Artist's Notes | May 2026

Still here, somehow managing to do it all. Well – most of it.

Combining client work, studio projects, building new things, and raising a tiny human who has no interest in my deadlines isn't easy, but it's also never boring. Still figuring out the balance, but more motivated than I expected to be at this point.

A lot has been happening, and I have more ideas for this year than I started with. Let me catch you up!

What's coming: a lot, actually

This year is turning into something I didn't fully plan, but in the best way.

First – I'm working on a course on illustrated maps. Stylized, detailed, the kind of work I genuinely love making. I haven't officially announced anything yet, so if you're reading this, it’s a sneak peak. There's a waitlist you can join now – no obligations, just first access when details are ready. Sign up here →

Second – I'm planning a workshop for creatives on building your freelance business without burning out. Pricing, clients, time, mental load, and other real stuff that we deal with every single day as creatives. It'll either be free or very low cost, because I want it to actually be accessible. If that sounds like something you'd want, send me a message and I'll make sure you're the first to know.

Third – a Discord community is coming! Open to everyone who's subscribed here. There will also be private channels for coaching mentees or course attendees, but the main space will be for all of you. More details soon!

And finally – I'm rethinking my Instagram. More useful content for creatives, more community, less pressure to make everything look perfect. If you're not following yet, it's @irene_neyman.

Current projects

This year has been full of large, complex projects – the kind with lots of assets, detailed briefs, and a lot of moving parts.

Murals for Shake Shack are one of them. If you know the brand, you know the visual energy they go for – and it's been a great project to work on.

Also finishing up a board game project that we've been developing with another client for a while. Almost there!

And one more project I can't name yet – it's for a Canadian non-profit organization focused on supporting farmers and workers in developing countries. A cause I'm genuinely happy to be illustrating for. More on this later this year!

June: first real break in years

My best friend is visiting in June, which means the first real break I've taken in a long time. I'm not going to pretend I'll fully disconnect – there are ongoing projects and studio work that will still need attention – but I'm going to try to actually be present and rest a little. It's overdue 😮‍💨

Looking for a studio partner

I've been thinking about this for a while and I'm now openly looking for a business partner for studio Deeply. Someone to share the work with, rethink some things together, and grow it in a better direction.

Location doesn't matter. What does: organization, reliability, creativity, communication, and a real understanding of social media and marketing.

I'll put out a more official call soon, but if you're reading this and think you might be the right fit, my inbox is open, just reply to this email!

Workspace refresh

After nine months of working wherever I could find a quiet corner between naps and feeding, I've finally decided to set up a workspace that actually feels like mine. I've been collecting ideas on Pinterest – I love a mix of warm, minimal, and functional. Not a sterile office, but a space that has some personality and actually supports focused work.

If you have workspace recommendations – furniture, lighting, storage, anything – I'd genuinely love to hear them. Reply to this or send me a message. What does your setup look like? Do you have a dedicated space or are you still working from the couch?

Something small that helps

One habit that's quietly made my admin less overwhelming (and I thought to share it with you): doing small tasks immediately instead of adding them to a mental list.

Got paid? Log the expense right now. New lead inquiry? Add them to the database before closing the email. Need to send a short reply? Send it now, not "later."

It sounds obvious, but the amount of mental space this frees up is real. Small tasks pile up into an admin mountain if you let them sit. Doing them in the moment – usually under 3 minutes – keeps the mountain from forming in the first place.

That's May! A lot of things in motion, some of them still taking shape. Thanks for being here while I figure it all out.

As always, if there are topics you'd like me to write about, reply and let me know!

Thank you for reading,