Reinventing yourself (without burning it all down)

If there’s one thing I’m already taking away from 2025, it’s this:
Whatever we decide to do, we can succeed as long as we:

a) stay focused on one core message,
b) get out of the never-ending cycle of analysis paralysis (you know, when we’re stuck in our heads, overthinking instead of doing, we are often our own biggest obstacle, not the bad market),
c) stop asking for advice from people who aren’t where we want to be.

Oh, and one more:
Creative thinking and drawing are a damn bank. They’ll fund you emotionally and practically during any transitional period in your life.
 

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Now, the behind-the-scenes of these realizations:

Without going into too many boring details, I’ve been in my in-between phase since the start of the year.
You know that uncomfortable space where you’ve outgrown what you used to do but haven’t yet stepped into what’s next?
Blink twice if you recognize this.

And it’s not like I’m doing something completely different or changing careers. The permission I was waiting for had to come from… me.

I couldn’t allow myself to be seen as more than just an interior designer or sketching mentor - the identity I’ve had for nearly a decade.

But over the past 1.5 years, I’ve felt a deeper mission emerge. It’s way more global than just bringing STUNNING interiors to life (though let’s be real, they ARE stunning. Healthy ego moment :D).

Creativity + drawing + modern tools = a new language.

•  For quick, flexible interior design
•  For documenting beautiful moments
•  For creating custom postcards (true story: after I shared my hand-drawn postcard from Menton, a friend asked if I could make one for her homebuyers!)
•  For content creation, like drawing hair volume for profile pictures (yes, I just gave away my YouTube thumbnail secret)
•  And even for full photoshoots with AI (that’s a story for another newsletter 😄)

Oh, and don’t get me started on making art from personal memories!

I draw flowers my mom grows and sends me photos of - we live in different countries.
Now, a whole flower wall in my kitchen tells the story of our connection. Every time I walk in, my day instantly brightens.

And this is when I realized...

It’s about SO much more than interiors.

This is my mission:
To empower creative people who feel stuck, doubtful, or told things like:

•  "You're not talented."
•  "It’s too late to start over."
•  "Art can only be a hobby."

Or even worse - who once believed in their creativity but stopped after not seeing results.

STOP RIGHT THERE.

Don’t let a decade pass under those lies like I did.

But here’s the difference between us: you’re ALREADY here.

You’re part of And She Draws Big, where creativity becomes your second language.

I’ve done the hard part:

•  Criticized in art school
•  Traumatized and didn’t draw for 5+ years
•  Compared myself endlessly to Instagram artists
•  Told it was too late to start a new path (at age 22! Imagine!)

Eventually, I studied interior design but HATED the average, flat computer renders.
So... I sketched!
And that’s when I broke free.

Because drawing is a TOOL.
Not for realism. Not for perfection. But to communicate my ideas, in my own style.

Then came the iPad (a birthday gift!) and it helped me free up even more.
Mistakes no longer scared me.

Drawing saved me. Over and over again.

This skill blends traditional art with modern tools.
It helped me land high-end clients, close 4- and 5-figure illustration deals, and build my career even when I lost my dream job and nearly had to leave the country because my visa was expiring.

And this year... drawing saved me again.

After taking a 2-month break from my Academy, I found space to reflect, reset, and enjoy drawing without pressure while working with a dream, global brand.

It’s like the universe gives us what we’re ready for… when we finally show up.

What I’ve learned:

•  Reflect on how far you’ve come
•  Take breaks as long as you need
•  Try new things
•  Don’t stress about having it all figured out
•  And after the fog clears… FOCUS!!

Right now I’m reading Wealthy & Well-Known, a book on personal branding, and one line hit me:

“Deluded focus brings deluded results.”

So:
Dedicate your attention to one core mission, project, or channel. Follow up. Follow through. Follow back.

It. Will. Work.

It’s IMPOSSIBLE for it not to.

The phases I had to move through:

1. Life hits like a Mac truck
2. Crisis
3. Depression
4. Total confusion
5. Break
6. Acceptance
7. Imagine the worst
8. Try new things
9. Step back
10. Do absolutely nothing
    
    

And then… the answer comes.
Liz Gilbert talks about this in Big Magic, too.

So yes, these past 7 months were the most challenging of my life.
But I’m grateful.

Because they gave me clarity.
They taught me how to enjoy life, not just live to work.
They helped me reconnect with my feminine side, release control, and just... BE.

And most importantly, detach my worth from work.

Now, with this new energy, I’m slowly returning to my global mission and my Academy, and oh boy I’ve missed it: the students, the masterclasses, the community!!

And that brings me to some super exciting updates!!

The word updates says it all - I’ve already started developing a brand new series of masterclasses just for you! Think:

•  Travel sketching (yes, including THAT Menton scene!)
•  iPad for marketing & content creation
•  More iPad interior design + AI deep dives
  

✨ August is going to be THE month for all of this! ✨

And a little secret… a brand-new digital sketching book is coming too! It’s going to be your perfect first step into the world of drawing, iPad, and AI - all in one beautifully designed resource!
So stay tuned… it’s going to be BIG.

If you made it this far… thank you.
For being part of this journey.
For showing up.
Let’s take the next step - TOGETHER.

With big drawing energy,