MARI ANDREW

Mari Andrew:
Writer and illustrator

Mari Andrew says she feels lucky for having a ‘meandering’ career path in her 20s. It's a refreshing stance amongst the unrelenting external and the internal expectations to know what you are doing, to achieve success early, or at least see some signposts of it.

Throughout her 20s, Mari worked various jobs in marketing, fashion, not-for-profits, cafes and restaurants. It wasn't until she was twenty-eight and experiencing a heavy bout of grief and heartbreak, that Mari began illustrating as a way to bring a sense of joy back into her days.

“I wanted to find ways to make myself happy and mentally strong. All of that was done through routine – drawing once a day, taking guitar lessons twice a week, doing yoga, waking up earlier, even just learning how to do my hair in new ways.”

Just a few years after posting a new illustration to social media each day, Mari has amassed over 770,000 Instagram followers and lives solely off her creative work. “I started illustrating just for fun, and about a year later I was too busy to have a day job anymore.”

While a small change to her daily routine catapulted Mari towards unanticipated creative success, the preceding decade of odd jobs remain vital material for her illustration work. Openly sharing the zig-zag nature of her trajectory, Mari’s observations and advice offers comfort to the many twenty-somethings – or any-somethings – who haven’t experienced early success, or quite figured out what they want to do in their career.

It’s a theme closely linked to the themes in her first book, Am I There Yet? The Loop-de-Loop, Zigzagging Journey to Adulthood.

"Looking back, it's clear the the loops, zigzags, stops and detours didn't take me off course; they pushed me forward."

Known for her relatable illustrations, the book brings her ‘true love’ of writing to the fore. "I identify as a writer and writing is my true love, but I think everyone knows me as an illustrator."

Mari has a way of bringing any slightly ajar circumstance towards a positive centre – rendering a meandering path as lucky; a heartbreak as creative inspiration; or rock bottom as a place to begin anew.

"I used to have so many dreams for myself and then they never eventuated. When life is going pretty well, you don't need change and action the way that you need it when you're in a really dark place," she said.

"That’s the beauty of hitting rock bottom – you are desperate to change your life, and when you are desperate, you do it. I had no choice but to turn myself into the person that I always wanted to be – I wasn't just drawing every day because it was a nice thing to do, it was saving me."

Having recently moved to New York City and juggling several clients alongside her personal work and a book tour, Mari is in a fine place in life – and admittedly finding it much harder to stick to a routine.

“My personal illustration work is what I put most of my energy into because it's my greatest passion. But equally, I don't think you can sustain that level of passion eight hours a day. You have to answer a lot of emails too!”

What the image of a freelance writer and illustrator living in New York has an undeniable tint of glamour, Mari admits she often misses the humdrum routine of a day job.

“I liked having an office job with a very monotonous routine as it gave me the mental freedom to have a more creative life outside of work,” she said.

“Now, I am at this interesting place where I don't really have a routine at all – every day is different, and that's not something I ever wanted for myself. When people would say, ‘Oh I love my job because no two days are the same,’ I would think, ‘That sounds terrible!’ 

Despite the newfound variety in her work routine, Mari shares how she builds rituals into her day – from starting her day dancing to Bossa Nova music, to listening to a podcast as she unwinds – and reminds us that it’s often the small things that keep us together.

Evening

I kind of look like a mess most of the day because I’m usually exercising and running around. So in the evening I'll take a shower and put on makeup and emerge.

Even though I am an introvert, I almost always have something going on in the evening. I usually spend the entire day by myself, so it's nice to have a reason to dress up and get out into the city – whether it’s going out for dinner, visiting a pop-up shop, or going on a date.  

In my late 20s I was on dating apps and going on a date a couple of times a week. Even though I don't date as much anymore, I can still remember what that was like and draw on those experiences in my art. Since moving to New York, I've only been dating people I've met through mutual friends, or Instagram! I think Instagram's the new Tinder, that's been kind of fun. [Laughs]

I don't know what it is – maybe I've been on too many dates – but I feel like I can only do one at a time now. If I go on one date with someone, until we stop seeing each other, I can't do any more. I have to be very focused; I have to give it all my energy.

I really like the fast pace of New York – I don't know how long it's going to last, so I just really appreciate it right now. I also realise I am in a pretty great place in my life right now where I don't have a lot of responsibility. I have a pretty relaxed schedule when all is said and done. I have a lot of wonderful people in my life who are always doing interesting things. I really try to take advantage of that.