Growing into the Cozy Illustration Niche: An Artist’s Mid-Year Report
Even if it doesn’t look like it, you are growing one year at a time
Every month, I find myself looking back at one specific art piece I made in recent times:
My illustration, known as Greenhouse, was a turning point for me as an artist. A beaming light ahead, if you would, to what was in store for me.
We’re all moving at such a fast pace nowadays that we don’t have time to reflect on how much we progress yearly, even around mid-year. We don’t allow ourselves to take in what has happened anymore. We’re missing some important developments in ourselves as we don’t look back as we keep moving forward.
Taking a second for once, I can see exponential development in myself as an artist and as a person. I wanted to take a second to just write it down.
Greenhouse Print - Letting the light cascade down onto me, brightening my cozy day.
From fanart, to OC comics, to cozy cottagecore-esc themes
Oh boy, my style has drastically changed. I originally wanted to be a comic artist, character designer, and all the above when I began illustrating as a kid. One thing I was known for on the internet was that I would make some art for my favorite game series, Assassin’s Creed. Some may recognize the AC Sisterhood Zoom Call series I did back in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was at one point trying to make my very own comic when I graduated from college.
But the world decided to make me use my art as my therapy and draw the cozier things in life.
In all honesty, it started as a way to get me to draw more scenes rather than just characters. But, I guess I was rewatching some Studio Ghibli, or maybe it was Tales of the Shire being announced, that persuaded the mood of my art as of late. Hey, I’ve been drawing more large-scale scenes because of it, win-win!
Magical scenes require honed technique, with some help
Feedback is everything when being an artist. You want to hear what people have to say about, what they think can improve, and what to change for next time. And lucky for us, in the era of the internet, it’s so much easier to find a community that can provide you with that.
I am 75% self-taught, learning in bursts in extra art classes I could fit within my design school schedules. I got by, but I needed these accessible communities of artists to help give some feedback.
I have learned much from Simone Grünewald in her discord, following along with her Plein Air sketches, and getting a couple of pointers from her on my work. I have also gotten the same from Milica Mastelica in her community. She provided detailed notes, file overlays to explain her feedback, the whole works, so I could take in what she would do for rendering and make it my own.
I am thankful to the two of them for the friendship, advice, and all-around great positive vibes in the communities they have created. Do support the two of them on Patreon!
I recently remade one of my earlier works, “Cozy Bear,” to see how far I’ve progressed in a year. The results are amazing!
I got whimsical art, yeah. But I need some good marketing to reach more people to see it
Yes, my art is great! But with great art, there is a need for good marketing. I’m so used to marketing others in my full-time design job, but not myself. It was time to be much more consistent online.
I started posting 2-3 times a week on my social media and learning to repost my work with hooks, making random reels that show me off talking to the camera or a random tidbit behind the scenes, or making little cozy doodles on a certain topic. It’s been a trial-and-error process because social media isn’t a set strategy; it’s ever changing.
Dean of Lettershoppe and Women of Illustration was super helpful in learning social media marketing for artists. This included building a social strategy to try, how to execute it, and also providing the tools to make a library of content a month or so in advance.
Becoming an artist, selling art online and at art markets
In January, I leaped and tried to sell my art on an online shop. I did pick hard mode by just putting it on my portfolio site. But it felt like the best way to go for me. It’s been a great learning experience. The first drop was a very successful thanks to friends and family helping promote it. After the first jump, it’s now trying to branch out to get the attention of new customers who aren’t related to or have known me for years.
Not online, I am selling physical prints and stickers. I am joining the digital art market by selling downloads that are more accessible outside of the United States. With the cost of international shipping and the fear of these tariffs coming into effect in the U.S., selling downloads to print at home gives me the freedom to expand my reach without the extra cost.
I can’t JUST be online, I gotta get out there and show off locally. I have been applying to more markets around the area. My first experience in December of 2024 was a welcoming one, and I caught the bug in a way. I am participating in my next market on August 30th (more details to come), and I’m excited to prepare and show my work off once again.
With markets, I’m meeting new creators who themselves have given me so much advice and markets to check out and apply for. They’ve also recommended some little trinkets to make that will help sell more.
Wrap up with some personal goals
To close out my reflection, I have my mid-year road map I want to follow for the rest of the year.
Improving my time blocking: While currently working a full-time job, pursuing my passion as an illustrator is a challenge for timing. I want to find the sweet spot where I can be more productive in the limited time I have in the day to create
Continue to experiment with social media: Not every strategy, not every idea will stick with my audience, so I want to keep trying out new things to post. Maybe I want to start an easy series that’ll entice new engagement.
More pieces, large and small: While I do love when I get to create these large-scale scenes, I have found a good balance to make things on a much smaller scale, whether a zoomed-in scene or even a quick sticker idea.
Keep the cozy storytelling going: The world is scary right now, and I want to make a comforting space with stories told through my art, either by my short stories that accompany them, or those that people interpret on their own. If I could continue to be a comfortable spot in the scary times, that’s a win for me!
That’s all I got for this review of my journey. It felt good to jot it down somewhere to come back to.
Does this aesthetic resonate with you, and want more?
Thanks for joining me in reflecting halfway through 2025. If you’re looking for even more whimsical vibes, such as artwork, you can explore my full portfolio here. Want more cozy recommendations straight to you? Join my biweekly newsletter below!
