How Artist RaphDraws Found Her Voice Online (Without Burning Out or Selling Out)
Ever feel like you’re drowning in your own portfolio, unsure what to post or where to even start? That was RaphDraws before she joined the Women of Illustration mentorship program. Overflowing with work, purpose, and potential, but completely overwhelmed by the idea of showing up online.
This is her story, and a blueprint for every artist stuck in the "I don’t know how to share my work" spiral.
Who Is RaphDraws?
Meet the Artist Turning Digital Dreams into Real-World Impact
Raph is a digital artist and muralist who lovingly calls herself a "creative midwife"—someone who helps birth ideas from the virtual into the tangible. Her work is rooted in STEM tools, spiritual storytelling, and a deep connection to marginalized communities.
Instagram: @raph.drawsss
Website: raphdraws.com
TikTok: @raph.drawsss
Helping Raph build a content strategy meant going beyond “Who’s your audience?” and digging into the deeper question: Are you your own audience?
If you’re unsure who you’re creating for, stop guessing. Instead, make the kind of work you wish existed—and put it in front of people who are like you. That’s exactly what Raph did. And it worked!
Why She Started (and How She Keeps Going)
A move to Burlington, Vermont in 2020 introduced Raph to a maker community that reflected her values. She saw a creative need and built her work to fill it.
What keeps her going? Not algorithm wins, but purpose.
"What keeps me going is remembering my work is empowering and has infinite possibilities."
Together, we built habits to protect that purpose.
For Raph, that looked like:
Prioritizing clay work (her creative recharge)
Journaling before posting to capture her thoughts
Creating for herself first, then packaging it for her audience
Try this: Choose one ritual that grounds you, like journaling, walking, or styling outfits, and use it to spark your next post. Let your process breathe.
How She Found Her Audience (By Being Her Own)
Raph didn’t figure out her audience by obsessing over insights. She found them by being visible, in person and online.
Markets. Community events. Story-driven posts.
One of the biggest shifts we worked through was this:
“Stop guessing who you’re trying to reach and start being them.”
Make the kind of art you wish existed. Put it in front of people like you. Watch what resonates.
Try this:
What kind of posts make you stop scrolling?
What messages would’ve helped you five years ago?
Can you turn that into a visual that speaks to your past self?
That’s how you attract the right audience, by showing up honestly.
How Her Content Strategy Evolved
(And Why Posting Less Was the Answer)
Before mentorship, Raph was in survival mode, posting constantly, burning out quickly. Now? She creates 1–2 digital pieces a week and prioritizes rest.
We built her a rhythm instead of a schedule:
Repost past work weekly (consistency without burnout)
Journal before writing captions (authentic voice)
Batch-edit reels using CapCut (less decision fatigue)
Use hooks + text overlays (more reach, less pressure)
Try this: You don’t need to create more. You need a system that makes your creativity sustainable.
From Self-Doubt to Showing Up Confidently
Raph had the work…so much work, but felt paralyzed when it came to sharing it.
We unpacked what visibility meant to her and tackled the perfectionism holding her back. The mindset shift wasn’t about becoming someone new, it was about becoming braver with what she already had.
"What changed the most was my emotional perspective toward how I present my work… I don’t need to limit myself based on pre-existing fears."
Try this: Ask yourself:
What are you afraid will happen if more people see your work?
What would it look like to show up without apology?
Can you let done be better than perfect?
Systems That Made It Easier: Tools, SEO, and Creative Flow
Our tools weren’t just technical, they were therapeutic.
Raph started using Buffer to batch and schedule posts, saving her from burnout and overthinking. We created content templates, set up SEO basics, and rewrote her website to actually say what she stands for.
“Seeing a page introducing who I am, my accomplishments, and work makes me so proud of all the inner and outer work I’ve put in.”
Try this:
Use automation to reduce your emotional labor
Build a template library (captions, font styles, content types)
Treat your website like your stage, not just a static portfolio
What Mentorship Unlocked for Raph
"Dean showed me that anything is possible, and the world indeed needs my art! I am so honored to have them as a mentor and a guiding light… I learned so much from them and feel inspired to keep persevering."
Want a Reset Like Raph?
If you’re stuck in the “I don’t know how to show up” loop, this is your sign. You don’t need a better camera. You need a better system.
"If I didn’t invest in the mentorship, I would’ve never considered public speaking as a part of my creative practice or even applied for my Masters"
Inside the Artist Reset Mentorship, we help artists rewire how they show up online. It’s mindset, marketing, and mission—served with a side of chaos and care.
