It seems like I’m actually doing this. The Year of Art is in full swing, and I’ve been making daily journal comics for more than 100 days now. I’m loving it.

Something about sharing parts of my daily life online has always fascinated me, but I never figured out a way to do it without, as the kids say, getting the ick. I don’t want to vlog. I don’t want to show photos of my private life. Sharing small comics from my day-to-day fits my need for privacy while still making me visible to others. The routine of sitting down once a day and figuring out what can be transformed into a small piece of art has become a beloved habit.

People like Zoe Si and Kate Beaton were huge inspirations. I’m eternally grateful that they share parts of their lives and got me to the point where I’m doing the same.

So, why this newsletter? I figured it would be nice to have a place to give a bit more context and some behind-the-scenes insights to those who’d rather receive these comics in their inbox than scour social media. A quiet, neat little place. I’ll still post elsewhere, but the extra bits will be exclusive to members.

So, let’s get this started!

Monday

I really need to figure out my living situation. I love this apartment, but I hate the building. The walls are absurdly thin. I can hear the guy on the first floor sneezing. I’m on the third. This sneeze came from the woman directly above me and ended a completely undeserved nap.

Tuesday

This was the very first skin cancer screening I didn’t have to pay for myself. German health insurance covers it once you’re over 35. Sure, my life is nearly over, but at least I’m saving a couple of bucks every two years.

Wednesday

We had a team event in Prague. Unfortunately, it’s kind of hard to get there from Hamburg. I spent nearly eight hours on trains, only to arrive in the evening completely tuckered out and ready for bed.

Thursday

I don’t drink caffeine, but I was tired enough to make an exception. I had an Americano and a cappuccino and expected that to be enough to carry me through a whole day of social interaction. It worked. I also learned that I’m not bad at bowling. Who would have thought.

Friday