These are the adorable imaginings of whimsical sculptor Maikki, A.K.A. Mai Darling Designs. She describes herself as the ‘maker of royal critters and other whimsical beasts.’ Handmade one at a time from polymer clay, all her charming pieces are hand-painted and completely unique. I love her perspective on buying art:

“When buying from an artist/maker, you’re buying more than an object. You are buying hundreds of hours of failures and experimentation. You are buying days, weeks, & moths of frustration and moments of pure joy. You aren’t just buying a thing, you’re buying a piece of heart, part of a soul, a moment of someone’s life. Most importantly, you’re buying the artist more time to do something they are passionate about.”

-Maikki

Though adorable, her tiny creatures also manage to seem confident and a little regal, like they know they’re made exactly right. I am especially drawn to her paint treatments; many of her creations are painted with oceanic or celestial themes, lending them an element of timelessness and magic, like they just stepped out of some obscure fairy tale.

You can see all of the adorable creatures by Mai Darling Designs on Maikki’s website and Instagram, and you can support the artist on Patreon.

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This galactic chonk is one my favourite birdies ever! I hope everyone's having a relaxing Sunday! 💙 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #maidarlingdesigns #polymerclay #birdie #birdfigurine #bluebird #birdsculpture #birdies #animalart #animalartist #clayanimals #animalsculpture #sculptures #whimsical #fantasyart #instaart #polimerclay #miniature #figurine #arttoy #arttoys #polyclay #collectibles #polymer_clay #artistsofinstagram #crystalart #crystals #polimerclay #handmadeclay #animalfigurine #kawaii

A post shared by 🔹Maikki🔹Mai Darling Designs (@maidarlingdesigns) on Jan 26, 2020 at 6:37am PST

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Heyyy! Just came here to drop by and announce that I'm launching my giveaway tomorrow! This turtle has nothing to do with that, though but I actually have something super cool in store for you (at least in my opinion… 🤭). This turtle has been adopted already. 💜 . . . . . . . . . . #maidarlingdesigns #polymerclay #totemanimals #spiritanimal #turtle #seaturtle #turtlefigurine #clouds #sunset #animalart #animalartist #clayanimals #animalsculpture #sculptures #whimsicalart #fantasyart #instaart #polimerclay #miniature #figurine #polyclay #collectibles #polymer_clay #artistsofinstagram #polymerclayart #charm #polimerclay #handmadeclay #animalfigurine #kawaii

A post shared by 🔹Maikki🔹Mai Darling Designs (@maidarlingdesigns) on Dec 19, 2019 at 7:33am PST

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I have a lot of new pieces coming up but none of them are quite finished yet so I decided to repost some of my favourite zodiac pieces from last year! I'm looking forward to finishing this series in the near future as I still have a few to make. Which one is your favorite? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #maidarlingdesigns #polymerclay #zodiacanimal #zodiacsign #horoscope #starsign #aquarius #spiritanimal #animalart #animalartist #clayanimals #animalsculpture #sculptures #whimsicalart #polimerclay #miniature #figurine #polyclay #collectibles #arttoy #designertoys #artistsofinstagram #polymerclayart #polimerclay #handmadeclay #animalfigurine #kawaii #crystalart #crystals

A post shared by 🔹Maikki🔹Mai Darling Designs (@maidarlingdesigns) on Jan 8, 2020 at 6:57am PST

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I've been focusing all my energy on the upcoming trip to Milan. A lot of new pieces has been made although I've tried to keep things 'light' in order to survive all this and most of all, to enjoy it! Not aleays an easy equation when you have a business to run. I have been working on my line of ghosties and enjoying creating all the different variations, such as these chameleon babies. I personally love these so much and was wondering if you'd like to see ghosties like these in the shop at some point? Stay BOOtiful! ❤️ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #maidarlingdesigns #polymerclay #spirit #ghost #ghostfigurine #ghostsculpture #chameleonpigment #chameleon #sculptures #whimsicalart #fantasyart #instaart #polimerclay #miniature #figurine #polyclay #collectibles #polymer_clay #artistsofinstagram #polymerclayart #charm #arttoy #arttoys #mirroreffect #mirrorfinish #polimerclay #handmadeclay #animalfigurine #kawaii

A post shared by 🔹Maikki🔹Mai Darling Designs (@maidarlingdesigns) on Jan 29, 2020 at 6:41am PST

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I wanted to post better pics of this little chonky girl. The truth is I hate taking light box photos and prefer natural light like in this one. She is still up for grabs.✨ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #maidarlingdesigns #polymerclay #totemanimals #dino #dinoart #triceratops #triceratopsfigure #dinosaur #dinofigurine #animalart  #animalartist #clayanimals #crystals #crystalart #crystallover #animalsculpture #sculptures #whimsicalart #polimerclay #miniature #figurine #polyclay #polymer_clay #polymerclayart #arttoy #arttoys #polimerclay #handmadeclay #animalfigurine #kawaii

A post shared by 🔹Maikki🔹Mai Darling Designs (@maidarlingdesigns) on Jan 20, 2020 at 7:31am PST

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Shop update is in a couple of hours and this mighty manatee will be included! I've received tons of requests for these and I recently asked how should I paint this one. The most popular answers were blue, turquoise, galactic, water or ocean color. So, naturally I tried to fit all of that in one piece! 😄 How did I do? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #maidarlingdesigns #polymerclay #turquoisewater #paradise #manatee #manatee #manateefigurine #arttoy #arttoys #animalart #animalartist #clayanimals #animalsculpture #sculptures #whimsicalart #fantasyart #instaart #polimerclay #miniature #figurine #polyclay #collectibles #polymer_clay #artistsofinstagram #polymerclayr #water #polimerclay #handmadeclay #animalfigurine #kawaii

A post shared by 🔹Maikki🔹Mai Darling Designs (@maidarlingdesigns) on Jan 16, 2020 at 7:59am PST

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This little one is a baby baku. Unlike other bakus, these will only devour your nightmares and give you sweet dreams. 💙 I will have a few of them for the next shop update and all of them are different. . . . . . . . . . . . #maidarlingdesigns #polymerclay #totemanimals #spiritanimal #baku #bakufigurine #animalart #animalartist #clayanimals #animalsculpture #sculptures #whimsicalart #fantasyart #instaart #polimerclay #miniature #figurine #polyclay #collectibles #polymer_clay #artistsofinstagram #polymerclayart #arttoys #arttoys #polimerclay #handmadeclay #animalfigurine #kawaii

A post shared by 🔹Maikki🔹Mai Darling Designs (@maidarlingdesigns) on Jan 3, 2020 at 7:59am PST

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This baby was made as a commission earlier this year. I loved making this royal baby hedgehog snd I wish it will brighten up your day. 💖 Ps The winner of my most recent giveaway has been chosen and announced in my stories and giveaway highlights. . . . . . . . . . . . #maidarlingdesigns #polymerclay #hedgehog #hedgehogfigurine #totemanimals #spiritanimal #animalart #animalartist #clayanimals #animalsculpture #sculptures #whimsicalart #fantasyart #instaart #polimerclay #miniature #figurine #polyclay #collectibles #polymer_clay #artistsofinstagram #polymerclayart #arttoy #arttoys #polimerclay #handmadeclay #animalfigurine #kawaii

A post shared by 🔹Maikki🔹Mai Darling Designs (@maidarlingdesigns) on Dec 25, 2019 at 7:10am PST