answer as I feel both are always changing. I guess, because of that, the main consistencies are that I believe in trying to embrace change, and I can’t make a decision to save my life.
How long have you been creating?
Art has always been an important part of my life. I think I was about 13 when I first took it more seriously. I got the opportunity to study acrylic landscape painting under a local artist. I would go to his house after school and paint for a few hours.
However, I just started creating ACEO’s recently! I was aware they existed but was recently reminded again through social media. I had just entered a period of trying to prioritize art more in my life again. It seemed to be a good way to get in the groove again. Now it’s one month later (March 16, 2026) and I absolutely love making them.
What materials/supplies do you use?
Acrylic paint mostly, and occasionally ink or pencil crayon.
What parts of creating ACEOs you that awesome jolt of dopamine?
They’re a comfortable place to play around. There’s less pressure and so a lot more freedom to play with new ideas.
Aside from that, I just think tiny art pieces are adorable and wonderful. Being able to share them with people makes me really happy.
Is there anything you wish your audience better understood about your art?
There’s not much to it. I like ducks so I paint ducks.
Do what makes you happy.
Whether it’s painting tiny ducks or making really good pancakes.
What are you learning in life, right now?
I’m actually doing a series of portrait studies focusing on understanding values better!
On the life side of things, I’m learning to stop prioritizing other people’s comfort over my own ability to breathe.
What are some of your artistic influences and inspirations?
Primarily my grandma. She’s the reason I pursued art in the first place. Her paintings will always be my favorite.❤️
Stylistically I adore Abi Toads, Siva K. Hanson, Victoria Kart, and the work in The Last Unicorn. I am also very grateful to have a whole dang lot of wonderful artistic people in my life to be inspired by as well.
Where I started: Cowboy Duck Portraits
Custom paintings, like those below, are the first way I sold my art. It was the same duck every time and you could customize the main colors and background elements. I did it so I could produce custom art at a lower cost with a design I could quickly replicate. It’s something I still offer, when commissioned!
Wizard Ducks! [Sold]
Wizard ducks! They were my second set of ACEO’s, and where I started having more fun playing with the design of the ducks.
“Yer not from around here are ya?”
I painted this after taking the bus for the first time in a long time and fearing everyone could tell I had no idea what I was doing. Just a little country duck bumbling around a bus stop.
The Zodiac Duck Series [Sold]
This is my most recent series. They have all since sold, but there is a plan to turn similar designs into prints! These are the ACEOs I had the most fun with.
Jenivieve: And it shows! When I’m trading art cards with fellow artists, my favorite prompt has become, “Create something that gives you joy to create,” and just see what happens. When artists aren’t creating within set limitations/requirements, it’s so wonderful to see where the creative flow of joy leads. Your creative joy is so visible in these little feathered fellas. 🥹
There will be more duckies 😉
You can find Cinder Block’s latest creations in their shop; bookmark it for the future!
Thank you so much, Cinder Block!
Your precious duckies float right into the hearts of your collectors. We love your expressive style, and ability to translate big feelings into tiny relatable ducks, and can’t wait to see what life experiences your flock learns, next!
Follow Cinder Blocks’s creativity:
Reddit • BlueSky • Instagram • TikTok
Shop Cinder Block’s art: