A pesar de no haber estudiado formalmente y de no dominar ningún instrumento, la música siempre tuvo un rol fundamental en mi vida. No podía (ni puedo) entender la vida sin su compañía. Durante mi pre y adolescencia, cuando empecé a ser más consciente de lo que escuchaba, entré de lleno en ese mundo y no salí. Encerrarme con mi mini reproductor a escuchar mis bandas y canciones favoritas, y armar mis propios casettes compilados grabando de la radio, era una de mis actividades preferidas en las que podía pasar horas. Solo tirada en la cama mirando el techo y escuchando. Muchas veces me sentaba a transcribir las letras de las canciones que me gustaban, si eran en inglés me volvía loca por conseguirlas en un muy incipiente internet noventoso/dosmiloso difícil de navegar, y si lograba comprarme un disco original con arte de tapa y librito (porque salían caros), leía y seguía las letras desde ahi una y otra vez. Con mi primer mp3 (porque walkman y discman propio nunca tuve) pude sacar la música de mi casa y, literalmente, llevarla conmigo. Recorridos en colectivo por Buenos Aires viendo la vida por la ventanilla con banda sonora, hermosa sensación. Siempre me sirvió como una especie de refugio y de teletransportación a distintos lugares, a donde me llevara la canción. Era otra época, sin redes, sin tanta digitalidad. La extraño bastante, no voy a mentir.

Después vino el momento de entrar en la facultad y el trabajo y la vorágine que eso implicó no impidió que yo siempre estuviera prendida y con mi música acompañando en los momentos necesarios: entregas, viajes, trabajo, juntadas, momentos felices y difíciles.

Desde que vivo en Berlín, hecho fundamental que me dio más tiempo para conocerme, pensar en mí, en mis intereses y en lo que me hace feliz, reapareció la música como algo que en realidad nunca se había ido. Hablar de música, comentar un disco nuevo que escuché, lo que me hizo sentir, averiguar sobre el artista, leer, ir a verlo en vivo (si puedo), entender qué lo llevó a hacer lo que hizo, de dónde sacó la inspiración, quién hizo el arte de tapa del disco, por qué, etc. son cosas que me interesaron desde siempre y que en estos años afloraron como nunca. El auge de Spotify y de las listas random de música mezclada y, ni hablar, de la música hecha con IA parecía que me iba a alejar pero todo lo contrario, me acercó aún más a mi gusto esencial. Aclaro que no estoy en contra de Spotify para nada, obviamente lo uso diariamente, pero me reconectó con lo que siempre me gustó, la pieza de arte “disco”, la banda, el artista, las bases. Y es por eso que muy de a poco estoy armando mi colección de vinilos de mis discos más favoritos (pero eso será tema para después).

Quise ser breve pero no lo logré, a lo que iba con todo este choclo de texto, es que finalmente me animé a abrir un espacio que no sé bien que forma tomará, porque podré dedicarle un tiempo limitado (aunque obviamente haré lo posible para que no sea así), en donde voy a hacer lo que siempre me gustó que es hablar de bandas, artistas, música, recomendar (y que me recomienden) discos, debatir y contagiar un poco este amor que tengo. ¿Quizás mezclado un poco con ilustración? ¿Diseño de tapas de disco? ¿Datos curiosos? Repito, que no sé bien la forma que tomará pero los quiero invitar a seguir el proyecto en Instagram: El Music Nerd Club. Va a ser en español, como un espacio solo para disfrutar y compartir.

Si llegaron hasta acá, desde ya, mil gracias y nos leemos por ahí :)

Por estos pagos, el otoño pasó y ya llegó el invierno, aunque estos últimos días no está haciendo el frío que sabemos que puede hacer. Aun así, tuvimos una pequeña nevada hace unas semanas y eso siempre suma puntos. Los mercados de Navidad ya están abiertos; las vibras navideñas en la ciudad ya se sienten bastante y, además, envié postales a clientes, familia y amigos. Volviendo a este año, si miro hacia atrás, estuvo realmente lleno de momentos y proyectos hermosos, con muchos fines de semana trabajando y hasta a altas horas, pero todo sintiendo que vale la pena. Como en todos, hubo momentos difíciles (como ahora que estoy atravesando una tendinitis en mi muñeca que me obligó a parar de dibujar por varios días), proyectos que no salieron, despedidas y lloraditas varias, pero, en el balance, este 2025 fue realmente de mucho esfuerzo y crecimiento a nivel profesional y personal. Dicho esto, voy a hacer un pequeño resumen acá:

✨ World Illustration Awards - Longlisted!

Este año quedé por primera vez en la Longlist de uno de los concursos más importantes del mundo de la ilustración: los WIA (World Illustration Awards). Mi rediseño de la tapa de la novela Kokoro, de Natsume Soseki, quedó entre las seleccionadas en la longlist, así que fue, sin dudas, un momento muy importante para mi crecimiento como ilustradora :) Pueden ver la lista completa y los ganadores finales acá. Las inscripciones para 2026 ya abrieron, así que ahí estaré nuevamente este año participando (aunque todavía no sepa con qué).

✨ 5 Minute Genius Stories: Leonardo Da Vinci
Si me siguen en Instagram, ya sabrán de qué hablo. En mayo de este año terminé de ilustrar este hermoso libro, que ya está en preventa y será publicado el próximo 6 de enero. Es un libro que narra diez historias sobre la vida y la obra de Leonardo y todas pueden leerse en cinco minutos. Fue un proceso de siete meses de trabajo muy enriquecedor y tuve la suerte de colaborar con un equipo increíble. Hace unas semanas hice un reel del día en que recibí las primeras copias que me llegaron a casa y también un post con un poco del proceso. Pueden darle amor si les gusta y preordenar el libro acá :)

✨ Ilustraciones editoriales

Este año también tuve la suerte de trabajar en ilustraciones editoriales para revistas como Pantera (España) y la clásica Reader’s Digest (EE. UU.). Siempre que hago este tipo de trabajos, me doy cuenta de lo mucho que me gusta pensar en una idea para un texto breve, un artículo o un cuento corto. ¡Por más de esto en el 2026!🥂

✨ Berliner Stamps: The Exhibition
En agosto, también tuve la dicha de organizar un evento en torno a las estampillas de las estaciones de tren de Berlín que diseñé en 2024. Esto fue todo, gracias a Florencia Freis y a mi compañero en este proyecto, Martín Sacán, el autor de los textos que las acompañan. Con casi dos meses de preparación, fue una noche emotiva y hermosa en la que mucha gente se acercó a conocer el proyecto (y tomar unos traguitos). Acá pueden ver el post que resume un poco lo que fue ese día.

✨ Una visita y un viaje especial
Este verano, también tuve la suerte de recibir visitas de Argentina, algo que no sucede muy seguido. Y pasé varios días hermosos con mi hermano Clato, con un mini viaje a Noruega en medio; fue uno de los momentos más felices y necesarios de este año.

También hace unas semanas pude cerrar mi círculo familiar al conocer el pueblo de Galicia donde nació mi abuela. Hace unos años pude conocer el pueblo de mi abuelo italiano, en Sicilia, y ahora tocó el turno de la parte gallega, que fue realmente mágica. Tratar de entender el presente a través de conocer sus raíces y su historia es algo que me provoca mucha fascinación. En este caso, mis raíces y mi propia historia se reconstruyen un poco al visitar estos lugares. Obviamente tampoco me perdí de comer todo tipo de delicias gallegas.

✨ En qué estoy trabajando ahora
Ahora me encuentro, por suerte, trabajando en una serie de libros de no ficción muy aventureros e interactivos que me están ocupando la mayor parte de mi tiempo y energía. No veo la hora de poder mostrarles algo y contarles más de qué se trata.

Ahora a la sección de ✍️ Recomendaciones random que esta vez vienen un poco mezcladas y más random que nunca.

🎥 Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End: El 16 de enero se estrena en la plataforma de anime Crunchyroll la segunda temporada de la serie que les comenté la edición pasada (¡en abril!) y que amé.
🎧 Sting - Nothing Like the Sun (1987): Este año también fui a ver por primera vez a Sting y fue un gran highlight. Este disco fue de mis más escuchados en 2025, así que se lo comparto porque es hermoso.
🎧 Stella - Adagio (2025): ¡Increíblemente, otro de mis discos más escuchados fue uno que salió este año! Sé que no lo pueden creer; yo tampoco. Es una artista griega que descubrí el año pasado y cada día me gusta más. Recomendadísima.
📚 Samanta Schweblin - El Buen Mal (2025): Durante la semana de vacaciones de verano, también leí el último libro de cuentos de Samanta Schweblin y me pareció uno de los mejores que leí hasta ahora. Lo encuentran editado por Penguin Random House y por Seix Barral.
📚 El Eternauta - Héctor Germán Oesterheld y Francisco Solano López: No puedo dejar pasar por alto que, finalmente, este año leí El Eternauta completo, después de haber visto la serie de Netflix. El nivel de detalle y el trabajo que tiene la historieta son una completa demencia. El guión, los diálogos (que son muchos para ser una novela gráfica), son intensos pero demasiado atrapantes.

Si llegaron hasta acá, muchas gracias por leer.

Como siempre, cualquier comentario o sugerencia, o si ven algo de esto y quieren contarme qué les pareció, estaré más que contenta de intercambiar opiniones con ustedes. Gracias por estar del otro lado :)

Les deseo felices fiestas y nos leemos en el 2026 🥂

Hi everyone!

I'm sending this short note to invite you to Berliner Stamps: The Exhibition!

Some of you might remember this personal project I started back in 2024 (almost exactly a year ago!), where I shared a first set of six stamp designs on Instagram — each one inspired by different S-Bahn train stations in Berlin. Many of these stations are iconic to the city… and personally meaningful to me too.

I had the pleasure of inviting Berlin-based journalist and tour guide Martín Sacán to write a short accompanying text for each stamp, sharing his knowledge of the city and his unique personal perspective.

After a year of work — and with the support of The Pocket Gallery, Hotel Gat Point Charlie, and the best event partner, Florencia Freis — this project is finally becoming a real-life event! We’ll be celebrating with an exhibition, live readings, an interactive activity, surprise gifts, and of course, good vibes and great drinks.

To everyone reading this who’s in Berlin (or just visiting) — we’d love to have you join us!

When: Saturday, August 16
Time: 7–9 PM
Where: Hotel Gat Point Charlie (Mauerstraße 81-82, 10117 Berlin)

Event Schedule
19:00 – 🎤 Project Presentation
19:30 – 📖 Live Reading
20:00 – ✍️ Interactive Activity
20:30 – 🍹 Drinks & Chill

If you’re not in Berlin but you love the project, you can still support us by helping spread the word — as always, sharing and liking on social media means a lot. You can start with this little reel I put together with lots of love 💛

Hope to see you there! :)

Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing great :)

I'm sending out this little “special edition” because I realized it’s about time I gave proper space to a book I worked on for eight months in 2023 - a book that, in the end, was never published. Yes, you read that right. It had already been announced on the publisher's website, and we were just a few months away from the official release, but it never happened.

You’re probably wondering: what on earth went down? Since this doesn’t happen every day, I’ll try to sum it up briefly. In March 2024, I received a short email from the publisher informing me that they had decided not to publish the book. The reason? The author - a popular paleontologist with a big social media following - was facing several serious accusations, and the book was pulled because of that.

As you can imagine, reading that email (I still remember it arriving around 10 PM) was a huge shock. It took me a while to wrap my head around it. This was my first big book project - many pages, a complex narrative, characters that carried the story through, and tons of little details grounded in real-world references. I had put so much love into it and was genuinely excited for it to come out. So yes, it was one of the biggest blows of 2024 for me.

With time and perspective, I saw that it was for the best. I’m glad I didn’t get tied to that person’s name. So in the end, this was the right call.

I won’t get into more details about the situation with the author or the book. I think what I’ve shared is enough. What I do want to share is a bit more about the process because it was long and challenging, but honestly, it was also really beautiful. I got to work with such kind and talented people throughout.

For legal reasons, I can’t mention the book’s title (though if you’ve been following me for a while, you might remember it - I had posted the cover on social media at one point!). It was a nonfiction book about “a day in a natural history museum.” Below, I’m sharing some images of early sketches and finished illustrations :)

So the story's moral is that the process and everything you learn along the way are things you always carry, and no one can ever take that away from you.

Thank you very much for reading, as always :)

Cheers!

¡Hola a todxs! Antes que nada, aviso que esto se viene largo y más random que nunca, la útima edición fue en octubre 2024 asi que hay que compensar. Me costó muchísimo sentarme a escribir esto por falta de tiempo, así que espero que lo disfruten tanto como yo disfruté hacerlo :)

Espero que estén muy bien disfrutando de la estación del año en la que estén. Por acá ya el calendario nos avisó que hemos dejado atrás otro invierno, y las primeras flores y las temperaturas primaverales comienzan a aparecer. En lo personal, este fue el mejor invierno que pasé hasta ahora acá en Berlín y, paradójicamente, el primero que no me “escapé” ni un día al verano. No porque no haya hecho frío ni porque no haya sido oscuro como siempre, sino porque después de casi cinco años empecé a disfrutarlos, a sacarles provecho y a recargarme para el verano. Sobre todo para este verano, que para mí va a ser muy especial ya que tendré familia de visita después de tres años de no recibirlos. Este invierno trabajé mucho (y sigo), estoy felizmente ilustrando para varios libros que saldrán entre este año y el año que viene, miré muchas (muchas) películas, miré un animé después de años de no hacerlo (les cuento más adelante), hice pastas caseras y focaccias, tomé ricos vinos, pasé tiempo de calidad con mi círculo más cercano, y también bastante tiempo en mi casa que disfruto. Así que fue un excelente balance, y este año la despedida del invierno no la sentí desesperada, sino más bien un poco nostálgica, pero con ganas de meterme de lleno en el año.

Ahora sí, ¡empezamos con esta entrega!

✨ Libros en los que estoy trabajando
Como les dije más arriba, este año lo empecé ilustrando varios libros hermosos de no ficción de diversas temáticas. Todos están todavía en proceso, así que se imaginarán que vienen siendo horas de mucho café, mate y dibujo. Hay uno que, si me siguen en Instagram, ya saben de qué trata, de los demás hay poquita información. Saldrán entre este año y el 2026, así que me tienen muy emocionada. Nota: también sigo trabajando en mi libro álbum, pero eso viene tan lento que voy a hablar más de él cuando tenga más novedades.

✨ Re-diseño de la tapa de Kokoro, de Natsume Soseki
En noviembre del año pasado hice una visita relámpago a Buenos Aires, y me traje un regalo de mi hermano Clato, la novela del autor japonés Natsume Soseki, Kokoro (que significa algo así como corazón en japonés). No solo que me la devoré en poco tiempo y me encantó, sino que se me ocurrió volver un poco a mis raíces de diseñadora gráfica y rediseñar el arte de tapa. Un ejercicio que me había olvidado lo divertido que puede ser. Acá abajo el resultado. Una pequeña mención a Clato que hace poco le dio forma a su proyecto de ilustración en pixelart, pueden seguirlo en la cuenta Shakapixel.

Voy a saltar ahora directamente a mi sección favorita de ✍️ Recomendaciones random, porque esta vez tengo mucho para compartir.

🎥 Algo para ver
Como mencioné más arriba, este invierno miré muchas películas. No fue algo realmente pensado de antemano, simplemente se fue dando y entré en un círculo de investigar sobre varias que tenía ganas de ver. La cosa empezó en enero con una que se llama And The Band Played On (1993). La historia real de cómo conocí esta película es a través de mi mamá. Ella es profesora de Biología de nivel secundario (ya retirada), y en la época que yo estaba en la facultad, durante varios años, les pasó esta película a sus alumnos en el colegio, y me insistía con que la vea. Recuerdo siempre que, finalmente, después de una entrega muy pesada de Morfología 2, y después de una tremenda siesta, la vi sola sentada en mi computadora, y me encantó. A principio de año la recordé y volví a verla después de doce o trece años, y me volvió a encantar. La película narra la historia, desde el punto de vista científico y atravesado por casos de personas reales, del descubrimiento del SIDA como enfermedad y su posterior descubrimiento del virus del HIV. Tiene todos actores conocidos y geniales (hasta mi amado Phil Collins tiene una aparición especial), pero la película no es tan conocida y la verdad que el nombre no le ayuda nada. Como ven, tiene muy buen puntaje y realmente es muy interesante.

Después de esto, me dieron ganas de ver más películas, particularmente de la década de 1990. Descubrí que es una década bastante dorada del cine, en donde los actores más increíbles estaban en su prime, y en donde las temáticas que se tocaban eran muy comprometidas y significativas. No voy a hacer una reseña de todas las que vi este invierno, simplemente les voy a mencionar las que más me gustaron para que puedan ver alguna que les interese. Creo que son perfectas para cuando llegás a ese momento de querer ver algo diferente a lo que siempre tiene el catálogo de Netflix.

✨ Quiz Show (1994): nominada al Oscar a mejor película en 1995 y totalmente olvidada (le ganó Forest Gump, así que bueno). Actuación increíble de John Turturro y creo que fue una de las primeras importantes de Ralph Fiennes. Muestra el mezquino mundo detrás de los programas de TV de preguntas y respuestas. Dirigida por Robert Redford!

✨ In the Name of the Father (1993): otra película nominada al Oscar a mejor película en 1994 y que perdió con Schindler’s List. Basada en una historia real. Contexto guerra de Irlanda, época del IRA, gente encarcelada injustamente. Actuación sublime de Daniel Day Lewis, Emma Thompson y Pete Postlethwaite.

✨ The Insider (1999): esta me encantó porque te mantiene muy prendido todo el tiempo. Cuenta la historia de un químico ex empleado de una tabacalera que luego amenaza con hablar en un programa de televisión sobre los manejos oscuros que tienen dentro. Con Al Pacino y Russell Crowe. También nominada a mejor película pero perdió con American Beauty.
✨ The Remains of the Day (1993): esta fue la que más me costó de este listado, actuaciones realmente increíbles de Anthony Hopkins y Emma Thompson nuevamente. Es una historia simple, atravesada por la Segunda Guerra Mundial, sobre la vida de los empleados domésticos en una casa de un influyente millonario en Inglaterra. Está basada en la novela del mismo nombre escrita por el ganador del Premio Nobel Kazuo Ishiguro, autor japonés-británico.

✨ Good Will Hunting (1997): esta creo que es bastante conocida, pero no la había visto. Con unos pequeños Matt Damon y Ben Affleck, que (y este dato es genial) el guión fue escrito por ellos dos, y tenían 20 pocos años. Esta película medio que catapultó la carrera de ambos. También actua Robin Williams haciendo de Robin Williams, pero está muy bien.

Vi otras pero de momento les dejo estas para no aburrir demasiado.

Ah pero, ¿pensaban que terminaba acá? 😇 Además de esto, más a fin del invierno empecé a ver un animé (el invierno puede ser muy largo). Sí, yo me había quedado en Sakura Card Captor y Sailor Moon, pero decidí darle una oportunidad a uno más actual. El animé en cuestion se llama Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, en castellano, Frieren: Más allá del final del viaje. Qué decir de esta serie. La verdad no estoy muy metida en el mundo del animé actual, pero esto realmente es una joya. Emocionante ver que todavía se hagan este tipo de cosas tan hermosas, tan trabajadas a nivel gráfico y a nivel guión. Personajes super entrañables en una historia que ya de por sí es diferente porque empieza “por el final”. No quiero spoilear, pero como dice su nombre “más allá del final del viaje”, empieza cuando el viaje emprendido durante 10 años por un grupo de cuatro héroes, llega a su fin. El puntapié es la pregunta de qué harán ellos luego de haber cumplido el objetivo de ese viaje. Habiendo sido eso el centro de sus vidas durante tanto tiempo, surge el “cómo seguir”. Lo que sucede después del viaje está visto desde el punto de vista de la elfa/maga del grupo, Frieren. Puedo hablar mucho pero me voy a contener, toca temas que, creo, nos atraviesan a todos sin importar la generación: la amistad, el paso y la percepción del tiempo, los pequeños gestos, los recuerdos, la muerte, la aventura, el valor de las cosas y la trascendencia. Voy a hablar desde mi lado de ilustradora, el arte es una belleza sin límite. Los fondos, la animación y los detalles de todo. El guión es responsabilidad de Kanehito Yamada y el arte de Tsukasa Abe. Todavía no terminó y la próxima temporada creo que sale en enero 2026. La pueden ver la plataforma Crunchyroll.

Por si quieren ver un poco más, pueden ver el opening 1 de la serie acá.

Espero que les haya gustado esta edición que fue más bien cinéfila que otra cosa. Estoy pensando en empezar a intercalar una entrega en inglés y otra en castellano, para no perder tanto la conexión con la escritura en mi idioma. ¿Qué les parece?

Como siempre, cualquier comentario, sugerencia, o si ven algo de esto y quieren contarme qué les pareció, estaré más que contenta de intercambiar opiniones con ustedes. Gracias por estar del otro lado.

¡Nos leemos en la próxima!

I hope you're all doing great and soaking up the vibes of whichever season you’re in. Over here, we’re deep into autumn—a Berlin autumn with pumpkin soups and spiced treats galore. This is definitely one of the most beautiful, colorful, and sunny falls I’ve seen in this city. We just switched to the winter time zone, and with the early evenings, there’s a subtle slowdown, a hint of introspection settling in. I’m also kicking off some new nonfiction book projects to keep me busy through the winter :)

I think this might be the longest gap between newsletters, but this year has been a bit of a trip. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m already in “end-of-year reflections” mode, even though 2024 isn’t quite over, and there’s still plenty on my list. Production-wise, it’s been a quieter year, with a lot happening inside my head rather than on paper.

But hey, here we are! I wanted to pop in with a fresh little note filled with random art updates and cool things I’ve been into lately. Let’s dive in:

Berliner Stamps

Last time, I gave you all a sneak peek of this project, and now the first part is officially out! The project features six stamps, each illustrating a different S-Bahn train station in Berlin. The response has been heartwarming—Martin and I have loved all your comments, shares, and, of course, the crazy run on stamps and stickers. Below, you’ll look at part one of this project. Why part one, you ask? Yep, there’s more on the way! Keep an eye on my Instagram for the second batch of six coming soon :)

Wilde Träume Exhibition – Closing Event

In late May, we launched Wilde Träume (Wild Dreams) exhibition with two talented artists, Juro and Luján Cordaro, at the beautiful Urban Art Kids gallery in Berlin. The opening event was a lovely summer gathering with parents and kids, games, a book raffle, and plenty of prints and postcards for sale. If you’re in Berlin tomorrow, join us for the official closing from 5 to 8 p.m. at Sesenheimer Str. 7, 10627, Berlin. It’ll be a cozy autumn evening with music and a mini-market for prints and postcards. We’d love to see you there!

✍️ And now, my favorite part—my random recommendations:

🎥 Something to Watch: During the four months I spent quarantining in Buenos Aires at the start of the pandemic when we’d nearly run out of random things to do, my mom introduced me to the legendary dancer, choreographer, and actor Fred Astaire, dancing alongside Ginger Rogers. I realized that dance is an art form I rarely dive into and have mistakenly assumed it didn’t resonate with me. But seeing these artists in action? Pure magic. So, here’s a fantastic video that captivated me from the first watch. If you follow me on Instagram, you might’ve seen it—it even inspired a recent illustration I’m thrilled with.

🎧 Something to Listen To: For once, I’m not recommending a band or album from the '90s or earlier! I’m not quite sure how this one found me (thanks, Spotify!), but it’s a recent album by a Greek artist named Σtella called Up and Away. This album is simple yet beautiful, with each song being a transportive experience. As a bonus, check out the animated video for the title track, “Up and Away,” below—it’s fantastic.

📖 Something to Read: This summer, I finally got around to reading Cometierra by Argentine author Dolores Reyes, a gift from my dear friend and colleague, Florencia Desalvo. This novel is a quick read—not only because it’s short, but because of how it’s written, like a first-person diary. Without giving too much away, it’s about a girl who eats dirt (earth?) and immediately has visions. Her abilities help solve crimes and find missing people. I highly recommend it!

And that’s a wrap for this edition! It was short, but I’ll try not to leave you hanging too long before the next one. Thanks so much for reading—it truly means the world to me. Your comments, questions, and constructive feedback are always welcome! :)

¡Nos leemos en la próxima!

P.S.: In case you don't know much about me, my name is Laura Martín. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and have lived in Berlin, Germany with my husband since 2020. I started my journey as a graphic and editorial designer and transitioned into a full-time freelance illustrator nearly four years ago. In addition to my passion for illustration, I love to read, I'm delving into the world of music (I've been learning to play the piano for a year now), and I always enjoy discovering new art-related things to consume and share.

I hope you're all doing great and enjoying the summer or winter, depending on which hemisphere you're in. First and foremost, as always, I want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who takes a moment to read this newsletter. Your support means the world to me, and I love hearing your feedback, so please keep those comments coming :)

I'm writing to you from my desk at home in Berlin. It's a sunny day here, and the temperature is hitting 30 degrees Celsius. It's not the usual weather for this summer, but days like these are to be savored. On another note, I'm super excited because I've finally added a new worktable to my studio for analog drawing. Now I can create without worrying about messing up my computer or keyboard. Having a separate space dedicated to experimenting with traditional materials is something I've wanted since my university days, so I couldn't be happier.

Now, let's dive into the exciting happenings from the past month and a half that I want to share with you:

Sketching Berlin - 6th Edition at Volkspark Friedrichshain
and the next one is on its way!

After a few attempts, we finally had our first summer edition at the beautiful Volkspark Friedrichshain a few weeks ago. It was a bit of an adventure with the event being postponed due to rain, but it all worked out beautifully in the end! It was a perfect warm summer afternoon for sketching in the shade by the lovely park fountain. Sketching Berlin is my outdoor drawing workshop in Spanish for Spanish speakers living in Berlin. Our next session is on Saturday, July 27th, at Treptower Park. You can grab your tickets here!

Berlin Digital Stamps Project

It's been about two years since I tackled a personal project of this scale, mainly due to being busy with client work and book illustrations (fortunately!). This year started off a bit slower, giving me the chance to finally bring to life a project I've had in mind for a while, and it's launching on Monday, July 22nd! As loyal newsletter readers, you get an exclusive sneak peek (well, not that exclusive, but still exciting!). The idea for Berlin Stamps was inspired by the digital stamps from Japan Railways, which have different designs for each station as collectibles. This got me thinking: what if we had digital stamps for Berlin's S-Bahn stations? S-Bahn is the city's standard urban train, and there's some debate over whether the "S" stands for Stadtschnellbahn (urban fast train) or just Schnellbahn (fast train), contrasting with the U-Bahn (Untergrund Bahn, or subway). Putting fun facts aside, I started with one of Berlin's most iconic stations, Alexanderplatz, and here's what the stamp looks like:

Berlin Digital Stamps will kick off with this design, and I'll be posting a new one on my Instagram every Monday. To make the project more interesting, I've included another passion of mine—history and quirky facts. I've teamed up with Martín Sacán, an Argentine journalist also living in Berlin. Besides journalism, Martín gives private and public tours around Berlin in both Spanish and English. Some of his tours include "The Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Cold War," the classic "Free Walking Tour," "Third Reich Tour," and the fascinating "Berlin and Car Culture" tour. If you're visiting Berlin, his tours are a must. Martín kindly agreed to join this project, so you'll get to read his captivating texts accompanying each stamp. I hope you enjoy it, and remember, sharing and promoting work by small independent artists and freelancers is incredibly helpful. Don't forget, the first stamp drops on Monday, July 22nd, with a new one every Monday after that!

And now we come to my favorite part, as always, ✍️ My random recommendations:

🎧 Something to Listen To:

Today, I want to recommend an album by one of my all-time favorite bands: Duran Duran. This album is a bit of a hidden gem, and I feel like not many people have given it a listen. It didn't receive the best reviews when it was released, but who cares about critics who don't create art themselves, right? The album is Medazzaland (1997).

One thing that's always stood out about Duran Duran is their versatility. It's tough to pin them down to just one genre, and they've continually reinvented themselves with each album, which is a remarkable feat in any era. Medazzaland features two singles: "Electric Barbarella" and "Out of My Mind" (which was also part of the soundtrack for the movie The Saint starring Val Kilmer). To me, this album has a rock vibe with great electronic arrangements and, above all, excellent lyrics. They used this opportunity to explore and experiment with different sounds and styles.

If you give it a listen, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Fun fact: The official band members during this album were Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Warren Cuccurullo. The legendary bassist John Taylor left the band before the album was out, so that’s why he’s credited only in the songs that he participated in but not as an official member of the band. John came back to Duran Duran a few years later. Another fun fact: the track number 9, Michael, you’ve got a lot to answer for, is a song dedicated to the musician Michael Hutchence, ex-member and singer of the band INXS, who died that same year.

So, grab your headphones, give Medazzaland a spin, and let me know what you think! :)

It’s also interesting that the record's back cover features the woman character from the iconic cover of their album Rio (1982), but graphically modified. The iconic Rio cover was made by Patrick Nagel, an American artist who died super young at the age of 38.

And speaking of great song lyrics, they often inspire me to create drawings or mini-comics. It's something I'd love to do more frequently, but I often find it hard to make the time. The last one I made was inspired by a verse from the song Waiting for the Night by Depeche Mode. What do you think?

Alright, I don't want this to get too lengthy. In the next edition, I'll definitely include some recommendations for things to read and watch (I didn't do it this time because I still have a few things to finish up!).

Thank you for being here and supporting my creative journey. I hope you enjoyed this edition. Stay cool (or warm), and I'll catch you in the next update! :)

¡Nos leemos en la próxima!

P.S.: In case you don't know much about me, my name is Laura Martín. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and have lived in Berlin, Germany with my husband since 2020. I started my journey as a graphic and editorial designer and transitioned into a full-time freelance illustrator nearly four years ago. In addition to my passion for illustration, I love to read, I'm delving into the world of music (I've been learning to play the piano for a year now), and I always enjoy discovering new art-related things to consume and share.

Hi everyone! I hope you're all doing well and enjoying this year's halfway point. I don’t know about you, but this year is flying by too fast for me—it’s already scaring me. June is a special month for me because it’s my birthday month 🎉, and I always associate aging with this year's midpoint. I spend six months at one age and the next six months at another.

I was really excited to sit at my desk in my Berlin home, sipping on my mate, writing this edition for you. But as soon as I sat down, I realized how hard it was to get started. I recently returned from a 16-day trip to Japan, and I’m still settling back into my routine. Before officially starting, as always, I want to thank everyone who subscribes to these humble newsletters. THANK YOU for reading from the other side. We now have 145 subscribers, which is a lot to me :)

An Anticipated/Unexpected Trip

The trip to Japan was something we had in mind for a long time. Every now and then, we’d say, “It would be so nice to go to Japan; we should start planning.” But then the pandemic happened, lots of other things happened, and the idea got shelved. Finally, in January this year, we started seriously planning and decided to book for May. At that time, thinking about going to Japan in five months seemed crazy (and now, even more so, now that the trip is over). It was an intense, enriching, overwhelming, peaceful, and eye-opening experience all at once. Of course, it’s hard to do a deep analysis in just 16 days in a country, especially seeing it through a tourist's eyes, but as I’ve said many times, it felt like visiting another planet and coming back. For my 100% Western mind, seeing a society like Japan’s was a complete eye-opener. The perfect coexistence of cutting-edge technology and deep tradition is something I only saw there. Everything I perceive as “good” or “normal” ways of doing things isn’t viewed the same way there. It makes you rethink a lot of what you thought you knew. All in all, an amazing trip.

Some Random Things That Caught My Attention:

• In the 16 days I spent in Japan (regardless of the city), I didn’t hear a single car horn, not even in Tokyo.

• I never saw a piece of trash on the ground in any city, and there were no trash cans. People take their trash home and dispose of it there.

• The words you hear most often are thank you (arigatou gozaimasu) and sorry (gomenasai). Every time you order something extra in a café or restaurant, like another beer, they thank you for continuing to support their business.

• Ramen and sushi are considered fast food, which we in Argentina call “minuta.” They are cheap food that you eat quickly to get on with your day. The culture of fancy sushi is entirely Western.

• The love for detail in Japan is well-known, but seeing it in person is incredible. Everything you buy is checked to ensure it’s perfect; if not, they immediately replace it.

• I’m not a fan of matcha or green tea (they love it a bit too much), but I did try an ice cream that I quite liked.

• This doesn’t mean they don’t make great coffee. It’s excellent everywhere!

• This is also a well-known fact, but many train stations in Japan (JR stations) have a table with a collectible stamp. Some temples, gardens, and shops also do this.

New Exhibition in June: Wilde Träume

During our April trip to Bologna, talented illustrators Juro and Luján Cordaro and I came up with the idea to organize an event or exhibition in Berlin during the summer of 2024. Thanks to the generosity and kindness of Astrid Bassler, owner of the Urban Art Kids gallery, art curator, and wonderful person, we have a space to make it happen. We’re finalizing details, and we think it’s going to be great! On Friday, June 7th, starting at 5 PM, we’ll open the doors to the vernissage of our exhibition Wilde Träume (Wild Dreams in English). We’ll showcase our animal-themed illustrations, a book giveaway and activities for kids, and a small market where you can buy postcards, prints, and other illustrated products. The gallery’s address is Sesenheimer Str. 7, 10627 Berlin, Charlottenburg. Hope to see you there! :)

What the Artist Saw: Paul Cézanne Published!

After some disappointments regarding my book publications this year, I’m happy to share that this beautiful book is now widely available on Amazon and many other bookstores, including the MET STORE itself. If anyone travels to New York City and sees it there, I’d love it if you could share a photo with me!!

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

One of the cities we visited in Japan was Kanazawa, famous for its contemporary art museums. We went to this museum, and the architecture, the place, and the exhibitions were really amazing. Unfortunately, many exhibitions were under repair when we visited due to the earthquake that hit Japan in January near the Noto Peninsula, which is very close to this city. But I still want to recommend it if you visit at another time and everything is up and running.

If you want to see more about what I saw in Japan, I’ll share more content on my IG stories!

And now we come to my favorite part, as always, ✍️ My random recommendations, which are more random than ever!

🎧 Something to Listen To:

Get ready for an incredibly random recommendation. In Japan, besides spending hours walking, we spent many more hours on the train, during which I listened to music, and being there triggered certain memories through Freud’s technique of free association. Obviously, I did this unconsciously, possibly encouraged by looking out the train window. First of all, I heard the word gomenasai (sorry, in Japanese) so often that it reminded me of a song by the Russian duo t.A.T.u. from the early 2000s. I had their two albums, so I immediately started listening to them, and it was an impressive regression while looking out at the Japanese Alps. Here are the two albums: 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane (2002) and Dangerous and Moving (2005); maybe they’ll bring back memories for someone else, too. On the other hand, I also remembered Gwen Stefani’s first solo album, where the concept was a bit about Japan and the Harajuku girls from Tokyo. The album is Love, Angel, Music, Baby (2004), and several songs reference this. Of course, I first remembered Harajuku Girls. Now I listen to it, and it’s not a song I particularly like, but I’m sharing it for my memories.

🎥 Something to Watch:

On the long flight from Helsinki to Tokyo, I saw the movie Past Lives, which I had wanted to watch for a while, so I did. Let me just say that I managed to get emotional on the plane, which, for someone who’s quite afraid of flying, is an achievement, so I can definitely recommend it. Very beautiful. Another one I want to mention (because I can’t help it now) is my all-time favorite movie by Hayao Miyazaki, Princess Mononoke (1997). I mention it because I want literally everyone to see it, and it’s available on Netflix.

🎁 Extra Random Fact: Related to the Russian duo t.A.T.u. I mentioned earlier that here’s something super nerdy but appreciated by music and trivia lovers. Their first album's music producer was Trevor Horn, a musical genius who has produced many well-known hits (he’s like an English version of Giorgio Moroder). Some might know a famous song by his band, The Buggles, Video Killed the Radio Star. If you look into his life a bit, you’ll realize he’s behind many masterpieces. 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane is very 2000s, but it sounds incredible even today, thanks to his brilliant production - and he even had to play and record a huge number of instrumental parts. And and and he also wrote the English version of the Russian original lyrics. If you want to know more about him, here’s a 20-minute mini-documentary: Trevor Horn: The Art of Record Production.

Well, I don’t want to bore you any further or make this too long. I hope you enjoyed this edition! :)

¡Nos leemos en la próxima!

P.S.: In case you don't know much about me, my name is Laura Martín. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and have lived in Berlin, Germany with my husband since 2020. I started my journey as a graphic and editorial designer and transitioned into a full-time freelance illustrator nearly four years ago. In addition to my passion for illustration, I love to read, I'm delving into the world of music (I've been learning to play the piano for a year now), and I always enjoy discovering new art-related things to consume and share.

Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing great wherever you are in the world. I'm here chilling on my couch at home in Berlin, sipping on my morning coffee. As promised in the last dispatch, I'm bringing you a special edition of my newsletter, sharing some highlights from the Bologna fair that I wanted to pass along, especially for those of you who are into the illustration scene. It won't be too long, don't worry - I won't bore you :)

So, as I mentioned, it was my first time at the fair, and let me tell you, it was something I've been wanting to do for years. The four days there were more than just positive; honestly, I don't see how they couldn't be! It's the time and place where everyone in the children's book industry (illustrators, editors, writers, agents, distributors, you name it) gathers to mingle, network, share stories, and of course, maybe snag some new gigs, buy or sell book rights, etc. Plus, there are tons of talks and workshops happening throughout the days.

Here's a quick rundown of some recommendations or just my impressions of the fair:

• I always recommend getting the 4-day pass. If you're an illustrator, you can snag a special discounted pro pass, which is a steal. Buying a regular one-day pass can set you back up to 48 euros.

• I'd heard some comments about the fairgrounds being a bit chaotic, bathrooms crowded, and everything a bit disorganized. Honestly, I didn't see it that way. Sure, the first day was busiest, but lines moved quickly, and none of it dampened the experience.

• On the first day, grab the fair schedule book and mark down all the talks and workshops you want to attend (because, let's face it, you can't do it all). The same goes for any publishers or booths you want to visit. After the initial frenzy, you'll get better organized.

• Always have your portfolio (or cards, postcards, whatever you've got) handy. You're constantly meeting people and never know who you might bump into. I even handed out my postcards on the bus ride to the fairgrounds.

• Try to buddy up with folks if you can. It makes the whole experience more enjoyable, especially if you've got a nerve-wracking meeting lined up. Plus, it's always nice to meet up at the café and swap stories (or at the gelato stand, why not?).

• During the fair days, there are plenty of exhibitions happening around Bologna. It's always nice to check out something extra before or after indulging in some pasta (because you can never have enough, right?).

• The last day of the fair (which is the shortest) sees many publishers slashing prices on books to avoid lugging them all back home. If there's something you really liked, Thursday's the day to grab it!

• For transportation, the City Pass is your best bet. Allows you to hop on any bus, and trust me, you'll be using it a lot to get to and from the fair.

Beyond these practical tips, the fair was truly beautiful. The city, the vibe, everything. This event was a breath of fresh air, especially after spending a lot of time working alone at home last year (not complaining, though). It gets you out there, talking, seeing what's in the market, hearing from people you admire, sharing your work, and, most importantly, connecting with fellow professionals and filling you with a lot of inspiration from others. Can't get much better than that!

I hope you enjoyed this special edition, and let me know if you're considering going next year! :)

¡Nos leemos en la próxima!

P.S.: In case you don't know much about me, my name is Laura Martín. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and have lived in Berlin, Germany with my husband since 2020. I started my journey as a graphic and editorial designer and transitioned into a full-time freelance illustrator nearly four years ago. In addition to my passion for illustration, I love to read, I'm delving into the world of music (I've been learning to play the piano for a year now), and I always enjoy discovering new art-related things to consume and share.

Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing great and enjoying the mid-season, wherever you are. Over here, we're starting to feel the spring vibes, even if the temperature hasn't caught up yet. The days are getting longer again, and the city is turning green and blooming. As always, I want to start by saying thank you to each and every one of you reading this – your support means the world to me :)

Getting ready for BCBF 2024

I'm beyond excited because the event I've been looking forward to since last year is just around the corner – the Bologna Book Fair 2024! Ever since my days working in publishing houses in Argentina, it's been my dream to attend. That's why last year, I finally made the decision to buy the ticket and go for the first time. And now, with just a few days left until it kicks off, I can hardly believe it. If you're unfamiliar with the fair, It's the world's most significant children's and young adult book fair. It's a hub for illustrators, editors, publishers, and everyone involved in the industry to come together. It's where you see the trends in illustration and children's books that will define the year ahead. Plus, there are workshops to attend and the chance to get feedback from seasoned professionals on your portfolio. All of this is set against the background of a city like Bologna, Italy. Sounds too good to be true, right?

Related to this, when I was organizing my trip last year, I envisioned going alone and soaking up all the information at the fair on my own. But a few months ago, I started meeting with fellow women illustrators in Berlin who were also attending the fair. We've met up three times to share ideas, look at books, review each other's portfolios and projects, and work together to prepare for the fair in the best way possible. And let me tell you, those meetings were incredibly productive! It's another reminder of how important it is to build a community, come together, and share perspectives and ideas, especially in professions like ours, where someone else's insight can open your eyes in ways you couldn't on your own. These talented women are Luján Cordaro, Juro, Chechu Galoppo, and Eva Marina Burckhardt.

Achieving a dream and a bitter pill to swallow

I also wanted to share with you that this week, the first book I fully illustrated last year is now officially available for purchase, "What to Look for by the Shore," published by Ladybird Books. This means a lot to me because one of my biggest dreams when I decided to become an illustrator was to illustrate books. This date came at a perfect moment because two days before, I got the news that The Museum, the longest illustrated book I ever made (it took me eight months), wouldn’t be published for completely understandable reasons but totally unrelated to me and my work. This was a very bitter pill to swallow, and it’s been hard to digest. Now I’m better, and I like to think about something my grandmother Martha said: “No hay mal que por bien no venga,” which I think would be the equivalent in English of “every cloud has a silver lining.”

A little illustrated project

A few weeks ago, I challenged myself to draw a mini portrait of myself each day, expressing my mood as best as I could. Honestly, I'm not very consistent with these things, and self-imposed routines generally aren't my thing. So, I didn't start with much faith in this, but I decided to give it a shot, and so far, I've been keeping up with it. I want to see if I can finish 2024 with all my portraits drawn, creating a simple but completed personal project. Here's how it's going:

And now, onto my favorite part:

✍️ My Random Recommendations:

📖 Something to read: I read this book in two distinct parts, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. I started it just before everything exploded; in the midst of it all, I found myself without a home, my husband stranded on the other side of the ocean, and me having to return to my parents' house after four years. The decision to move to Berlin was already there; indeed, it had partly become a reality, though I couldn't travel. In that context, I had to put the book aside and couldn't pick it up again until four months later, in July, when I finally managed to travel to Berlin and start my new life with my husband. I remember starting to read it again on the second night, and I finished it in one go. I particularly love chronicles, and this book doesn't have a typical storyline; it's a collection of micro-stories and personal experiences the author, Liliana Villanueva, lived through during her years in Berlin. And these weren't ordinary years – she witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 with her own eyes. If you're into chronicles and history, this is a must-read! The book is called Otoño Alemán (German Autumn).

🎧 Something to Listen to: Those who've known me for a while know that I've been listening to José González for over a decade, practically since the beginning of his career. That's why I'm always reminded of my university days when I listen to his early albums. José is a Swedish musician born in Gothenburg to Argentine parents who fled to Sweden during Argentina's military dictatorship in the 70s. I've always been drawn to his music for its blend of genres, his incredible guitar skills (sometimes it feels like three people are playing simultaneously – a fact I confirmed during the four times I've seen him live), his unique voice, and, quite simply but not so simply, his beautiful songs and melodies. In his latest album, "Local Valley," he sings for the first time in flawless Spanish as well as in Swedish. It's my favorite album of his so far. His partner, Hannele Fernström, who is an incredibly talented illustrator, created the album's cover art! Bonus track: The first time I heard José was thanks to a British trip-hop band called Zero 7. In their album "The Garden," José sings several songs, and I was captivated by his voice (I had to look up his name in the CD booklet). It's an album I highly recommend. Another fun fact: Sia also features on that album and several previous ones.

🎥 Something to watch: German actress Sandra Hüller is my latest addition to the list of actresses I deeply admire. I watched her in her last two films (I'd like to catch up on her earlier work), but as I mentioned in the previous newsletter, I thoroughly enjoyed her performance in "Anatomy of a Fall." In an interview on the Oscars red carpet, she was asked how she managed to convey so much emotion in the scene of the fight with her husband and so much tension. Her simple response was that she memorized her lines, and that was it, and I think it was the best answer she could give, haha. Here is a short but lovely interview with her.

That's all for this edition. I hope you've enjoyed reading. Stay tuned for the next edition, which will feature a recap of the Bologna Book Fair 2024, tailor-made for illustrators and/or lovers of the publishing world :)

¡Nos leemos en la próxima!

P.S.: In case you don't know much about me, my name is Laura Martín. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and have lived in Berlin, Germany with my husband since 2020. I started my journey as a graphic and editorial designer and transitioned into a full-time freelance illustrator nearly four years ago. In addition to my passion for illustration, I love to read, I'm delving into the world of music (I've been learning to play the piano for a year now), and I always enjoy discovering new art-related things to consume and share.

Hey everyone! I hope you're all doing great and that you've had a wonderful start to the year. This is the first dispatch of 2024, and as always, I want to thank all of you on the other side reading this :)

Things kicked off here quietly; January always feels like a long month on this side of the world. Right now, I'm writing this from a cozy spot in Berlin, where it's a brisk 7 degrees Celsius (not bad for February), bundled up in a jacket and beanie. Less than 48 hours ago, I arrived from Buenos Aires, my hometown, where I unexpectedly visited for 18 days. I say unexpected because not only did I surprise my parents with my arrival, but I surprised myself by deciding to go at the last minute, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made. This trip filled me with love, family warmth, and friendship (and real warmth, too, with an average of 38 degrees Celsius every day) and gave me the boost I needed to start the year and tackle what's ahead.

Enough chit-chat, let's dive into what I wanted to share with you in this edition:

Sketching Buenos Aires
Since I hosted the first editions of my workshop here in Berlin, I've fantasized about someday doing it in Buenos Aires. It's the city where I grew up and developed as a designer and illustrator, among other things. So, when I booked my ticket, I decided to organize it in the weeks leading up to my trip. Another decision I made was to invite my dear friend and colleague, Florencia Desalvo, to co-host it with me as a special edition. It was scorching hot on the day of the workshop (38 degrees!), but thanks to the great vibe of everyone who attended, we had an amazing time. You can see photos from that day here. As always, if you're interested in attending any of my workshops, you can stay updated on Sketching Berlin's Instagram account.

Picture books 2024
In previous editions, I mentioned that in 2023, among other things, I worked on three beautiful illustrated books that will be released this year. Slowly, the publishers have started showcasing them on their websites and have allowed me to share some covers and illustrations, so here they are formally introduced in order of publication:

• "What to Look for by the Shore," Ladybird Books, Penguin Random House. This book is part of Ladybird's iconic pocket-sized non-fiction series for children. It was a lovely challenge as it involved drawing many animals, which isn't something I usually do, but I loved it. It's set to be released on April 4th and is already available for pre-order here.

• "What the Artist Saw: Paul Cézanne." This book is also part of a beautiful series of artist biographies published by DK Books in collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Yes, my little book will be in the Met's store! It's scheduled for release on May 14th and is already available for pre-order here.

• "The Museum: The Inside Story." Neon Squid. This book is the longest and took the most months of work. It was a beautiful collaborative effort that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was also a huge challenge due to the level of detail and the complex briefs I had to follow. It tells the story of an ordinary day in a natural history museum, following different characters. It's set to be released on July 2nd and is already available for pre-order here.

Bologna Children's Book Fair 2024
As I hinted in a forgotten Instagram story, this year will be the first time I attend the Bologna Children's Book Fair, and I'm very excited because attending has been my big dream since my days working in publishing in Argentina. It's from April 6th to 9th in Bologna, Italy, so if you're interested in the content from those days, I invite you to check out my stories (although I'll also send out a special edition about the fair).

Alright, now onto one of my favorite parts,

✍️ My random recommendations:

📖 Something to read: Well, in this edition, there won't be a book recommendation because I haven't finished the one I'm currently reading, and over this month and a half, I've been less focused on reading. But I promise to come back in the next edition with a new book recommendation!

🎧 Something to listen to: As you already know, this is the part that's toughest for me because if there's one thing I can't stop consuming, it's music. But I want to recommend two albums that were my recent vinyl acquisitions in January: "Eye in the Sky" (1982) by Alan Parsons Project. It's one of those albums you can put on and listen to all the way through without skipping a beat. Just a reminder, Alan Parsons worked as an engineering assistant on albums like "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be" by The Beatles and was the sound engineer for Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." The album has those distinct '80s sounds but has been one of my favorites since the first time I heard it - plus, it features the best instrumental song in history. The other acquisition was "Older" (1996) by George Michael. George has one of those male voices that my ears absolutely adore; he simply transports me, and his voice brings me so much joy, so any song sung by him is elevated to the max. Pure talent and beautiful songs. We miss you always, Georgios ❤️

Bonus track: While going through albums at my parents' house in Buenos Aires, I stumbled upon "Willy and the Poor Boys" (1969) by Creedence Clearwater Revival. My mom always tells me she nearly wore it out from listening to it so many times, and I think I wore it out even more when I was a kid. This album represents afternoons at my grandma's house, drinking mate and munching on bollitos (a savory pastry she used to make for us). It means a lot to me to have brought it back to my home in Berlin.

🎥 Something to watch: While traveling to Buenos Aires, I watched the movie "The Fabelmans," which I hadn't seen before. Honestly, I found it very heartwarming and thoroughly enjoyed it. Directed by Spielberg, it's semi-autobiographical and has his usual magical touch for storytelling. Something that surprised me: when did Paul Dano reach the age to play a father??? My goodness, how time flies! Speaking of the trip, it was quite steeped in cinema as I went twice and saw "Poor Things" and "Anatomy of a Fall." Of the two, the one that resonated with me the most and had the biggest impact was "Anatomy of a Fall." The film focuses on a murder trial but also serves as a great portrait of a mother and a woman. Incredible performances; I highly recommend it.

I don't want this to get too long, so that's all for now :) I hope you enjoyed this edition as much as I enjoy sharing it. As always, any comments, recommendations, or suggestions are more than welcome, as well as if you want to share it with someone you think might find it useful.

Thank you so much for reading! - ¡Nos leemos en la próxima!

P.S.: In case you don't know much about me, my name is Laura Martín. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and have lived in Berlin, Germany with my husband since 2020. I started my journey as a graphic and editorial designer and transitioned into a full-time freelance illustrator nearly four years ago. In addition to my passion for illustration, I love to read, I'm delving into the world of music (I've been learning to play the piano for a year now), and I always enjoy discovering new art-related things to consume and share.

Hey, everyone! I hope you're all doing well and having a nice, not-too-stressful end of the year. First of all, as always, a big thank you for being on the other side reading this newsletter. Honestly, I can't believe we hit more than 100 subscribers, so again, THANK YOU! It means a lot to me :)

Over here in the northern hemisphere, the short days have kicked in, and winter made an early appearance in Berlin. We got our first snowfall in November, and it seems like it's in no rush to melt. I've mentioned this a bunch on Instagram and even created some illustrations based on it. One of the things that surprised me about living here was the distinct seasons. Buenos Aires has them too, but winter isn't as harsh, and the landscape doesn't change that much. These long, dark (and sometimes snowy) winters force you to adjust your habits and routines. The same goes for my inspiration when creating or drawing something for myself. In winter, I tend to make drawings that convey the cozy yet chilly feeling, while in summer, it's the lakes and the beautiful nature surrounding the city that usually inspire me.

Now, let's dive into a few things that have been happening lately that I'd love to share with you.

Drawing for Fun (with Pencil and Paper)
December is usually a calm month work-wise for me. Publishers usually take a break, so I tried to take it easy after a busy year. I'm happy that I could sit down and draw just for the joy of it—some snowy landscapes I've seen during my neighborhood walks these days, using photos I took as references. I used some new papers I bought for the Sketching Berlin workshop, which are a bit darker, to experiment with drawing snow using the sometimes underestimated white pencil. And I'm thrilled with the result! A tip if you want to try something like this: I always find it helpful to divide the page into several frames, creating small scenes to reduce the pressure of filling the entire page. It also adds a lot more visual richness and even a little narrative.

Sketching Berlin Christmas Edition
The fourth edition of my Spanish drawing workshop in Berlin for the Spanish-speaking community in this great city just happened. I can't believe I've already done four this year. It was one of my big projects for 2023, that’s for sure. This year, we drew Tiertgarten, Museumsinsel, and Nikolaiviertel, and this month, I organized a special Christmas edition in my studio/home. We focused on creating Berlin Christmas postcards and sharing a cozy afternoon snack (besides keeping warm). I can't stop marveling at the incredible production that comes out of these meetings. If you want to know about this workshop because you're in Berlin or planning to visit and would like to join, or just to enjoy the workshop's output, remember you can follow it on Instagram here.

Christmas Postcards 2023
Since I've been in Berlin, I've been illustrating Christmas postcards to send to my loved ones and everyone who, in one way or another, has been part of my year (personally and professionally). This year, I was tighter on time, but I didn't want to skip the tradition. I finally tried designing them with gold foil (something I've wanted to do for a while), and I'm in love with the result. I've already started sending some out, and maybe in a few weeks, I'll do a little giveaway for those who are interested in receiving one. You can see them in more detail in this Instagram post.

A trip that blew my mind
In early November, my husband and I took a 10-day trip to Ireland and Scotland. These were destinations we had been interested in for a while. We planned the trip many months in advance (in May 2023), so it was one of the most anticipated ones. Without turning this into a travel blog, I mention it because it really blew our minds. We decided to go in Autumn, knowing it might rain or be cold, but none of that hindered us from enjoying the natural wonders of both countries. In fact, it was even better: we saw the most spectacular autumn colors we had ever seen. We soaked in the warmth of the Irish and Scottish people, their smells, landscapes, stories, and their food (and drinks!). It is one of those trips that nourish, teach, and fill you up. We were left speechless, which is why I spent the first few days after returning editing some photos we took and creating a small album on Flickr, which you can check out here.

An Exhibition
A few weeks ago, on a whim, I went to see an exhibition at a museum near my place, and for the first time in my life, I went alone, which was also a different experience. I went to c/o Berlin (an Ausstellunghaus) to see what they had on display. Right now, there's an exhibition by the American photographer Mary Ellen Mark (1940–2015). If you’re in Berlin, I strongly recommend you to go, but if you aren’t, you can Google her and check out her incredible work.

And now, let’s dive into my favourite part:

✍️ My Random Recommendations:

📖 Something to Read: As I mentioned in the last edition, I've been reading many graphic novels lately, almost in any genre. This month, I read this Belgian comic (Belgium, the undisputed leader in European comics) called "Eight Hours in Berlin," - Huit heures à Berlin - part of a series called "The Adventures of Blake and Mortimer," featuring the two little guys on the cover. I first saw it in a bookstore in Brussels exactly a year ago but didn't buy it because only the French version was available back then (and unfortunately, I don't know French). When I got back home, I saw that the English edition was coming out in a few months, so I waited and got it (this one only came in paperback, and the Belgian edition was much better). Still, I read it and thought it was fantastic. It’s a detective story featuring two friends (a physicist and an MI5 agent) set in West and East Berlin when the wall was still up. I feel like I'd enjoy it even more if I read all the volumes; this is number 29, so I don't know if that will ever happen, haha. The series and the characters were originally created by Edgar P. Jacobs (1904-1987), and after his death, in the mid-90s, the series was continued by the Jacobs Studios with new teams of writers and artists. This one is beautifully illustrated by Antoine Aubin, and written by José-Louis Bocquet and Jean-Luc Fromental.

🎧 Something to listen to: In this section, it's tough for me to choose just one thing to recommend per edition, but I'll give it a shot. Like many of you, I did my Spotify year-end summary and found out I listened to music for the equivalent of 67 consecutive days (you can probably imagine why it's hard for me to choose, haha). But today, I'll recommend three albums that, for me, are classics. One album that came up a lot for me this year was "Love Deluxe" (1992) by Sade. She's a Nigerian-British singer who had her peak in the '90s. If you know her, I highly recommend that beautiful album (her voice is always incredible), and if you don't, I suggest you explore her a bit. I also want to recommend another classic, "Brothers in Arms" (1985) by Dire Straits. I have this one on vinyl, and it's a pleasure to listen to it that way. You probably know several tracks if you were or are faithful listeners of Radio Aspen (an Argentine classic radio station). Lastly, I have to close with one from one of my favorite bands (by the way, I saw them live for the first time this year, and it was a dream come true) —what, for me, is their most iconic album and the most iconic electronic music album— "Violator" (1990) by Depeche Mode. No need for more words—just click the link. And as a bonus, I'll leave you with the video of this great song from a British band called The Bolshoi. They had a very short career in the 80s but left us this album and, particularly, this song that I really like. The video takes place in different spots in London, so for city fans, it's a nice touch.

🎥 Something to watch: I'm gonna link back to music in this case. I recommend Tears for Fears' Spotify Landmark. It's short, they only play some of their classic songs, but they always tell the story behind each one. The sound, the setup, their voices, and the stories they tell are really good. I also recommend having it on in the background while you cook :). Another bonus: one of my favourite TV series of all time is available on Disney+, and it’s The Americans. Please, if you haven’t watched it already, you can’t miss this chance!

And that's all for now :) I hope you enjoyed this edition. As always, any comments, recommendations, or suggestions are more than welcome, as well as if you want to share it with someone you think might find it useful. I wish you a peaceful end of the year and a great start to 2024, surrounded by your loved ones, toasting, hugging each other, and celebrating! 🥂

See you in 2024! - ¡Nos leemos en la próxima!

P.S.: In case you don't know much about me, my name is Laura Martín. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and have lived in Berlin, Germany with my husband since 2020. I started my journey as a graphic and editorial designer and transitioned into a full-time freelance illustrator nearly four years ago. In addition to my passion for illustration, I love to read, I'm delving into the world of music (I've been learning to play the piano for a year now), and I always enjoy discovering new art-related things to consume and share.

Hello, everyone! I hope you're doing well, and welcome to the first edition of my newsletter. First of all, I want to clarify that English is not my mother language, so I apologize in advance for any mistake I could make. Second, I want to express my sincere gratitude if you're reading this and providing me with your email to receive it. I thought long and hard before starting a newsletter, wondering if I would have anything valuable to contribute to the digital world amidst so many people writing. In the end, I concluded that every individual in this world has something distinctive and unique to offer, so if you've been following me for a while, you probably already have an idea of what this will be about.

The main goal behind these dispatches will, at the outset, be to update you on my work, illustration processes, my drawing workshop in Berlin, book recommendations, music, movies, series, travels, and anything that has inspired me or caught my attention in recent weeks and I'm eager to share. If there's one thing that excites and moves me, it's sharing such things and discovering new artists, facts, books, etc., to keep enriching my mind every day. So, responses to the newsletter are more than welcome :)

As for this inaugural edition, I want to share that this year marked my first year as a freelance illustrator with an agency representing me internationally, my dear Inkling Illustration. It's been a year of tremendous professional growth for me. I had the privilege of working on THREE (!!) beautiful books that will be released next year, and I'm now trying to pick up my own project as an all-encompassing author (both illustrations and text). This year, I also gave shape to and ventured into the world with my first outdoor drawing and sketching workshop in Berlin in Spanish for the Spanish-speaking community in the city - Sketching Berlin - and in December, I will host its fourth edition, which is also somewhat hard to believe.

I'll keep you informed through this channel when the books are officially released and available for purchase, as well as sharing the process of working on these projects (and tons of sketches, of course!). I would love for this to become a lovely space for the exchange of valuable information that can help those looking to embark on the path of freelance illustration and enrich those who simply enjoy the world of art and creativity.

Returning to the topic of the author's book, the truth is that putting together this proposal for a publisher feels like a dream come true. At the same time, I'm a bit afraid that it might not be well-received or that I'm doing something that ultimately doesn't fit. But as I always say to myself, when you have a little fear about something, that's probably the right path you should take. It will be an illustrated fiction book, somewhat based on an experience I had during my trip to Sicily in 2021. If you've been following me on Instagram for a while, you might remember a post I made, telling the incredible experience of visiting my family's Italian village and finding my mom's last name on one of the houses' mailboxes (the village is called Valguarnera Caropepe, and you can quickly realize it's possibly one of the most remote places on the island of Sicily). Well, the book arises from that experience but with a touch of fantasy and a moral at the end. We'll see what comes out of this. I’ll keep you posted!

Now, let’s dive into my favorite part:

✍️ My Random Recommendations:

🎧 Something to listen to: If you've been following me on Instagram for a while, you may already have a sense of my musical taste. This time, I'd like to recommend an album by Bryan Ferry (the lead vocalist of the legendary 70s band Roxy Music) released in 1999, titled "As Time Goes By." It's a delightful compilation of classic jazz song covers. If you enjoy jazz and are looking for something refreshingly different in this genre, this album is an excellent choice. It's perfect for a relaxing Friday night at home while you're cooking :).

📖 Something to read: Lately, I've been exploring the world of graphic novels a bit more, and one that I wholeheartedly recommend is "Thieves" by Lucie Bryon. The artwork and panel layouts are nothing short of INCREDIBLE. With just a few colours, Bryon weaves pure magic. The story is so charming and cute - it’s a breeze to read. Another book I recently read and shared on Instagram stories a few weeks ago is “The Mistery of Majorana” by Leonardo Sciascia - in Spanish, La desaparición de Majorana. It's a short but incredibly captivating book that tells the story of Ettore Majorana, an Italian physicist who mysteriously disappeared after making significant discoveries about the atomic bomb. I knew nothing about his story, and it's truly amazing. By the way, I must shout out to a really cool bookstore I visit every time I'm in my beloved Buenos Aires – Eterna Cadencia. It's where a friendly bookseller recommended this book to me this past February when I was visiting my hometown. I highly recommend the bookstore - it’s super cozy, and it even has a beautiful café in the inner patio.

🎥 Something to watch: Now, here's a little confession – my husband is a huge James Bond series fan. Admittedly, it took me a while to fully embrace it, but I've understood why it's considered a "cult series." One reason is the iconic theme songs of each movie, and the other is the opening title sequences. This time, I'd like to share with you a collection where you can watch all the title sequences chronologically. It's a fascinating journey through evolving technology and changing social contexts, all presented with a unique visual aesthetic. I also want to recommend an oldie movie that was recently added to my list of comfort movies, As Good as It Gets (1997) with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. I have watched this movie more than five times for sure, and I always recommend it to my friends to cheer them up. I think it’s still available on Netflix.

I don't want to make this too lengthy, so that's all for now :) Don't forget, you're more than welcome to respond to this newsletter, leave a comment, ask me a question, or simply share it with your friends and loved ones if you find it intriguing :) 

Thanks so much for reading - ¡Nos leemos en la próxima!

P.S.: In case you don't know much about me, my name is Laura Martín. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and currently live in Berlin, Germany with my husband. I started my journey as a graphic and editorial designer and transitioned into a full-time freelance illustrator nearly four years ago. In addition to my passion for illustration, I love to read, I'm delving into the world of music (I've been learning to play the piano for a year now), and I always enjoy discovering new art-related things to consume and share.

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My name is Laura Martín. I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and I've lived in Berlin, Germany, since 2020 (yes, during the pandemic). I hold a degree in graphic design from the University of Buenos Aires, and I worked for seven years as an editorial designer in various children's publishers in Argentina. That's why I've always had a connection with illustration. Upon arriving in Berlin, I began shaping my career as a freelance illustrator, and here I am. Beyond my professional involvement, drawing is something I've done all my life, almost without thinking. I often say it's not an extraordinary power by any means. Everyone draws in childhood - the only difference is that I never stopped. I have a deep love for all forms of art, music, reading, and cooking (even though I'm not a kitchen expert, hehe). For over a year now, I've been taking piano lessons, and it brings me immense joy to learn. I enjoy visiting museums, exhibitions, concerts, and cafés, traveling, discovering new places, and absorbing information. And one of my greatest passions is sharing all of this. So, if you subscribe to my newsletter, you can expect to receive:

• Updates on my work. Information about books and illustration projects I'm currently working on, along with book release dates.

• Insights into my creative process. Sketches, stories. I'll give you a glimpse into my daily life and how I experience the creative processes of my projects.

• News about my sketching workshop, Sketching Berlin.

• Travel stories. Anything intriguing or exciting related to art and random facts (my personal favorites) when I travel.

• The "Random Recommendations" section features something to listen to, watch, read, and maybe a few more interesting tidbits.

I hope to have you on the other side, and you enjoy it! ❤️

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