💎 2024: review of my second year as an artist

Portrait Gem #39

Bonjour my little demon,

You’re now one of 19,632 souls collecting my gems. Whether you just joined or have been here from the beginning, thank you so much for reading 🖤.

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TODAY’S GEM

It’s the start of 2025, and I’m deep in reflection. One question keeps echoing in my mind: What on earth did I actually accomplish this year?

2024 was my second year as a full-time artist. I set big goals, dreamed even bigger… and if I’m honest, I fell far short.

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1- The year where nothing went as planned

Here’s what I set out to achieve in January:

• Reach 500,000 followers on Instagram

• Create one graphite portrait per week

• Grow The Art Missive to 30,000 subscribers

Today, I can officially say: nothin went as planned. An art block kept me from drawing for months. I deserted Instagram for half the year. And The Art Missive? It doesn’t even exist anymore.

So naturally, I’ve been asking myself: What on earth was I doing?

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2- But the year where I expanded…

Let's rewind to January 2024: I was traveling through Asia, drawing everyday, posting on social media, and managing my art business. It was exciting—until burnout hit me like a freight train.

So, I returned to France, and months went by without creating or posting—it felt like I’d lost everything.

But there was one thing that kept thriving: the students in my portrait course. Watching them engage, post their progress, and grow became my lifeline. It made me ask: If I can’t draw right now, how else can I be useful?

So, I poured all my energy into leveling up the Reality to Fantasy experience. And it worked! By the end of the year, we surpassed 600 students, and the course didn’t just grow in numbers—it transformed in quality, content, and impact.

It became something I can truly be proud of.

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3- … and where I became a true artist

I’m sure you noticed how all over the place 2024 seemed for me—I dropped The Art Missive, started Portrait Gems, shifted between education and lifestyle content, disappeared, and then reappeared. From the outside, it probably felt chaotic. Honestly? It just reflected exactly how I felt inside: completely lost in my art.

For years, I’d been stuck in the wrong mindset—comparing myself to others, chasing algorithms, trying to meet everyone’s expectations. No wonder I spent half of 2024 in an art block.

To get unstuck, I decided to explore:

• I learned oil painting with my amazing mentor, Vladislav Yashin

• I took Fine Art classes and online courses

• I refined my graphite portraits.

Sure, I picked up new technical skills, but the most important thing I gained was something else:

I learned how to be a true artist.

Instead of chasing trends or others’ approval, I focused on a single goal: creating something truly unique. That shift changed everything. My skills became tools instead of goals, my practice felt natural, and my art transformed into something that’s entirely mine. For the first time, I wasn’t just making art—I was creating with purpose.

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Conclusion

In 2024, nothing went as planned, but honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything—I get to draw demon girls for a living and discovered my true purpose as an artist.

Looking back, I realize how much I’ve been given, and now it’s my turn to give back.

That’s why, in 2025, I’m taking you on my art journey through Portrait Gems. The full details of what I’ve planned for you will be in the next Gem, but at the core, it’s all about creating unique portraits and sharing the process with you.

And if my portraits add a little magic to your world or inspire you to create, then I’ll know I’ve done my job.

Thank you for being part of my 2024 journey and making it such a success. Let's make 2025 even more magical together! 🖤✨

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🔥 Influence the Game 🔥

If you’re still reading, you’re the real MVP—so here’s an exclusive sneak peek before anyone else!

We’re ringing in 2025 and celebrating the launch of my second course, Portrait for Meaning, with exclusive access and special gifts just for you.

Explore the Teaser Page now and shape the event by voting for the best rewards! 🎉

Let’s make this celebration unforgettable—together.

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Voilà, that’s all for today.

Bisou,

Léa

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