Hello again!!
What I've been up to for the last year and etcetera
Hey lovelies!
Well, an extremely long minute has passed since I last sent out a newsletter.
As you may know, I started this to share my passion project of illustrating fables. Once client work ramped up last year, however, I struggled to create this art every month atop other work. Eventually, I just stopped sending newsletters altogether. So, I’m changing things up.
This newsletter is now my place to connect with y’all about all kinds of stuff. I’ll be sharing ideas, studio updates, business and art tips, plus general life stuff. This is where I’ll do it all. And when I have folklore-related passion projects along the way (you know I will), I’ll of course be sharing them with you here.
SO, what have I been up to for the last... several months? Year? Something like that.
Personally (and professionally), I pretty much ditched Instagram last year right before Meta announced they were using our content to train generative AI. Since then, Mark Zuckerberg has been giving me more reasons to stay off the app than to come back, so I’ve been happily finding other ways to keep up with friends and share my work. So far I’ve rediscovered this newsletter (hello!), Pinterest, emails, and the call button on my phone lol.
BUT, in the midst of all this chaos, I did manage to complete some cool projects that I’m excited to share with you below!
Exciting Projects (!!)
Pflashback! Explore Pflugerville Through the Years
This is a MASSIVE project that I poured my entire heart and soul into. I illustrated this 32 page coloring book commissioned by the City of Pflugerville, which is a very cool suburb of Austin.
The book explores some local history and culture, with activities sprinkled in to keep the reader engaged in varied ways. I worked with the city to write it and illustrated everything cover to cover. Minus the story writing, it took me about eight months and over 300 hours to complete. Like, I worked SO HARD on this project!! I’m incredibly proud of my work. So far the city has been getting positive feedback about it, which heartens me. It’s always affirming to hear your work connects with people.
If you want to see more of the book, check out my portfolio page - button below!
Cane’s Lotería Tabletop Game and Retail
I have not done this project justice because it’s such a big deal to me and I haven’t shared it nearly enough!!
Mini story time: A few years ago I created 28 illustrations for Raising Cane’s, a fast-casual restaurant founded in my home state of Louisiana (now 800+ restaurants strong worldwide). The illustrations featured on a brand-themed Lotería set, which is a tabletop game like bingo but uses pictures/cards instead of numbers. In addition to making the illustrations, I designed the game—which involved setting up table cards and the whole nine.
Cane’s released it, eventually they sold out, and they stayed out of stock for a while. THEN, late last year they revived the project with a game re-release accompanied by shirts, stickers, keychains, magnets… a full Lotería retail line that prominently features my 28 illustrations!!
I’ve done so much retail-focused product art over the years, but nothing hits like an entire collection solely and prominently featuring your illustration work. And for Raising Cane’s no less! I think it does kind of impress my Louisiana-based family and friends, which is a plus for my ego.
If you’re interested in buying any of the Lotería line, check it out on raisingcanes.com. You can also view more of the project on my portfolio.
Shop Update: Vive La Résistance Pins
Another cool thing that has been happening is people are buying this pin! I’ve done virtually no marketing for my online shop (I’m ashamed to say), and yet many people have discovered this pin and placed orders. If you’d like to order one yourself, check out the link to my shop!
Other News: Typism Feature Interview
I’m so pleased to say that Typism published an interview with me a few months back, wherein I speak to my lettering process, dealing with creative block, time management, etc. You can read the full interview here.
Ok, this newsletter is way too long! I could harp on and on updating you about my life, but I’ll stop for this edition. Thank you so much for showing an interest in my art, career, perspectives, etcetera. I’m excited to kick-restart this newsletter and keep up an every-other-week pace (fingers crossed)! It feels good to engage with y’all in a more long-form manner, I hope you agree.
As always, feel free to reply with any questions or if you just want to say hello! Hope you have been having a great week out there.
Take care,
-Liz :)
P.S. - One more thing because I can’t help myself: I recently made my resource library password-free, so anyone can pop in without restrictions! Check it out if you haven’t already.