We recently had the chance to connect with Irene Neyman and have shared our conversation below.
Irene, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I recently became a mom, so my days have completely transformed around this adorable little croissant! Although I’m on maternity leave, my days are beautifully chaotic.
I’ve become a master of one-handed everything – answering emails, sketching, even eating! During nap times I sneak in small client projects for my studio Deeply. It’s amazing how focused you become when you only have limited time.
It’s a completely different rhythm than before, but I’m loving this new balance of creativity, motherhood, and running a business from home.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I always loved drawing, but many years ago, I never thought of making it my career. My partner saw potential in me and directed me toward online education, which quickly made me realize that I wanted to make design and illustration my profession. Of course, at first I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted, but over time my preferences formed, and today I’ve been doing commercial illustration for 5 years, helping clients all over the world. Besides that, I work with graphic and marketing design, covering many client needs even when illustration isn’t the primary request.
My work has been recognized with multiple design awards and featured in creative blogs
and publications. I write my own blog for creatives and business leaders, helping bridge the gap between the creative and business worlds while improving their collaborative workflow.
And on a daily basis, I create illustrations that bring power and emotion to brands!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Honestly, I taught myself the most about work. As a self-taught artist, I had to figure out everything from scratch – not just illustration techniques, but also the entire freelance business side: pricing, client communication, project management, contracts, you name it. I didn’t have access to expensive courses or formal education in this field.
What I really lacked back then was guidance and advice from someone who had been through it all. I made plenty of mistakes along the way that could have been easily avoided with the right mentor.
Now that I’ve reached a certain level in my career, I offer consultations for other creatives who are in the same position I once was. We discuss everything they’re curious about – from creative processes to business challenges – and I share the insights I wish I had when I was starting out. It’s incredibly fulfilling to help others navigate this path.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I think it would be ‘don’t be so hard on yourself.’ I’m extremely demanding with myself and always get anxious when things don’t go as I want them to. This used to prevent me from enjoying my growth process, constantly feeding my self-doubt and impostor syndrome.
Now I understand that if I had been more gentle and forgiving with myself, this journey would have been much smoother. Being overly critical of your own work and progress doesn’t make you better faster – it just makes the path more exhausting than it needs to be.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think yes – I actually started my blog with exactly this intention: not to pretend to be someone I’m not. I’m not perfect, and neither are my works, projects, or experience – but I share these mistakes and experiences as something ‘real,’ unfiltered by public expectations.
Even though everyone’s life and career on social media looks perfect nowadays and makes us doubt ourselves, I try to avoid this by showing and talking about real things. I believe authenticity resonates more with people than a polished, unrealistic version of success. My struggles, learning process, and even failures are just as valuable to share as the victories.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What will you regret not doing?
I will regret not starting my career earlier. I held back for too long because of a series of misunderstandings and doubts from others – but other people’s opinions should be the last thing you rely on when making important decisions about your life.
There’s never going to be a perfect ‘right time’ to start, but the sooner you begin pursuing what you dream about, the better. Now I know that the best time to start is always now, regardless of what others might think or say.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ireneneyman.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irene_neyman/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ireneneyman/
- Other: https://ireneneyman.substack.com/
https://www.studiodeeply.com/
Image Credits
Illo on photo (Seville) – Marian Parvu Photogtaphy
Illo on photo (San Francisco) – DuoNguyen Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
