Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lina. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?

The first time I made any money from my art was when I opened commissions for the first time back in 2018. I was nervous and had no experience with selling my art at that point, but I decided to take the dive. I was in school at the time and thought having a little money on the side would be helpful, especially since I was living away from my parents and wanted to branch out into a more professional space.
Luckily, I had a lot of references to take inspiration from. I did my research, taking notes on how other artists online promoted their work and priced their commissions.
It wasn’t anything extravagant—I made a few posts across my social media platforms to promote my commissions, hoping for the best.
I made 10$ from very first one; It was a sketch for someone that reached out to me via instagram DM.
I don’t remember much, especially since this happened 7 years ago, however I do remember feeling relieved when the client was happy. It filled me with motivation to keep going and every subsequent commission became easier and more streamlined!

Lina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hiya! I’m Lina otherwise known as Lilaeleaf online.
I’m a freelance fantasy illustrator with a passion for character design and storytelling. I’m inspired by D&D, knights, swords, and whimsical themes.

I also love to draw little goblins—silly creatures that have become a mascot of sorts and are the main focus of the merch I create. I have many different stickers, pins and prints of my goblins—my most popular collection being my “Suffering Goblins”, a series of goblins surviving different ailments such as tummy aches and migraines.

All I can hope is for my art to bring joy and comfort to my audience!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started posting my art online in 2016 without any intentions aside from sharing what I loved and finding a community. Over time, I slowly gained an audience by creating illustrations of my characters and the occasional piece of fanart.
This journey will be different for every person, especially since we all have different goals and intentions.
With D&D gaining popularity, drawing original characters from my D&D campaign drew a niche audience over the years.
I also gained a large number of followers after posting my series of “Suffering Goblins”; a collection of drawings inspired by the “My tummy hurts but I’m being so brave” meme.

I do think a lot of social media “success” comes from accidental favouritism from a platform’s algorithm. Some of it does come from creating relatable illustrations, though my main goal will always be to draw what I love & what inspires me, not to please the ever-changing algorithm. I’m very lucky to have gained an audience for drawing what I love!
I think it’s important to stay true to yourself and draw what you’re passionate about because that’s a foundation for a creative’s journey.
I also think it’s important to engage with your community if you’re looking to grow an audience. I try my best to reply to comments, post stories, ask my audience questions and be active online (with boundaries, of course).

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Illustration is a means of self-expression. Being able to physically put down on paper—or rather on tablet, the images in my mind is incredibly rewarding and self-fulfilling. I can make my imagination take shape, draw the characters and stories in my mind and share it with the world!
Art has also been a way to make friends and create bonds with people that are dear to me.
The love I receive from my audience is also incredibly motivating. The smiles I get at an artist alley, people feeling seen or laughing at my goblins, the kind comments and love I get under the art I post—it all keeps me going. There is truly no feeling like being told that my art has made someone’s day better, that I made them smile and feel seen.

Ultimately, the community is what I believe the most rewarding part of being an illustrator is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lilaeleaf.portfoliobox.net/
• Instagram: @lilaeleaf
• Other: linktr.ee/lilaeleaf

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