It’s true what they say about freelancing, it’s a bit of a rollercoaster. But amazing clients and a supportive audience make all the difference. This year I got to work on some of my dream projects as well as continue to collaborate with amazing people to tell their stories. Here’s a look at what we did:
Willamette Week
I’ve been working with Willamette Week for a year and a half nowl! I’ve learned so much in the art department and the fast pace keeps things interesting. This year I’ve been able to create all sorts of editorial illustrations, ads, and a few more cover pieces! Plus, I got to jump in as art director and work with amazing photographers and illustrators for a few weeks. I’m so proud to get to be an active part of Portland’s journalism scene.
I was also awarded Best in Illustration: First Place by the Society of Professional Journalism for my work at WW in 2022. I’m honored to be counted among the many talented awardees this year.
Revino
Revino is creating a sustainable future for the wine industry through their refillable glass bottles. They’ve been a client for a few years now and I’ve gotten to see them through from initial branding and logo creation all the way to their recent events and press kit as they launch. They’ve gotten some great press recently and I’m so excited for them and the future of their company.
Check them out:
www.revinobottles.com
Friendtales
This year my second graphic novel was released by Friendtales . These books (written by Emily Martin) follow Oscar, a teenager living with OCD. This project has been so amazing for me to be able to work on. As a person with OCD, seeing more resources enter the world for kids and teens makes me hopeful for the future of treatment. I’m honored to play a role in that.
NOCD
NOCD provides OCD treatment and support on a widespread level. There are therapists available through them in nearly every state. I got to partner with them during the summer to create an illustrated look into their services. As someone who’s actually used their services, it was awesome to get to work with them.
Check them out here: www.treatmyocd.com
Travel Dundee
This year, Travel Dundee has been hosting Vino & Vibes, a third Thursday art and wine event in Dundee, Oregon. They reached out to me to illustrate a map of the event that was both informative and fun. This project was a dream as I’ve always been a bit of a map nerd.
Check them out here: www.traveldundeeoregon.com/third-thursday
Saalfeld Griggs
Saalfeld Griggs - a business law firm serving clients in Oregon - has been an amazing design client for over a year now! We’ve collaborated on both print and digital materials for their events and social media needs. It’s been awesome to have such a long-term relationship with a client and I’m excited for the future of our work!
Check out more here.
Visit their website at www.sglaw.com.
Personal Work
I’ve been proud to release a few self-published projects this year, starting with my zine, Home. Home is a collection of comics, previously only published on Instagram, as well as writing and artwork that cover my life with OCD. I’m so proud of this work and have been looking into further publishing opportunities.
This is only a small selection of the client work I’ve gotten to create these past few months. If you’d like to see the full breadth of my work you can head to: www.mckenzieyoungart.com. A huge thank you to my clients for continuing to trust me with your creative needs! If you’d like to schedule a time to talk through a project, you can contact me here:
Fun extras:
Thanks for reading this newsletter! I appreciate you and your investment in my work. You can access fun free downloads, playlists, and more on my website as a thank you.