Hi Lian! I hear you about shouting into a void. Thank you so much for sharing your insights, processes, and journey, and for being vulnerable with us. I'm happy to reciprocate :)
I live in Kansas City, Missouri but have also lived in Montreal, NYC, California, Hays Kansas, and Raleigh, NC (where I grew up and where I consider myself "from").
I'm an illustrator (working on my first book, and also illustrated greeting cards in the past) and I run a subscription box business and substitute teach.
I don't remember how I found your newsletter!
Life - I've done a lot of things that I'm happy with but I wish I had more money to show for it.
If money were no object, I would travel, draw, and volunteer my services to help people, animals, and the environment. If having a degree in education were no object, I would love to be a literacy specialist working with at-risk kids (in addition to being an illustrator!).
I'm pretty insecure about my illustration skills.
It's not a lie per say, but I don't really share my age with anyone anymore. Ha!
Wow you've moved around a lot!! You're in the same boat as me. I don't know if you feel like this but I've found it hard to really find a place I call home after having moved around so much. It feels like nowhere has really clicked with me, but maybe that's just me. Congratulations on working on your first book!!! You never forget your first haha! I hope the process goes smoothly, but know that it'll be a learning process regardless. In the end, it'll be one of many and there's no need to be a perfectionist (at least that's what I tell myself). Hah! You should be relieved that we're not having this conversation in real life because I LOVE to ask people their ages!
Hi Lian! Where have you lived? (I did also live in Connecticut and New Jersey as a kid before moving to NC, but consider myself from NC :)) It's always such a tough question, though! You tell people where you grew up, and where you live now, and they think those are the only places you've ever lived, when you want to tell them, "Well, actually...I have also lived in these other places..." haha! Thanks for the congratulations!! The book process is definitely a learning process so far (and I have struggled with impostor syndrome a lot, and was in the beginning constantly afraid that they were going to drop me from the contract!) but I'm enjoying it. And thank you for the reassurance about perfectionism! If we were meeting in real life, I'd have you guess my age before I tell you (as I do with anyone who asks me what my age is!)! :D
I was born in Taiwan then moved to New Zealand when I was four, then moved back to Taiwan at 12, then went to college in London for a year, then came to NY!! Phew. That's all!
This actually made me snicker out loud, totally understand what you mean (even tho i dont have a huge following).
I'm from Toronto, working as a concept artist on games, but my heart is in animation & illustration. I actually saw your book & display at the SOI in NYC when I visited a month ago! So wonderful.
Found your newsletter from instagram probably, I can't resist some comics in my mailbox, and love learning about people's creative process.
Life is definitely not going the way I pictured, but it isn't bad either, just working on ways to do the things I really wanna do :')
If I had all the money, I'd probably split my time between comics, short animated films, just sketching, and social work/activism.
Insecure about... art? My work just isn't where I want it to be but it's hard to find the time to get to it T^T
A lie... probably just "I'm fine" when I'm not really but like the katy perry meme goes,,, sometimes you can't get into it LOL
Yay a Canadian!! I love my Canadians. OOh, what kind of games do you work on? I've recently become a very terrible gamer who plays games on the easiest mode and still struggles. I also feel insecure about my art, it's sooo hard to not compare myself with others all the time. Especially with the internet, it's so much easier to compare yourself with others. Ugh!
I should've clarified it's a mobile game haha, a racing game for little kids, my work for it doesn't really reflect the in-game style though: https://rachaelchen.carbonmade.com/fingersoft
I've decided to just quit checking instagram, I've seen & collected enough art, now I just need to process and work on my own without too much outside influence. I'll come back when I'm ready... For now the break has given me more time in the day & more peace of mind ^^
Really nice connecting with you & thanks for sharing your thoughts & lovely comics on here!
A RACING GAME? That's so fun. Did you see the new Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, it just came out today! They teased a new Mario Kart finally on it and I'm excited! I get having a different style for corporate work where you make the big bucks vs your actual personal style though. Hopefully one day it can merge together! Ugh Instagram is such a bad time suck.. I delete and redownload it all the time. It sucks cause it's also tied with friendships on it so I feel I want to keep it to check in on my friends but then I get sucked into other useless shit on it all the time!
LOL I'm not a gamer at all but I'm glad for those who find a lot of joy in it! Yep thats the goal :' To keep up with friends I just use ig on browser for checking messages, occasionally checking a few stories, which is only like 10 min a day. If my eyes itch for some new art, I check pinterest. Trying to incorporate more reading and language learning rather than scrolling, it might take some diff steps for diff people haha
I love your newsletter! (Also as if Substack has been around since 2022 what is time...)
Here we go!
- Where are you from?
Manchester UK!
- What do you do for a living?
I am a children's illustrator and author too!
- How did you find my newsletter?
After hearing about your books on socials
- Is your life going the way you thought it would?
WHOO that's a big one. Honestly I'm grieving the last five years, and I miss parts of 2019 me. But the lockdown also enabled/forced me to realise I'm autistic and ADHD, which has made my whole life make sense. I got really, really sick in 2022 and lost three people in two months among a whole host of other life stuff - and we were going to travel in 2020 but of course that couldn't happen. So in general... yyyesss? But I never thought I'd live through a global pandemic and be on my third(?) recession and cost of living etc at the tender age of 36. I'm just a baby. I need to rest! And being in survival mode for so long, it's hard to picture a future farther than a few months away, but hopefully I can start to :)
- If money was no object, what would you want to do with your life?
Ooo still picture books, but I'd travel, a lot. And build a tiny house and live a semi nomadic-life.
Oh boy, I feel you on grieving the last couple years! It's been so rough trying to let go of feelings of regret and FOMO from the past couple of years. It sure doesn't help that time seems to speed up so much faster as we get older! I'm so sorry for all of your loss these past couple of years. That sounds really rough. I hope we can both start to accept that we've had a traumatic couple of years and that it's okay to start to heal and focus on the future!! On another note, I'm sure your cholesterol is thanking you for not eating too much pizza! Adam has pizza for lunch every other day at work and I thank the heavens that he bikes everywhere or I'd be worried about him dropping dead at 50
Hello Lian! These post has such a sensational turn haha
I found your newsletter from Substack recommendation I think? or someone I subscribed recommended you. But then surprisingly I found you again in a Discord server (an art group) which you are invited to host an event I think.
I am a self-declaimed independent artist, I write poems, draw, make, and have tried different kinds of art. I have a Substack too (https://inifinitefin.substack.com ), although I haven't make it very "businessly" professional... I think it's quite private like you said in this post when you started. I'm thinking where I'm going to do with it.
My life... that doesn't fit in a paragraph, or two. so pass, next. (hahaha no I think I'm trying to tell my story in my art, and it's one of my 2025 new year reslutions!
I always don't and can't see money as a concrete object. So I do what I want which is art... If I have better "luck" financially then I possibly already done it more "officially" (so not just "self-claimed" and not only these few years...
I am insecure in every aspect. Because (I know terms always doesn't mean anything but labels are all we humans have for now, either understand it or not... sadly) I'm:
It's so refreshing to hear that you don't see money as a concrete object and do what you want! That's the best way to approach life and art. It must be really freeing to be able to make art without feeling constricted.
Thank you for all of your kind words, and so nice of you to comment on my IG post too!!! The best of luck on all of your artistic endeavors!
Thanks for your reply! Sadly I have other difficulties in my way of creating art, more of it psychological. Also the way society works, especially that although I can't see money as a object, it turns into the form of social economical classes -- which is a concept I only come to grasp very lately -- and once in a while would remind me of the conditions I'm facing. The free of mind is the only freedom I can give myself. Obstacles are everywhere. It's hard. But I think I'm determined, haha.
My name is Domi, and I live(ish) in Washington DC. I work for the federal government, where I help budget money for payroll at the environmental protection agency. It sounds boring but I promise it's actually quite interesting xD.
I think I found your newsletter by subscribing to "Tara Anand from the Drafts," and your newsletter was recommend by Substack. I really really like the "behind the scenes" you both provide. My mom is an artist, art teacher, and art docent so I grew up in a home full of art and love to draw! But I always feel intimated by final products - getting the backstage look makes me understand how much trial & error and practice a full-time artist puts into their work :). I also appreciate the work behind illustrations more since following you both!
If money were no object, I would give unlimited amounts to social organization lobbies so they can compete against big corporations. I don't understand why affordable housing, bikeable cities, healthy food, et al. have to be pitted against historic zoning laws, the car lobby, the soda & sugar lobby, etc...
I am insecure about many things. Currently I'm probably most insecure about how much I want to have kids asap, even though I have been in a relationship only for a year. I feel like I should want a bigger career but tbh I really just want to have 2 kids AND keep my flexible job at the same time.
A lie I tell others is that I moved to the US from Europe when I was older than I actually was (I was 5!), although it doesn't even matter bc neither of my parents is American lol. I really like leaning into the "I'm not FULLY American I'm better!" vibe xD.
Hi Domi! Your work doesn't sound boring at all it sounds super important and helpful!! I'm glad to hear you enjoy it and I know I would struggle with handling anything related to money or numbers at all.
I love Tara's work, she's fantastic. How interesting to hear that you grew up in a home filled with art. It's so fun to hear people from different fields that have an appreciation for art. I TOTALLY lean into the "I'm not American" too because it's lowkey kinda embarrassing to be American haha. Although I moved here when I was 19 so I don't really count myself as American regardless!
Thank you for your response!! I loved your reply to the American thing, I think we are doing the right thing 😂. We do have to acknowledge the embarrassing part... but not tooooo much xDDD
Perhaps this is a symptom of modern internet platforms, where "content" is detached from the people that make it, and the like button is minimum interaction. I feel that.
Anyway, hi Lian! I'm Issie, a new subscriber from New Zealand! Recently I was made redundant from a boring tech corporate job, and find myself nearing 30 with no career, and a strange crippling fear of drawing, when I used to all the time. Now, I am trying to start my own thing, Scribbee, a graphic recording service so I can translate long talks and notes into visuals - much like you! I also dream of making a picture book, and pattern designs, but it's early days. I'm still trying to land that first GR gig! It's rough in NZ, no one's heard of it, and art is a "nice to have" lately. Not sure if you are replying to these, but if you have any advice on breaking the fear of drawing, I'd be very grateful!
What else... I handsew plushie cats, have two real ones, my favourite foods are beef wellington and iced biscuits, and my favourite smell is jasmine and wisteria (the trees outside my childhood bedroom window). I want more illustrator friends so we can yell together, but your newsletter always makes me smile. Thank you.
A kiwi!!! I lived in Christchurch from ages 4 to 12!!
I'm so sorry about your job, although it sounds like a little blessing in disguise if you found it boring. Though I know it must be sooo scary to be out there without the security and comfort of a job. I hope Scribbee takes off!! Those are so helpful to spice up talks and conferences that would otherwise be so boring. People really do respond to visual content so much better.
In terms of breaking the fear of drawing... my hottest take is that when you don't want to draw you shouldn't force yourself to do it. It's okay to go and do other things, like sew your plushies, because everything you do will feed back into your future drawings. Aside from that terrible advice, something more practical I have to offer is to find a really cheap low stakes sketchbook to use. It helps to try to break through the fear of something looking perfect right away if you use a really crappy notebook. Just do the drawing for yourself and don't share it with anybody at all. I have plenty of expensive sketchbooks I never use and I always go back to using my $1.50 muji notebooks. I can't seem to find it, but what really helped was seeing one of Carson Ellis' sketchbook tours. It was so eye opening to see her show pages where she would start out drawing an eye, then realize she hated it the first couple marks and simply just flip to a new page and try again. It was such a realization to realize every page didn't need to look perfect and I could just flip to another page.
Thank you for sharing your favorite foods, there are sooo many foods from my childhood in NZ that I miss. I miss mince pies from the tuckshop, mint treats, fairy bread and a real sausage sizzle outside bunnings!
Haha kia ora! A kiwi at heart for sure, to be missing the Bunnings snag! They're still good and I don't know why. Magic... but I had no idea you lived here at one point! Weirdly, that makes me feel more of a kinship haha, you understand the vibes. Once a kiwi, always part of the whanau<3 Have you been able to visit back at all since moving away? It IS a bit far away from everything. Thank you for your encouraging words! It's super early days, but sneaky plug jic: https://www.instagram.com/scribbee.nz/ ;)
That's good advice, the sketchbooks I have are all ugly now on purpose, but I think mark making on paper is harder now than it used to be. The weird thing is (and maybe you relate) is when you spend so long learning to draw "well", its SO hard to develop a loose cartoon style that's a little ugly on purpose. Charming, in a better word, lol. I recently found out I have ADHD too, so that might add to the avoidance thing. Most advice is consistency over skill, which I aspire to, but the fear makes drawing once a day feel like lifting heavy stones! So far, I'm aiming for 6 or more drawing times a month, even if its not a finished "piece" and is just a doodled flower. Literally gotta recondition the brain I think. Also, I can't share a photo of the cat toys here, but I think you'd appreciate them: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6SMS3hhHzP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== (there are. so many more now. help.)
We visited last year for the first time since we left in 2008 and it was kind of weird! A lot of memories came rushing back, but a lot of them didn't. I think I expected me to remember more things but so much of it seemed to just be lost. I did get very attached to the pump water bottle I bought as it reminded me of PE days when we would freeze the bottle. I even ended up bringing the silly little plastic bottle back to New York with me!! I think I finally threw it out when we moved a couple months ago.
If you're trying to build a habit, it might help to read Atomic Habits by James Clear. I was struggling to get into the habit of running and that book really laid out great ways to make forming habits easier. Anyways, the best of luck to you!!! The Scribbee looks fantastic and your cat toys are so much fun!!!
I could use a frozen bottle now, it's really hot this summer. Memories are funny like that - I spent a year in Australia as a kid, and now the smell of eucalyptus brings me right back to school, or the smell of bean bag filler reminds me of PS1 games as a kid! I'll check out that book, and thank you for your kind words :D If you'd ever like a cat plushie, let me know c;
Hiya Lian. This is a cool way of breaking the internet's parasocial "4th wall". Though, I have no doubt it takes a lottt of energy on your part to read and respond to all of these! Thanks for opening that door.
Where are you from? Originally from the DC metro area**... Maryland to be exact.
What do you do for a living? I'm an author/illustrator like ye' self. Plus I teach at Parsons, thesis advise @ SVA, and teach private lessons to younger kiddos. I also have a ceramics practice that began with functional pottery and is increasingly leaning towards sculpture.
How did you find my newsletter? through your instagram. Which I think I found through the nyc-illustrator-online-grapevine ("online grapevine" is now going on my best band names list).
Is your life going the way you thought it would? in some sense, yes: I do think I'm doing little me proud. In another sense, no: I like so many others, have issues recognizing my self-worth, so I am surprised at where I am sometimes.
If money was no object, what would you want to do with your life? Run an animal sanctuary, keep making books + art, get into metal working and wood working and build a really elaborate, decorative, intentional barn for the members of said sanctuary.
What are you most insecure about? Damn, there's a laundry list, but certainly I go through cycles where I'm very insecure about my work.
What’s a lie you like to tell others? **That I'm from DC. I did grow up very close to the city and it just sounds cooler than saying "I'm from Maryland". But I caught myself up there^!
Hi Hannah!! To be honest with you I had been feeling dread at comments from my previous posts but I've actually been quite excited to read and respond to comments on this post. Maybe it feels better to have other people overshare because I'm sooo nosy. Either that or I just also do not want to do any work right now haha!
Adam is actually from Baltimore so I am AWARE of Maryland as a state! We are actually planning to move there for a little while and then move to Taiwan this year. Feels a little sad to be leaving Brooklyn but it also feels like it's time for the next chapter of our life. I will say my one regret of living in NY is that I never got to teach at any of the art colleges! I guess you will live that (underpaid RIP) dream for me! I hope it's lots of fun and I hope Parsons pays you better than what I've heard of the pay at other places to be haha.
I hope you one day get to run your animal sanctuary/art installation/workshop/creative studio dreams. It sounds so beautiful and wonderful.
I will fill your void. I live in Hawai’i. I’m currently working on my masters degree in Art Therapy and Counseling. My job is reading books! lol it feels like the majority of my life. I’ve changed careers a bazillion times and I’m fine with that. I have an increased sense of humanity. I appreciate your work and love the characters.
That is so exciting! I deeply admire those who are infinitely curious and constantly learning. Life is long (despite it feeling fast sometimes) and I have to remind myself that it's okay to do different things with my life.
- i’m a k-8 art teacher at a small school, and an artist when I have the time!
- i don’t remember how I found your newsletter!
- lowkey I never thought I’d make it past 14 and 20, (rough years for me, I’m now 26), but it’s going better than I ever thought it could. I’m married, I work a job I love, I have international collectors and I’m now close with my mom (something I never was)
- I’d probably still be doing my exact same job, I just would want to get paid more. I love my job. Working with kids healed something angry and bitter in me years ago, and I love art and love sharing it with kids (some of my favorite people). I love seeing them experience something fully new for the first time, and I love especially how excited the younger ones get for my class.
- i worry I’m stupid! I’m insecure that I struggle to pick up on social cues and that it’s obvious to everyone I’m actually dumb (I’m not! I just feel like ot sometimes cause I struggle amongst peers socially!)
- I am incapable of lying 🙃 100% honesty all the time, unintentionally and often to my detriment
Hiya Lian! I'm Skylar :) I'm in the Seattle area in Washington state! I absolutely love that you've invited this open connection - the internet can be a weird, lonely place and it feels so cool to say hello.
I found your newsletter via Instagram I believe! I'm a budding children's book illustrator, so I was really inspired by your style and how you describe your process. For actual money, I'm currently in the mishmash of freelance graphic design/illustration + odd part time job part of my life. (Yay, mid-twenties!)
As for the flow of life, I've been majorly shifting away from the idea that graphic design needs to carry my "art career" (what the heck does that even mean, anyways) as the money-making thing, and more into the idea that money can literally come from any type of job, and I can spend my actual energy on practicing my illustration for children's lit and things that I love(Comics! Linocut printing! Baking sourdough bread!). This concept is definitely a disruption from how I thought about a career even a year ago.
I moved back to my hometown recently so that's been a whole other can of beans in terms of insecurity - "Am I backsliding?! What about my big art-career dreams?! Am I giving up?! Am I lazy?! I don't wanna work at Safeway where I'll see EVERYONE I know!!!" But I'm realizing that pretty much everyone feels that way in their twenties, anyways.
Hmmmm... a lie I tell others? That I'm a runner. I like to run, and I run when I can, but I don't really feel like a "runner"? I'm not a marathon kinda person. I'm like a, sigh-I-guess-I'll-run-today-cause-it'll-make-my-brain-feel-better-I-guess kinda person.
Haha I love your newsletter, you always manage too make me chuckle, which to be honest is my favourite thing to do in life and my favourite people are those that make me do it.
I’m an illustrator, from Australia but living in Berlin (I am lucky to have 3 extremely boring passports of English, Irish and Aussie) but it opens the doors to the Northern Hemisphere!
I found your newsletter I think for a recommendation from another illustrators Substack.
The overall big picture of life is going awesome! But right now I’m in the heffer stage of pregnancy with our third baby in four years, so I’m abit exhausted (excited and grateful too) but also very exhausted.
If money was no object, I would still illustrate.
Professionally and socially (whilst I’m growing a human) I can feel insecure about being a mother and a creator - it seems to go away more once said human is less apart of me. Like I feel in this stage all people can see is this vessel. It’s why sometimes catching up with old friends who remember me pre kids. From when after a wild night I’d try breakdance worm my way across the bedroom floor to make a great escape can be the most refreshing thing ever.
I’m a not a particularly successful liar, but I do like to pretend I’m bad at board games with people I just meet.
Hi Lian, another international kid here. I was born in Thailand but moved when I was a baby because of my Dad's job in the UN. I've lived mostly round the Middle East and Mediterranean, mostly going to American schools, but finishing up secondary school in the British system so came to the UK for Uni and I've never left!! I can't read or write Thai, never lived there and speak Thai like a 4 year old, so I feel I've lost something of my heritage which is sad, but on the other hand I gained an incredible childhood and such unique experiences that I'm so grateful for.
I've been a lifelong bookworm and started writing stories for fun as a kid, but only discovered art in my 20s, and then comics in my late 30s.
I started my Substack 2 years ago. I used to have a blog in the days of Blogger, then transitioned to Facebook and Instagram and then became disillusioned with it and stopped posting on there. It took me awhile to feel okay about posting what I want to on here, rather than to use it as some kind of platform, or to develop a brand, which I realised I have no interest in, so it was really liberating to let that go.
I can't remember who, but one of the comics people I was reading or following recommended your Substack, and while I've subscribed and unsubscribed to quite a few, I consistently enjoy and look forward to yours. Your drawings invoke a joyful / alive but real feeling that reminds me of being with my family (who are all far away and scattered around the world), and reading you makes me feel less lonely. Thank you ^ _ ^
Ah yes, the classic UN baby!! Welcome, welcome! I also feel like I've lost a lot of my Taiwanese heritage. I'm planning on moving back this year and I'm going to attempt to make more of an effort to learn it a bit more. My Mandarin writing is appalling, whenever I write my name it looks like a 4 year old wrote it!
What a wonderful artistic journey you've taken! I was also on Blogger briefly, but mostly on LiveJournal, transitioned to Tumblr, Facebook Instagram, yada yada yada. It is hard to feel connected to people on Instagram and it doesn't really feel like the right platform for longer content (although it is nice that we can now post up to 20 pictures in one slideshow post).
Thank you for all of your kind words about my substack!! I'm going to go cry now!
Hi Lian! Love how you're willing to share the process behind your art, and giving us a glimpse of the artist behind the art as well
I'm Erika / Eri, from Malaysia. I'm currently a postgraduate researcher in civil engineering, and am actually job hunting as I'm more or less concluding my research. Fingers crossed that will get a job offer soon!
I came across your newsletter when it was mentioned by Austin Kleon, which if I remembered correctly was the post on how to learn to draw anything [designing 200 dragons is quite the undertaking!]
I think in general my life had been going in the general direction that I had planned... tho there was a lot of detours and delays along the way, as I had struggled quite a bit during my working and research periods! There were quite a lot of occasions along the way that had I feel were necessary in my process of understanding who I am - having a greater appreciation of art after so long thinking that I was not 'a real artist' and that I 'didn't have what it takes'; understanding on neurodivergence, which offer some much needed explanation on how I get the comments that I'm quite 'odd' every now and then; being more open in exploring the topic of gender, which I did not realize had been a source of anxiety for quite a while; making friends from some unlikely places, who're generally great company and a great source of support; meeting my partner, who had stood around and been supportive, even when she herself has a lot going in her life - so I did not have regrets on which path in life that I'm taking.
I would definitely love to use that freedom to focus on creating comics! Or really just be drawing more in general. I want to create bodies of works that are honest, introspective, and reflective of values that I hold dear.
Hmmmm if I want to be really superficial, I am so not liking the combination of receding hairline + thick facial hair growth!!! It's really messing with my preference for feminine expression, sigh [thank goodness for wigs and makeup!]. Tho on a more personal note, I'm really insecure about unknowingly pissing people off - and when I feel as if people are somewhat ignoring me, my gut reaction would be 'did I do something that had made me off putting in their eyes...?' - I'm really trying to work on this issue.
Technically during my research period, I'm a full time student, with no secure source of income, and I would say that I'm doing some assistant research job - kinda true, but it's not a proper 9-5 job - to not have to say that I don't actually have a job lol... Hopefully I no longer need to use that story anymore soon!
I'm crossing my fingers for you to get a job!! You got this! It's so interesting to hear there are people outside of the kid lit field reading my newsletter. It sounds like your life had a lot of twists and turns but it all turned out for the better! Your partner sounds wonderful. I hope you get to find time to create comics and draw more.
I feel you on the receding hairline, mine is kind of naturally really far back but I got bangs recently and it has changed my entire life LMAO. Anyways, I always feel like everyone hates me too! It's so weird. I'll think my closest friends hate me and I've made them mad whereas nothing literally happened and everything is fine!
I hope your graduation goes smoothly! It'll be exciting to start the next chapter of your life.
Lian, i'm from Iran. I don't have many subscribers (I don't post regularly, i usually read others' posts on Substack regularly). One day, i was just browsing artsy newsletters and found your newsletter because i not only like artists of any field(illustrators, cartoonists, ...), but also am an artist (Art is my hobby, not my profession). I used to work as an English teacher during the early covid era, but was fired after a few months, and i'm happy to live at home beside my parents. If money was no problem for me, i'd love to have my own farm/ranch (I can't explain the reason for this here, it requires a Note for this).
Hi! So nice to have you here. I'm sorry you lost your job during covid, it was such a tough time for everyone it seems! I hope you one day get to own your own farm/ranch.
Nice to meet you, Lian. Yeah, covid was a tough time for me, but it was also the period when i found my true calling (Teaching Eng wasn't my calling, tbh). I hope so (Building my own farm/ranch and living there is one of my dreams, stemming from me being a nature-lover).
Strangely that is hard for me to answer. I’m from the US, but all over… Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Seattle, St. Louis and now I live in Portland Oregon.
What do you do for a living?
I’m an artist but I’ve also been a news artist, designer, consultant, author, teacher. Now I kinda do a few of those things.
How did you find my newsletter?
I wish I could remember! It may have been via Adam Ming. But I’m not sure.
Is your life going the way you thought it would?
Better than I ever imagined.
If money was no object, what would you want to do with your life?
It’s actually no object right now, believe it or not, and I’m doing exactly what I want! (Lots of things, too many to explain)
What are you most insecure about?
I crave the appreciation of others and that gives them a sort of power over me.
What’s a lie you like to tell others?
I’m retired.
There. Don’t you feel sooo much better?
I do!
Also, I love your newsletter, it always brightens my day!
Hi Dave! I've also moved around a ton so I totally understand it being a can of worms to open. It's been pretty fun to read all the different careers that everyone has. It's been pretty eyeopening to see how everyone has dabbled in so many different things!
I'm so happy to hear that you're already doing what you love! That's the best!!
Anyways, thanks for all of your kind words!! This brightened up MY day! :)
I am Jane. I am from Philadelphia, PA. I have been many things - but mostly a mom to two teen boys, a partner, a teacher, a researcher, a school co-founder, an illustrator, a cold plunger. I love making things like art and soup and projects with others. - Right now, I am writing a book and illustrating a book. I found this newsletter in my sweeps to engage with other visual storytellers. My life IS going the way I hoped in feeling - I never had a should or a timeline or a way it should look.
What a wonderful number of hats that you're wearing! Thank you for sharing Jane :) I hope your book comes along smoothly. I also love a good soup so I'm glad we have that in common.
Hi Lian! I hear you about shouting into a void. Thank you so much for sharing your insights, processes, and journey, and for being vulnerable with us. I'm happy to reciprocate :)
I live in Kansas City, Missouri but have also lived in Montreal, NYC, California, Hays Kansas, and Raleigh, NC (where I grew up and where I consider myself "from").
I'm an illustrator (working on my first book, and also illustrated greeting cards in the past) and I run a subscription box business and substitute teach.
I don't remember how I found your newsletter!
Life - I've done a lot of things that I'm happy with but I wish I had more money to show for it.
If money were no object, I would travel, draw, and volunteer my services to help people, animals, and the environment. If having a degree in education were no object, I would love to be a literacy specialist working with at-risk kids (in addition to being an illustrator!).
I'm pretty insecure about my illustration skills.
It's not a lie per say, but I don't really share my age with anyone anymore. Ha!
Wow you've moved around a lot!! You're in the same boat as me. I don't know if you feel like this but I've found it hard to really find a place I call home after having moved around so much. It feels like nowhere has really clicked with me, but maybe that's just me. Congratulations on working on your first book!!! You never forget your first haha! I hope the process goes smoothly, but know that it'll be a learning process regardless. In the end, it'll be one of many and there's no need to be a perfectionist (at least that's what I tell myself). Hah! You should be relieved that we're not having this conversation in real life because I LOVE to ask people their ages!
Hi Lian! Where have you lived? (I did also live in Connecticut and New Jersey as a kid before moving to NC, but consider myself from NC :)) It's always such a tough question, though! You tell people where you grew up, and where you live now, and they think those are the only places you've ever lived, when you want to tell them, "Well, actually...I have also lived in these other places..." haha! Thanks for the congratulations!! The book process is definitely a learning process so far (and I have struggled with impostor syndrome a lot, and was in the beginning constantly afraid that they were going to drop me from the contract!) but I'm enjoying it. And thank you for the reassurance about perfectionism! If we were meeting in real life, I'd have you guess my age before I tell you (as I do with anyone who asks me what my age is!)! :D
I was born in Taiwan then moved to New Zealand when I was four, then moved back to Taiwan at 12, then went to college in London for a year, then came to NY!! Phew. That's all!
Oh, wow, you really are an international person! That's amazing! (PS - my parents are from Taiwan!)
This actually made me snicker out loud, totally understand what you mean (even tho i dont have a huge following).
I'm from Toronto, working as a concept artist on games, but my heart is in animation & illustration. I actually saw your book & display at the SOI in NYC when I visited a month ago! So wonderful.
Found your newsletter from instagram probably, I can't resist some comics in my mailbox, and love learning about people's creative process.
Life is definitely not going the way I pictured, but it isn't bad either, just working on ways to do the things I really wanna do :')
If I had all the money, I'd probably split my time between comics, short animated films, just sketching, and social work/activism.
Insecure about... art? My work just isn't where I want it to be but it's hard to find the time to get to it T^T
A lie... probably just "I'm fine" when I'm not really but like the katy perry meme goes,,, sometimes you can't get into it LOL
Yay a Canadian!! I love my Canadians. OOh, what kind of games do you work on? I've recently become a very terrible gamer who plays games on the easiest mode and still struggles. I also feel insecure about my art, it's sooo hard to not compare myself with others all the time. Especially with the internet, it's so much easier to compare yourself with others. Ugh!
I should've clarified it's a mobile game haha, a racing game for little kids, my work for it doesn't really reflect the in-game style though: https://rachaelchen.carbonmade.com/fingersoft
I've decided to just quit checking instagram, I've seen & collected enough art, now I just need to process and work on my own without too much outside influence. I'll come back when I'm ready... For now the break has given me more time in the day & more peace of mind ^^
Really nice connecting with you & thanks for sharing your thoughts & lovely comics on here!
A RACING GAME? That's so fun. Did you see the new Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, it just came out today! They teased a new Mario Kart finally on it and I'm excited! I get having a different style for corporate work where you make the big bucks vs your actual personal style though. Hopefully one day it can merge together! Ugh Instagram is such a bad time suck.. I delete and redownload it all the time. It sucks cause it's also tied with friendships on it so I feel I want to keep it to check in on my friends but then I get sucked into other useless shit on it all the time!
LOL I'm not a gamer at all but I'm glad for those who find a lot of joy in it! Yep thats the goal :' To keep up with friends I just use ig on browser for checking messages, occasionally checking a few stories, which is only like 10 min a day. If my eyes itch for some new art, I check pinterest. Trying to incorporate more reading and language learning rather than scrolling, it might take some diff steps for diff people haha
I love your newsletter! (Also as if Substack has been around since 2022 what is time...)
Here we go!
- Where are you from?
Manchester UK!
- What do you do for a living?
I am a children's illustrator and author too!
- How did you find my newsletter?
After hearing about your books on socials
- Is your life going the way you thought it would?
WHOO that's a big one. Honestly I'm grieving the last five years, and I miss parts of 2019 me. But the lockdown also enabled/forced me to realise I'm autistic and ADHD, which has made my whole life make sense. I got really, really sick in 2022 and lost three people in two months among a whole host of other life stuff - and we were going to travel in 2020 but of course that couldn't happen. So in general... yyyesss? But I never thought I'd live through a global pandemic and be on my third(?) recession and cost of living etc at the tender age of 36. I'm just a baby. I need to rest! And being in survival mode for so long, it's hard to picture a future farther than a few months away, but hopefully I can start to :)
- If money was no object, what would you want to do with your life?
Ooo still picture books, but I'd travel, a lot. And build a tiny house and live a semi nomadic-life.
- What are you most insecure about?
Probs just wrangling grieving 2019 - see above!
- What’s a lie you like to tell others?
I don't eat that much pizza
Oh boy, I feel you on grieving the last couple years! It's been so rough trying to let go of feelings of regret and FOMO from the past couple of years. It sure doesn't help that time seems to speed up so much faster as we get older! I'm so sorry for all of your loss these past couple of years. That sounds really rough. I hope we can both start to accept that we've had a traumatic couple of years and that it's okay to start to heal and focus on the future!! On another note, I'm sure your cholesterol is thanking you for not eating too much pizza! Adam has pizza for lunch every other day at work and I thank the heavens that he bikes everywhere or I'd be worried about him dropping dead at 50
Hello Lian! These post has such a sensational turn haha
I found your newsletter from Substack recommendation I think? or someone I subscribed recommended you. But then surprisingly I found you again in a Discord server (an art group) which you are invited to host an event I think.
I am a self-declaimed independent artist, I write poems, draw, make, and have tried different kinds of art. I have a Substack too (https://inifinitefin.substack.com ), although I haven't make it very "businessly" professional... I think it's quite private like you said in this post when you started. I'm thinking where I'm going to do with it.
My life... that doesn't fit in a paragraph, or two. so pass, next. (hahaha no I think I'm trying to tell my story in my art, and it's one of my 2025 new year reslutions!
I always don't and can't see money as a concrete object. So I do what I want which is art... If I have better "luck" financially then I possibly already done it more "officially" (so not just "self-claimed" and not only these few years...
I am insecure in every aspect. Because (I know terms always doesn't mean anything but labels are all we humans have for now, either understand it or not... sadly) I'm:
• not a “first world” citizen/resident
• queer (non-binary, asexual)
• autistic
which I have recently put on my Instagram profile https://www.instagram.com/9bluesocks
btw. only recently I first commented on your IG post, because that poem and comic is so good and relevant.
I'm not capable of telling lies (because of ASD I guess.)
Ok! I totally forgot to introduce my name. You can call me fin! ;)
Hi Fin!
It's so refreshing to hear that you don't see money as a concrete object and do what you want! That's the best way to approach life and art. It must be really freeing to be able to make art without feeling constricted.
Thank you for all of your kind words, and so nice of you to comment on my IG post too!!! The best of luck on all of your artistic endeavors!
Thanks for your reply! Sadly I have other difficulties in my way of creating art, more of it psychological. Also the way society works, especially that although I can't see money as a object, it turns into the form of social economical classes -- which is a concept I only come to grasp very lately -- and once in a while would remind me of the conditions I'm facing. The free of mind is the only freedom I can give myself. Obstacles are everywhere. It's hard. But I think I'm determined, haha.
Hi Lian :)
My name is Domi, and I live(ish) in Washington DC. I work for the federal government, where I help budget money for payroll at the environmental protection agency. It sounds boring but I promise it's actually quite interesting xD.
I think I found your newsletter by subscribing to "Tara Anand from the Drafts," and your newsletter was recommend by Substack. I really really like the "behind the scenes" you both provide. My mom is an artist, art teacher, and art docent so I grew up in a home full of art and love to draw! But I always feel intimated by final products - getting the backstage look makes me understand how much trial & error and practice a full-time artist puts into their work :). I also appreciate the work behind illustrations more since following you both!
If money were no object, I would give unlimited amounts to social organization lobbies so they can compete against big corporations. I don't understand why affordable housing, bikeable cities, healthy food, et al. have to be pitted against historic zoning laws, the car lobby, the soda & sugar lobby, etc...
I am insecure about many things. Currently I'm probably most insecure about how much I want to have kids asap, even though I have been in a relationship only for a year. I feel like I should want a bigger career but tbh I really just want to have 2 kids AND keep my flexible job at the same time.
A lie I tell others is that I moved to the US from Europe when I was older than I actually was (I was 5!), although it doesn't even matter bc neither of my parents is American lol. I really like leaning into the "I'm not FULLY American I'm better!" vibe xD.
Hi Domi! Your work doesn't sound boring at all it sounds super important and helpful!! I'm glad to hear you enjoy it and I know I would struggle with handling anything related to money or numbers at all.
I love Tara's work, she's fantastic. How interesting to hear that you grew up in a home filled with art. It's so fun to hear people from different fields that have an appreciation for art. I TOTALLY lean into the "I'm not American" too because it's lowkey kinda embarrassing to be American haha. Although I moved here when I was 19 so I don't really count myself as American regardless!
Thank you for your response!! I loved your reply to the American thing, I think we are doing the right thing 😂. We do have to acknowledge the embarrassing part... but not tooooo much xDDD
Perhaps this is a symptom of modern internet platforms, where "content" is detached from the people that make it, and the like button is minimum interaction. I feel that.
Anyway, hi Lian! I'm Issie, a new subscriber from New Zealand! Recently I was made redundant from a boring tech corporate job, and find myself nearing 30 with no career, and a strange crippling fear of drawing, when I used to all the time. Now, I am trying to start my own thing, Scribbee, a graphic recording service so I can translate long talks and notes into visuals - much like you! I also dream of making a picture book, and pattern designs, but it's early days. I'm still trying to land that first GR gig! It's rough in NZ, no one's heard of it, and art is a "nice to have" lately. Not sure if you are replying to these, but if you have any advice on breaking the fear of drawing, I'd be very grateful!
What else... I handsew plushie cats, have two real ones, my favourite foods are beef wellington and iced biscuits, and my favourite smell is jasmine and wisteria (the trees outside my childhood bedroom window). I want more illustrator friends so we can yell together, but your newsletter always makes me smile. Thank you.
A kiwi!!! I lived in Christchurch from ages 4 to 12!!
I'm so sorry about your job, although it sounds like a little blessing in disguise if you found it boring. Though I know it must be sooo scary to be out there without the security and comfort of a job. I hope Scribbee takes off!! Those are so helpful to spice up talks and conferences that would otherwise be so boring. People really do respond to visual content so much better.
In terms of breaking the fear of drawing... my hottest take is that when you don't want to draw you shouldn't force yourself to do it. It's okay to go and do other things, like sew your plushies, because everything you do will feed back into your future drawings. Aside from that terrible advice, something more practical I have to offer is to find a really cheap low stakes sketchbook to use. It helps to try to break through the fear of something looking perfect right away if you use a really crappy notebook. Just do the drawing for yourself and don't share it with anybody at all. I have plenty of expensive sketchbooks I never use and I always go back to using my $1.50 muji notebooks. I can't seem to find it, but what really helped was seeing one of Carson Ellis' sketchbook tours. It was so eye opening to see her show pages where she would start out drawing an eye, then realize she hated it the first couple marks and simply just flip to a new page and try again. It was such a realization to realize every page didn't need to look perfect and I could just flip to another page.
Thank you for sharing your favorite foods, there are sooo many foods from my childhood in NZ that I miss. I miss mince pies from the tuckshop, mint treats, fairy bread and a real sausage sizzle outside bunnings!
Haha kia ora! A kiwi at heart for sure, to be missing the Bunnings snag! They're still good and I don't know why. Magic... but I had no idea you lived here at one point! Weirdly, that makes me feel more of a kinship haha, you understand the vibes. Once a kiwi, always part of the whanau<3 Have you been able to visit back at all since moving away? It IS a bit far away from everything. Thank you for your encouraging words! It's super early days, but sneaky plug jic: https://www.instagram.com/scribbee.nz/ ;)
That's good advice, the sketchbooks I have are all ugly now on purpose, but I think mark making on paper is harder now than it used to be. The weird thing is (and maybe you relate) is when you spend so long learning to draw "well", its SO hard to develop a loose cartoon style that's a little ugly on purpose. Charming, in a better word, lol. I recently found out I have ADHD too, so that might add to the avoidance thing. Most advice is consistency over skill, which I aspire to, but the fear makes drawing once a day feel like lifting heavy stones! So far, I'm aiming for 6 or more drawing times a month, even if its not a finished "piece" and is just a doodled flower. Literally gotta recondition the brain I think. Also, I can't share a photo of the cat toys here, but I think you'd appreciate them: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6SMS3hhHzP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== (there are. so many more now. help.)
We visited last year for the first time since we left in 2008 and it was kind of weird! A lot of memories came rushing back, but a lot of them didn't. I think I expected me to remember more things but so much of it seemed to just be lost. I did get very attached to the pump water bottle I bought as it reminded me of PE days when we would freeze the bottle. I even ended up bringing the silly little plastic bottle back to New York with me!! I think I finally threw it out when we moved a couple months ago.
If you're trying to build a habit, it might help to read Atomic Habits by James Clear. I was struggling to get into the habit of running and that book really laid out great ways to make forming habits easier. Anyways, the best of luck to you!!! The Scribbee looks fantastic and your cat toys are so much fun!!!
I could use a frozen bottle now, it's really hot this summer. Memories are funny like that - I spent a year in Australia as a kid, and now the smell of eucalyptus brings me right back to school, or the smell of bean bag filler reminds me of PS1 games as a kid! I'll check out that book, and thank you for your kind words :D If you'd ever like a cat plushie, let me know c;
Hiya Lian. This is a cool way of breaking the internet's parasocial "4th wall". Though, I have no doubt it takes a lottt of energy on your part to read and respond to all of these! Thanks for opening that door.
Where are you from? Originally from the DC metro area**... Maryland to be exact.
What do you do for a living? I'm an author/illustrator like ye' self. Plus I teach at Parsons, thesis advise @ SVA, and teach private lessons to younger kiddos. I also have a ceramics practice that began with functional pottery and is increasingly leaning towards sculpture.
How did you find my newsletter? through your instagram. Which I think I found through the nyc-illustrator-online-grapevine ("online grapevine" is now going on my best band names list).
Is your life going the way you thought it would? in some sense, yes: I do think I'm doing little me proud. In another sense, no: I like so many others, have issues recognizing my self-worth, so I am surprised at where I am sometimes.
If money was no object, what would you want to do with your life? Run an animal sanctuary, keep making books + art, get into metal working and wood working and build a really elaborate, decorative, intentional barn for the members of said sanctuary.
What are you most insecure about? Damn, there's a laundry list, but certainly I go through cycles where I'm very insecure about my work.
What’s a lie you like to tell others? **That I'm from DC. I did grow up very close to the city and it just sounds cooler than saying "I'm from Maryland". But I caught myself up there^!
Virtually waving to u from my studio in south BK!
Hi Hannah!! To be honest with you I had been feeling dread at comments from my previous posts but I've actually been quite excited to read and respond to comments on this post. Maybe it feels better to have other people overshare because I'm sooo nosy. Either that or I just also do not want to do any work right now haha!
Adam is actually from Baltimore so I am AWARE of Maryland as a state! We are actually planning to move there for a little while and then move to Taiwan this year. Feels a little sad to be leaving Brooklyn but it also feels like it's time for the next chapter of our life. I will say my one regret of living in NY is that I never got to teach at any of the art colleges! I guess you will live that (underpaid RIP) dream for me! I hope it's lots of fun and I hope Parsons pays you better than what I've heard of the pay at other places to be haha.
I hope you one day get to run your animal sanctuary/art installation/workshop/creative studio dreams. It sounds so beautiful and wonderful.
I will fill your void. I live in Hawai’i. I’m currently working on my masters degree in Art Therapy and Counseling. My job is reading books! lol it feels like the majority of my life. I’ve changed careers a bazillion times and I’m fine with that. I have an increased sense of humanity. I appreciate your work and love the characters.
That is so exciting! I deeply admire those who are infinitely curious and constantly learning. Life is long (despite it feeling fast sometimes) and I have to remind myself that it's okay to do different things with my life.
- I live in the midwest
- i’m a k-8 art teacher at a small school, and an artist when I have the time!
- i don’t remember how I found your newsletter!
- lowkey I never thought I’d make it past 14 and 20, (rough years for me, I’m now 26), but it’s going better than I ever thought it could. I’m married, I work a job I love, I have international collectors and I’m now close with my mom (something I never was)
- I’d probably still be doing my exact same job, I just would want to get paid more. I love my job. Working with kids healed something angry and bitter in me years ago, and I love art and love sharing it with kids (some of my favorite people). I love seeing them experience something fully new for the first time, and I love especially how excited the younger ones get for my class.
- i worry I’m stupid! I’m insecure that I struggle to pick up on social cues and that it’s obvious to everyone I’m actually dumb (I’m not! I just feel like ot sometimes cause I struggle amongst peers socially!)
- I am incapable of lying 🙃 100% honesty all the time, unintentionally and often to my detriment
Hiya Lian! I'm Skylar :) I'm in the Seattle area in Washington state! I absolutely love that you've invited this open connection - the internet can be a weird, lonely place and it feels so cool to say hello.
I found your newsletter via Instagram I believe! I'm a budding children's book illustrator, so I was really inspired by your style and how you describe your process. For actual money, I'm currently in the mishmash of freelance graphic design/illustration + odd part time job part of my life. (Yay, mid-twenties!)
As for the flow of life, I've been majorly shifting away from the idea that graphic design needs to carry my "art career" (what the heck does that even mean, anyways) as the money-making thing, and more into the idea that money can literally come from any type of job, and I can spend my actual energy on practicing my illustration for children's lit and things that I love(Comics! Linocut printing! Baking sourdough bread!). This concept is definitely a disruption from how I thought about a career even a year ago.
I moved back to my hometown recently so that's been a whole other can of beans in terms of insecurity - "Am I backsliding?! What about my big art-career dreams?! Am I giving up?! Am I lazy?! I don't wanna work at Safeway where I'll see EVERYONE I know!!!" But I'm realizing that pretty much everyone feels that way in their twenties, anyways.
Hmmmm... a lie I tell others? That I'm a runner. I like to run, and I run when I can, but I don't really feel like a "runner"? I'm not a marathon kinda person. I'm like a, sigh-I-guess-I'll-run-today-cause-it'll-make-my-brain-feel-better-I-guess kinda person.
Anyways! So nice to meet you!
Haha I love your newsletter, you always manage too make me chuckle, which to be honest is my favourite thing to do in life and my favourite people are those that make me do it.
I’m an illustrator, from Australia but living in Berlin (I am lucky to have 3 extremely boring passports of English, Irish and Aussie) but it opens the doors to the Northern Hemisphere!
I found your newsletter I think for a recommendation from another illustrators Substack.
The overall big picture of life is going awesome! But right now I’m in the heffer stage of pregnancy with our third baby in four years, so I’m abit exhausted (excited and grateful too) but also very exhausted.
If money was no object, I would still illustrate.
Professionally and socially (whilst I’m growing a human) I can feel insecure about being a mother and a creator - it seems to go away more once said human is less apart of me. Like I feel in this stage all people can see is this vessel. It’s why sometimes catching up with old friends who remember me pre kids. From when after a wild night I’d try breakdance worm my way across the bedroom floor to make a great escape can be the most refreshing thing ever.
I’m a not a particularly successful liar, but I do like to pretend I’m bad at board games with people I just meet.
P.s can’t wait to buy your new pig party book!
Hi Lian, another international kid here. I was born in Thailand but moved when I was a baby because of my Dad's job in the UN. I've lived mostly round the Middle East and Mediterranean, mostly going to American schools, but finishing up secondary school in the British system so came to the UK for Uni and I've never left!! I can't read or write Thai, never lived there and speak Thai like a 4 year old, so I feel I've lost something of my heritage which is sad, but on the other hand I gained an incredible childhood and such unique experiences that I'm so grateful for.
I've been a lifelong bookworm and started writing stories for fun as a kid, but only discovered art in my 20s, and then comics in my late 30s.
I started my Substack 2 years ago. I used to have a blog in the days of Blogger, then transitioned to Facebook and Instagram and then became disillusioned with it and stopped posting on there. It took me awhile to feel okay about posting what I want to on here, rather than to use it as some kind of platform, or to develop a brand, which I realised I have no interest in, so it was really liberating to let that go.
I can't remember who, but one of the comics people I was reading or following recommended your Substack, and while I've subscribed and unsubscribed to quite a few, I consistently enjoy and look forward to yours. Your drawings invoke a joyful / alive but real feeling that reminds me of being with my family (who are all far away and scattered around the world), and reading you makes me feel less lonely. Thank you ^ _ ^
Ah yes, the classic UN baby!! Welcome, welcome! I also feel like I've lost a lot of my Taiwanese heritage. I'm planning on moving back this year and I'm going to attempt to make more of an effort to learn it a bit more. My Mandarin writing is appalling, whenever I write my name it looks like a 4 year old wrote it!
What a wonderful artistic journey you've taken! I was also on Blogger briefly, but mostly on LiveJournal, transitioned to Tumblr, Facebook Instagram, yada yada yada. It is hard to feel connected to people on Instagram and it doesn't really feel like the right platform for longer content (although it is nice that we can now post up to 20 pictures in one slideshow post).
Thank you for all of your kind words about my substack!! I'm going to go cry now!
Hi Lian! Love how you're willing to share the process behind your art, and giving us a glimpse of the artist behind the art as well
I'm Erika / Eri, from Malaysia. I'm currently a postgraduate researcher in civil engineering, and am actually job hunting as I'm more or less concluding my research. Fingers crossed that will get a job offer soon!
I came across your newsletter when it was mentioned by Austin Kleon, which if I remembered correctly was the post on how to learn to draw anything [designing 200 dragons is quite the undertaking!]
I think in general my life had been going in the general direction that I had planned... tho there was a lot of detours and delays along the way, as I had struggled quite a bit during my working and research periods! There were quite a lot of occasions along the way that had I feel were necessary in my process of understanding who I am - having a greater appreciation of art after so long thinking that I was not 'a real artist' and that I 'didn't have what it takes'; understanding on neurodivergence, which offer some much needed explanation on how I get the comments that I'm quite 'odd' every now and then; being more open in exploring the topic of gender, which I did not realize had been a source of anxiety for quite a while; making friends from some unlikely places, who're generally great company and a great source of support; meeting my partner, who had stood around and been supportive, even when she herself has a lot going in her life - so I did not have regrets on which path in life that I'm taking.
I would definitely love to use that freedom to focus on creating comics! Or really just be drawing more in general. I want to create bodies of works that are honest, introspective, and reflective of values that I hold dear.
Hmmmm if I want to be really superficial, I am so not liking the combination of receding hairline + thick facial hair growth!!! It's really messing with my preference for feminine expression, sigh [thank goodness for wigs and makeup!]. Tho on a more personal note, I'm really insecure about unknowingly pissing people off - and when I feel as if people are somewhat ignoring me, my gut reaction would be 'did I do something that had made me off putting in their eyes...?' - I'm really trying to work on this issue.
Technically during my research period, I'm a full time student, with no secure source of income, and I would say that I'm doing some assistant research job - kinda true, but it's not a proper 9-5 job - to not have to say that I don't actually have a job lol... Hopefully I no longer need to use that story anymore soon!
I'm crossing my fingers for you to get a job!! You got this! It's so interesting to hear there are people outside of the kid lit field reading my newsletter. It sounds like your life had a lot of twists and turns but it all turned out for the better! Your partner sounds wonderful. I hope you get to find time to create comics and draw more.
I feel you on the receding hairline, mine is kind of naturally really far back but I got bangs recently and it has changed my entire life LMAO. Anyways, I always feel like everyone hates me too! It's so weird. I'll think my closest friends hate me and I've made them mad whereas nothing literally happened and everything is fine!
I hope your graduation goes smoothly! It'll be exciting to start the next chapter of your life.
Lian, i'm from Iran. I don't have many subscribers (I don't post regularly, i usually read others' posts on Substack regularly). One day, i was just browsing artsy newsletters and found your newsletter because i not only like artists of any field(illustrators, cartoonists, ...), but also am an artist (Art is my hobby, not my profession). I used to work as an English teacher during the early covid era, but was fired after a few months, and i'm happy to live at home beside my parents. If money was no problem for me, i'd love to have my own farm/ranch (I can't explain the reason for this here, it requires a Note for this).
Hi! So nice to have you here. I'm sorry you lost your job during covid, it was such a tough time for everyone it seems! I hope you one day get to own your own farm/ranch.
Nice to meet you, Lian. Yeah, covid was a tough time for me, but it was also the period when i found my true calling (Teaching Eng wasn't my calling, tbh). I hope so (Building my own farm/ranch and living there is one of my dreams, stemming from me being a nature-lover).
Fair enough!
Where are you from?
Strangely that is hard for me to answer. I’m from the US, but all over… Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Seattle, St. Louis and now I live in Portland Oregon.
What do you do for a living?
I’m an artist but I’ve also been a news artist, designer, consultant, author, teacher. Now I kinda do a few of those things.
How did you find my newsletter?
I wish I could remember! It may have been via Adam Ming. But I’m not sure.
Is your life going the way you thought it would?
Better than I ever imagined.
If money was no object, what would you want to do with your life?
It’s actually no object right now, believe it or not, and I’m doing exactly what I want! (Lots of things, too many to explain)
What are you most insecure about?
I crave the appreciation of others and that gives them a sort of power over me.
What’s a lie you like to tell others?
I’m retired.
There. Don’t you feel sooo much better?
I do!
Also, I love your newsletter, it always brightens my day!
Dave
Hi Dave! I've also moved around a ton so I totally understand it being a can of worms to open. It's been pretty fun to read all the different careers that everyone has. It's been pretty eyeopening to see how everyone has dabbled in so many different things!
I'm so happy to hear that you're already doing what you love! That's the best!!
Anyways, thanks for all of your kind words!! This brightened up MY day! :)
I am Jane. I am from Philadelphia, PA. I have been many things - but mostly a mom to two teen boys, a partner, a teacher, a researcher, a school co-founder, an illustrator, a cold plunger. I love making things like art and soup and projects with others. - Right now, I am writing a book and illustrating a book. I found this newsletter in my sweeps to engage with other visual storytellers. My life IS going the way I hoped in feeling - I never had a should or a timeline or a way it should look.
What a wonderful number of hats that you're wearing! Thank you for sharing Jane :) I hope your book comes along smoothly. I also love a good soup so I'm glad we have that in common.