Where is home when you have been happy in so many places?
Reflections on identity, studio life, and a summer filled with markets
Whether you’re new here or have been following my creative journey for a while—welcome. I’m Andrea, an illustrator with a soft spot for psychology, storytelling, and messy, meaningful art.
It’s been a while since the last newsletter (yes, I missed June—whoops). Summer swept me off my feet in the best way: I spent the past weeks selling my work at local markets, soaking up sun and stories. Thank you so much to everyone who came by to say hi, shared a kind word, or took a piece of my art home with you. You made my heart full.
A little thank you gift
If you’ve bought a print or artwork from me recently—first of all, thank you. It means the world. Second: I’d love to see where it lives now! If you send me a photo of it framed or hung in your home, I’ll send you a 20% discount code for your next purchase in my shop.
What I didn’t do this summer (but still hope to)
I had hoped to do a summer residency this year, but life had other plans. Instead, I’m carving out time in late August/early September to create my own self-directed residency at my studio. I’ll be focusing on a deeply personal project I’ve been carrying with me for a while—something I’ve only now felt ready to explore.
It’s about home and identity.
What does home mean when you’ve felt belonging in more than one place? What happens to your sense of identity when your home country—like Macedonia, in recent months—feels caught in bittersweet change?
By sharing this here, I’m giving myself a soft deadline: to show you a glimpse of this work in the next newsletter (and, hopefully, not skip a month again!).
From the studio: open doors and open hearts
Few days ago, my studio mates and I finally hosted an Open Studio event in our studio in Ljubljana—and it was beautiful. So many of you came, and the space was buzzing with conversation, music, and the smell of fresh paint.
One of my favorite parts? I prepared a collaborative canvas where visitors could write or draw something that reminded them of home. What came out of it was both playful and profound—and definitely a spark for my upcoming project.
What would you write on that painting if you had been there? One word, sentence? Leave a comment or write me in a message!
Recent work: from psychology podcasts, to children’s concerts and clay studio window mural
I’m happy to share some new projects that I’ve worked on over the past few months:
🎙️ All in the Mind Podcast – Criminal Psychology series cover
I illustrated the cover for an episode diving into the psychology behind criminal behavior—thought-provoking and chilling all at once.
🎭 Cankarjev dom – Posters for children and adolescents program
I created two posters for Cankarjev dom’s subscription program for children, capturing the magic of theatre, performance, and imagination. —Yes I do also non mental health related work still! :)
🌿 Biskvit – Window display mural
Lastly, I painted a mural for a beautiful ceramics studio Biskvit here in Ljubljana. It’s right on their front window—a playful, flowing piece inspired by the movement of hands shaping clay. If you're ever walking by, stop and peek in!
That’s all for now—
Enjoy the rest of the summer and stay gentle <3
Just wanted to say that I loved this update, and can't wait to see what comes of your self-directed residency this fall!