My story:
I’m Jana Frank, known on the Internet as Miu Mau, illustrator, author and blogger.
Born in Central Asia (former USSR), based in Berlin since 1990.
I worked as an illustrator and drew comics, studied advertising graphics, and then worked as a designer, art director and creative director in agencies.
In 2002 I finished my career as a designer to return to illustration.
I got cancer in 2003, so I couldn’t work for 2 years. At that time I had 12 surgeries, one chemotherapy and 2 trips to the afterlife. In this whole time I have continued to write my blog. Although there were almost only reports from the hospital at that time, my auditorium grew rapidly.
After the illness I worked on my rehabilitation, drew illustrations, wrote my blog and books and opened an online shop. The topics of my books and blog posts are self-realization, creativity, health, happiness. And how to make a living from creative work.
In December 2014 I began to lose my sight rapidly. This turned out to be a long-term consequence of my chemotherapy. For the next three years I had multiple eye surgeries. The doctors were able to save my sight, but the picture I see is very distorted and bended. Doctors say I can improve my sight. But a physical improvement of my vision is no longer possible. I can only teach my brain to interpret “correctly” what I see. Since then I’ve been trying to teach my brain to see better. In addition to my interests (and topics I am writing about) I added a few. For example, biofeedback, neurofeedback, neurology and the hidden possibilities of the human brain.
I also work with cancer patients and do charity projects with and for them. (See “Battle Inside”)
Whenever I don’t draw or do something creative I spend my time with rehabilitation sports, trying to improve my vision, coordination and health.
I draw illustrations, make small editions of things with my illustrations for my shop, write my blog and books. And sometimes I give seminars and workshops or teach as a guest lecturer at art schools.
By the way:
– All of my projects and journeys (and almost all of my life) are monitored in my Russian blog miumau.livejournal.com
– The blog has over 45 000 subscribers and is visited by about 70 000-100 000 readers every day.
– It is in the top 10 in the rating of all Russian blogs (listing abt 10 million blogs)
– It has over 10000 posts (in the last years – over 1000 posts a year).
– It is visited by over 2 500 000 readers in a month.
– They write me over 100 000 comments in a year, and I read them all!
So if you want to sponsor one of my journeys, offer me a nice job or support one of my projects – feel free to write me!
You also can order an own advertising post in my blog (in Russian)