Bonjour my little demon,
Whether you just joined or have been here from the beginning, thank you so much for reading 🖤.
TODAY’S GEM
This week felt like a storm.
But not the overwhelming kind.
The electric kind.
The kind that tells you something big is coming.
Because after five years of drawing, building, and showing up for my demons…
I’m finally opening a true backstage to my art.
Welcome to Portrait Gem #72 where I take you behind the scenes of launching my Patreon.
1- Where do I even start?
It’s the end of September. Outside, the wind is starting to feel like autumn.
I’m in my atelier, sitting on the floor, legs crossed, sketchbooks spread out like tarot cards around me. Notes scribbled in the margins. Deadlines pinned to the wall. My laptop is open, but untouched.
I’ve made up my mind:
In October, I’m launching a Patreon.
But right now, I don’t even know where to start.
What kind of rewards should I include?
Should I film more?
Do I need better gear?
How do I make this space feel intimate, but also useful?
I tried to figure it all out by myself. Made lists. Scratched them. Made new ones.
But something didn’t feel right.
I realized I was thinking like a content machine—not like someone who actually wants to build a space that feels alive. A space that serves you.
So I made a move (maybe the smartest one so far):
I asked you.
2 – You wanted the truth…
I know, that sounds like the simplest thing to do. But it made all the difference.
I took a step back.
Scrolled through our conversations.
Re-read the questions you’ve sent over the past year.
Dug into the DMs, comments, and little notes you’ve left me across platforms.
And suddenly, it was obvious.
You didn’t want more content.
You wanted the truth.
Not a finished version. Not the glossy highlight reel.
But the raw thoughts.
The messy steps I usually keep to myself.
The tiny decisions that shape a portrait before it even exists.
You wanted to sit on the edge of my desk and hear me think out loud.
So I started building something different.
So I changed my approach.
I started drafting a new outline—what to post, how often, how deep to go.I imagined the weekly rhythm and studied other creators I admire. Took notes. Highlighted what felt cold, what felt alive.
And just to be sure I wasn’t projecting…
I asked you.
Through polls, DMs, comments—you helped me choose what really matters. And this weekend, I finally moved to the next phase:
The fun part.
3- … so let me cook for you.
This weekend, I opened a new chapter.
I gathered my notes, plugged in my mic, and opened my rushes.
In the quiet of the atelier, I started shaping the very first posts.
No more theories. Just the work.
I set up my Patreon profile.
Wrote the captions I was scared to share.
Recorded the voice memos I usually delete.
Picked the sketches that still have construction lines.
And I realized: I want this space to feel like a little secret between us.
A place where nothing’s polished. Where I get to show you why I’m doing what I do—not just how.
I’m still cooking the rewards for you, but my vision is clear now—
and I’m finally ready to drop the juicy part.
Keep reading for all the details 👇
Conclusion : Exclusive Revelations 🍑
After weeks of building, drafting, doubting, and reworking...Here’s what I’ve prepared for you:
🎯 SECRET WINDOW
The Patreon will open in a secret 3-day window — to celebrate the people who’ve supported me from the very start. The exact launch date will be revealed very soon to the waitlist.
🎟️ LIMITED SPOTS
During that time, a limited number of Founder spots will unlock special perks:
– $9/month for life (instead of $15)
– Your name on the Founders Wall
– A private Q&A video just for Founders
⚡️ EARLY ACCESS
Waitlist members get in early — before anyone else — to log in and secure their spot.
🎁 PATREON REWARDS
Here’s what you’ll get inside the Patreon:
– Monthly behind-the-scene vlog: what I tried, what failed, what worked
– Weekly first looks: raw WIPs, sketches, portrait before anyone else
– Studio notes: candid process breakdowns, gear, references, decisions
– Polls & input: help pick subjects, angles, experiments
– Hi-res wallpaper: a new lock-screen worthy piece monthly
🕰 The exact number of Founder spots will be revealed to the waitlist 24h before launch.
It’s first come, first served — and once it’s full, it’s gone for good.
🖤 If you want to secure your spot, join the waitlist now
Voilà, that’s all for me.
Je t’embrasse,
Léa.
