art·apart with Irene
Real stories, practical advice, and the stuff nobody talks about openly – from a brand illustrator who's been on both sides of the table. For creatives who want to get better at the business side of their work. You'll also receive Good Work Isn't Enough – A FREE GUIDE with the professional basics that get you rehired!
This is for creatives who want to get better at the business side of their work, and for business folks who want to understand how to work better with creative professionals. Whether you're dealing with tricky clients, not sure how to price your work, or want to grow your creative business – you'll find helpful tips here.
❋ Real stories from client projects, including the messy parts
❋ Honest takes on pricing, positioning, and finding the right clients
❋ Short interviews with other creative freelancers
❋ Practical advice on client communication and setting boundaries
❋ The stuff that doesn't come with the portfolio
❋ Solutions to common freelance problems
❋ Proven tips to grow your business
❋ Better understanding between business and creative minds
❋ Lots of useful resources for freelance creatives
❋ And of course, an inspiration source
Written from experience on both sides of the table – as a freelancer and as someone who hires creatives.
My Good Work Isn't Enough guide covers what clients actually notice in every project – the professional basics that determine whether they come back, refer you, and pay more.
About me
I've been freelancing for 6+ years – working with brands like Adobe, Google, Shake Shack, WestJet, and Dell on illustration systems, packaging, murals, and motion graphics. I also run Deeply, an independent design studio, where I bring together the right people for the right projects.
I started art·apart because I know both sides of the table – as a freelancer and as someone who hires other creatives. That experience showed me how much goes unsaid between clients and creatives, and how much easier things get when someone just talks about it honestly.
That's what this newsletter is. Honest stories, practical advice, and the stuff nobody prepares you for.
I also love coaching creative freelancers on the business side of what we do – pricing, clients, process, portfolio, positioning. The things that don't come with the portfolio.
art·apart with Irene
Subscribe free and get Good Work Isn't Enough as a welcome gift – a practical guide on what clients actually notice, and why it determines whether they come back.
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