Hey My Friend,

I just dropped a new episode of Balboa Park, and this one is extra special.

Recently, I was organizing boxes my father sent me after selling his house. Inside, I found journals from when I was 8, 12, and beyond. As I flipped through them with my friend, she pointed out something that shook me: I’ve been graphic journaling my whole life. It made me wonder—how do we archive ourselves? How does documenting our emotions and experiences shape how we see ourselves over time?

In this episode, I explore personal archives, queerness, and memory—plus, I’d love to hear how you archive yourself.

🎧 Watch it here or on Youtube or Listen here or on every platform

📸 and since you’re a newsletter subscriber, here for you the images:

Let’s talk about it. How do you archive yourself?

Join the conversation in the Graphic Journal Club on Patreon

Let me know what you think! And if you enjoy it, share it with a friend 💛

Nicoz

P.S. My new Sleeping in a Binder and I Dreamed Myself Real t-shirts are live! Printed on amazing Comfort Colors tees, (Sleeping In a Binder is with simple front prints and no logo to keep them affordable while I Dreamed Myself Real is a litte bit more fancy with logo and “we are one” trans support logo) . Perfect as a coming-out tee, a gift, or just a way to support my work. 💖 Every little bit helps, and if a few people grab one—well, you know the magic of small things multiplying. ✨

Grab yours here: nicozbalboastudio.com/store

Hey everyone,

I just released a new episode of Balboa Park, where, to ease anxiety, I dive into a Graphic Journal Practice while I have some reflections on creativity, self-knowledge, and the strange ways our brains work when we make art. This time, I talk about the tension between instinct and control, and how we sometimes we don’t have to trust what we think..

Creativity is like making a quilt—each piece feels disconnected at first, but when you step back, a pattern emerges. Michel Gondry once said he loves working with constraints because they force unexpected solutions. That really resonates with me: sometimes the most interesting parts of a project come from what initially felt like limitations or even mistakes.

This is a video episode, where I draw grids and small images as I talk. I start the podcast by drawing because it helps ease my anxiety—graphic journaling has made everything feel more fluid, natural, and satisfying. There’s something deeply calming about seeing the images come together, little by little, like a quilt forming over time.

I also touch on a moment from my own creative process where I fought against the messiness of a piece, only to realize later that the 'mistake' was actually the best part. This episode is a bit of a love letter to embracing the unknown in art and in life. If you're someone who struggles with overthinking your creative work or feeling like you have to have it all figured out before you start, this one's for you.

You can watch it here or everywhere podcast are, even youtube!

Also—I'd love to hear your thoughts! Have you ever had a moment where letting go actually led to something better? Hit reply and let me know.

Thank you for opening this email or listening to the podcast, your presence is everything for me! If you want to support this podcast you can subscribe and share too!

Take care and keep creating, Nicoz

P.S. 🌈 NEW MERCH DROP! 🌈

“I dreamed myself real, and I’m proud of every version of me.” ✨

This new design comes straight from “Sleeping in a Binder”—my daily transition comics about gender, dysphoria, and becoming. If these comics have resonated with you, this merch is for you.

🖤 Comfort Colors Tees – I love this brand! their cotton is soft yet thick and with a vintage feel

🖤 Short and Long-Sleeve Tees – so you can chose according the temperature (I tried to keep the price difference at minimum)

🖤 Denim Tote Bags – Carry your truth everywhere IN DEMNIM, duh!

💥 Limited time, I don’t know if I’ll keep all models and colors – grab yours here now: www.nicozbalboastudio.com/store

and since you read up here, here for you a code when you buy at least one tshirt (or you spend more than 50€): paste the code COZY10 at the checkout. code is available up to next week aka February 19 🚀

Hey there, my friend,

January is usually tough. But this year, I decided to do things differently. Instead of pushing through exhaustion, I gave myself permission to slow down. No more forcing myself to keep Strangeland open every day. No more feeling guilty for taking a break.

In the latest episode of Balboa Park, I reflect on:✨ Why I stopped accepting random walk-in tattoos✨ The five-year journey of Strangeland (from pre-post-pandemic chaos to now)✨ A special client who traveled from Las Vegas just for a tattoo (!?) and another who’s only has 1 tattoo and this tattoo it’s his whole back!

If you’ve ever struggled with balancing creativity, business, and mental health, I think you’ll relate to this one.

🎧 Listen now → on Substack, on apple podcast, on spotify, on audible or amazon music, on… pretty everywhere (search for podcast nicoz balboa park)📺 Watch the episode on YouTube

Let me know what you think! Do you also struggle with slowing down? 👉 Leave a comment on YouTube or reply on Substack—I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Big hugs,Nicoz

show Notes for BALBOA PARK #33 - 5 Years of Strangeland: What I’ve Learned About Hustle, Rest, Creativity & Running a Tattoo Shop on My Own Terms

* Why January always felt overwhelming—but this year was different

* Strangeland turns 5! A look back at its wild journey

* Letting go of the need to "always be open"

* The kind of tattoo clients that bring true joy

* That time someone traveled from Las Vegas just to get inked (!?)

💬 Join the conversation!

* What do you do when you feel burnt out?

* Have you ever changed the way you work to better fit your life?