I'm Irene, and this is my story

I've been getting a lot of new subscribers lately (hello and welcome!), and it hit me that I've never shared how I actually became an illustrator. Time to fix that – here's the full story!

Irene Neyman, 2025

How it all began

Six years ago, I was living in Ukraine, working a regular office job. I'd loved drawing since childhood, but never thought it could become a profession. Everything changed when I felt completely burned out at work.

I realized I needed to make a radical change in my life. That's when my husband suggested I try learning illustration. He saw potential in me that I didn't even notice myself, and pushed me toward a decision that changed my entire life.

For the next 3-5 months, I threw myself into learning everything I could. Online courses, tutorials, endless practice — I studied everything I could find. Honestly, it was scary. I didn't understand how to build a portfolio, what was in demand and what wasn't. The fear of failure was always there.

But then magic happened 🪄

My first client (a Canadian company) came through Upwork. They paid very little, but I was incredibly happy! Not just because I earned my first money doing what I love, but because I immediately got confirmation: I could work with international clients.

From the very beginning, I focused on the international market, and that decision proved to be right.

Process and development

What started as small projects gradually grew into something bigger. Month by month, I was getting more clients, and they were becoming larger and better-paying. My work started getting noticed — design blogs began featuring me in interviews, and I won several awards at international competitions.

The positive feedback from clients was amazing. Seeing their excitement about the final results and receiving great testimonials kept me motivated and reminded me why I love what I do. There's nothing quite like a client telling you that your work exceeded their expectations — it brought back all the reasons I fell in love with illustration.

As my experience grew, so did my confidence and process. I learned to be more confident about my rates and terms. My workflow became clearer and more professional, making the entire experience smoother for clients. What once felt overwhelming gradually became natural.

Of course, there were missteps along the way. And here are the most painful mistakes during my early journey:

• No written agreements

• Not asking enough detailed questions at the start of projects

• Seriously underpricing my work

I briefly talked about some of these points in one of my previous newsletters.

Each mistake eventually became a lesson that made me more professional. That’s how we learn, right?!

Irene Neyman, 2025

Style evolution

My style changed multiple times. As a beginner, I tried different directions, making decisions about what felt right and what didn't. Over time, everything naturally transformed into what you see now.

And you know what? My style continues to evolve to this day. It's a natural process of growth for any artist.

I love what I do because I see how my work makes the world more beautiful. When I create illustrations for packaging, websites, or branding, I know I'm helping to improve the space around us. Seeing the result of my work and how it affects the perception of a product or brand is incredibly inspiring.

Throughout this entire journey, my husband has been by my side, supporting me to this day. When I doubt myself (and that happens), he reminds me of how far I've come.

Today

Now I work with clients around the world, live in Canada, and run my design studio Deeply. I recently launched this newsletter to share my experience and help other creative professionals.

It's never too late to change your life if you have passion and support from loved ones. If you're currently in a similar situation and wondering whether to take the risk – take it. It will most likely be worth it.

As always, thank you for reading,

art·apart with Irene is where we break down the business of creativity. Real talk about struggles, client relationships, and tips & tricks from behind the scenes 👀 To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a subscriber.

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