It’s June, and if you’re an A1 Day 1, you know what that means...Foxee Approved is officially one year old! Of course, we’re going all out by featuring our top 3 (according to me) newsletter formats: Foxee Comics, The Foxee Report, and Love, Foxee.
First, I want to say that I’m so proud of myself for launching my newsletter and committing to her for 12 consecutive months. This newsletter has been on my to-do list for five years, the first draft still sitting in Mailchimp. My first attempt began the same way Foxee Approved did: short and sweet blurbs about what I was up to. Among my announcements was an upcoming speaking engagement at VidCon 2022, a preorder for The Keeper (the first graphic novel I colored as a Lead Colorist), a temporarily revived blog, and a new Ko-Fi account. I’ve always been quite successful as an artist and designer, yet I struggled to see the vision.
I created unseen obstacles that prevented me from publishing my first newsletter. Maybe it was the wrong platform. Maybe my schedule was too packed for yet another new commitment (and to be fair, I was severely overworking myself back then). Maybe no one would care what I had to say. But deep down, I knew that I was the obstacle. I avoided every social media platform like the plague, even though I have an archive of work that has never seen the light of day. I kept myself busy with client work to avoid finishing personal work that had creatively stumped me. I quieted and hid myself because I felt like an imposter in this space. If no one could see me, no one could judge me. Yet in my isolation, I was judging myself. I hated my work, I hated my voice, and, ultimately, I hated myself. And I couldn’t handle the world seeing me in this state.
But these past few years, this one in particular, have been revolutionary in rebuilding my sense of self. And writing, an activity I used to dread, was critical in this reconstruction. Thanks to The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, I have been journaling nearly every day for over a year. My journal is where I learned to dump these limiting thoughts about not being enough and replace them with self-actualization, or the life-long process of realizing your full potential. Thanks to the launch of Foxee Approved, I have been able to narrate personal and professional growth while creatively experimenting without fear of judgment. My newsletter is where I learned to be consistently bold and unapologetically myself.
To: My Oldest Friend*
After being at war with myself for so long, I can finally look in the mirror and see how beautiful I am, the work I create, and the perspective I share. This month’s comicsletter goes out to my inner child, who has been waiting for me to come back home.
*To: My Oldest Friend is my second-ever hand-inked comic strip. As mentioned in January’s newsletter, The Other Half of the Story, one of my biggest self-made obstacles was seeking perfectionism in my work. After discovering digital painting on the iPad, I avoided traditionally inking my work because I couldn’t stand seeing the flaws in my line art. But this year, I’ve started facing my fear of inadequacy through my practice of hand-inking. And let me tell you, it is easier said than done. Confession: I was so self-conscious of the shaky, uneven lines that it took such restraint to maintain those imperfections when cleaning up the comic. But as I digitally colored, I forced myself to sit with the line art and realize its deeper meaning: I must accept the unedited lines as complete to accept my unedited self as whole.
The Foxee Report
It’s been a while since I’ve given y’all the 411 on Foxee Design. As I’ve been evolving my business and myself, I’ve held back on making announcements because a lot is up in the air. But since transparency is a huge brand tenet, I want to share a few big and small updates about the direction I’m headed:
What I’m Reading
During a work session at the library, I borrowed a copy of Starting a Business 101: A Crash Course in Starting a Business by Michele Cagan. Wait, what do you mean I’m reading a book about starting a business when I’ve been running a business for 5 years?! Well, after years of learning how to freelance through trial and error, I figured it was high time to work on my formal business education. If I want a team roster, client partnerships, and multiple projects, I need a better plan to scale up my business properly.
What I’m Doing (for Myself)
I finished the first draft of my 30+ page business plan (yeah, she thicc, that’s how you know I mean business…pun intended). I now have a better idea of what type of work I want to do, which type of people I want to work with, how much money I want to make.
I turned down a client because even though the budget looked right, their unreasonable timeline wasn’t a good match for me and my business. I’m being pickier as I don’t chase every opportunity and instead attract the right ones.
I set financial boundaries with both a current client and a lead when asked to do more than what was budgeted. While I lost the lead, I gained respect for my time and money. My worth is increasing as I move in abundance, not scarcity.
What I’m Un-launching
Due to capacity limits, my Shopify store, Foxee Emporium, is on hiatus until further notice. However, if you still want to support Foxee Design, you can visit my INPRNT store to buy prints of my work!
Development on Coloring Comics: 101 and 201 remain paused. My business plan revealed that my focus in Foxee’s founding stage is not color education. However, later down the line, these courses will become their own sub-brand, or a brand that distinguishes a certain product line from the master brand system of a business.
How I’m Stepping Up My Game
San Diego Comic Con is next month, and ya girl is leveling up her game plan yet again. I’m cleaning up my online presence, prepping my sales pitch, and compiling a networking contacts list. I want to meet other colorists, flatters, editors, art directors, and publishers. If that sounds like you, comment below so we can link up for a chat!
Long story, short, I have no idea what’s next. Yet this waiting period has taught me how valuable I am, where I’ve limited myself, and how I want to keep growing. Since I’m operating as Alexandria 2.0, the same doors I had desperately tried to pry open have shut for good. But this time, I know bigger and better ones are about to open.
Love, Foxee
During my downtime, I’ve continued to prioritize creative recovery by exploring new neighborhoods in LA. I’m still trying to find my new favorite coffee shop (still pending, but some top contenders are CAFE NIDO: Coffee & Books and Makisupa Coffee Bar). I listened to some mildly convincing propaganda at vegan establishments (though, not gonna lie, BESTIES Vegan Paradise has a vegan tuna sandwich that made me almost consider giving up fish…almost).
I walked thousands of steps up hills and stairs, stumbling across the prettiest of views. I read comics and magazines to escape the heat in a bookstore that was actually half a library (I’m looking at you, Heavy Manners). I’ve been falling back in love with my wardrobe through 90s/00s thrifted finds (I’ll be back, Wasteland). And I met some amazing strangers who made me feel welcome everywhere I went. By opening myself up to a world beyond my comfort zone, I’ve found comfort in the changes happening within both my personal and professional life.
And That’s All She Wrote!
I want to thank my family for being my number-one supporters (they literally chat about my newsletter with each other). I want to thank my friends for looking up to me when I didn’t think I could be anyone’s role model, and for being my role model, inspiring me with their own amazing work. I want to thank my current team for their patience with me as I figure out my business. I want to thank the Universe for laying out this amazing path for me that I’m ready to follow. And last but not least, I want to thank my audience for seeing me and allowing me to be me.
Putting my journey out in public has been such a powerful exercise in vulnerability that helped me steadily dismantle many lifelong fears: the fear of being seen, the fear of inadequacy, and the fear of the unknown. Foxee Approved has shown me that my visibility can connect me to others, my value is up to me to decide, and my plans may change to bring me closer to alignment. What is one fear that holds you back from what you want? What’s one thing you can do to face that fear? Oftentimes, doing something that scares you can bring you back home to yourself. Don’t keep yourself small to stay comfortable. Try pushing past your comfort zone and stay Foxee!