We’re looking forward to introducing you to Annie Nguyen-Franco. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Annie, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
One of the things that makes me lose track of time is my fear of failing. Yet in making my book, I learned that even fear can lead me back to myself. For hours and even days, I could spiral in that fear so deeply that I never felt truly ready or good enough to continue creating. When I finally allowed myself to sit with my emotions instead of fighting them, I discovered that the way out of the loop was through creating. The process of writing, drawing, and building an artbook project gave me a way to handle that fear one “ugly sketch” at a time. And that’s how my work began to take shape.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Annie. I wrote and illustrated a picture book for the moments you can’t explain out loud: the silent battles, the closed doors, the nights that feel heavier than they should.
My first picture book, called What If I Leave?, is a story that holds space for both the ache and the possibility of hope. I made it for anyone who’s ever questioned their place here, and for the people who love them but don’t know how to reach across that silence.
In addition to this project, I’m also working on art commissions and selling art prints on my website, annie1studio.com. My art style spans a wide range of skills, colors, and compositions—it’s basically organized chaos on canvas, very much in line with an artist who’s a little unhinged.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
This is quite personal, but the fact is, I lived with my sadness for most of my youth. As an artist who illustrates deep feelings and heavy emotions, sadness became—ironically—my biggest muse. That said, as I’ve grown and expanded my worldview, I’ve learned that even joy is complex. To truly process it, I’ve had to start letting my sadness go—and that journey became the heart of my picture book, What If I Leave?, a story about navigating inner conflict, holding space for difficult emotions, and learning to find yourself again.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
I don’t think I’ve ever truly healed from my wounds—they’ve become deep scars in my heart, and I’ve learned to accept that there’s little I can do about that. Like a bone that was once broken, sometimes it aches in cold weather; no medicine can fix it. So I allow myself to sit with the memories—happy or sad, disappointing or painful—and then focus on the things that I can do: create art, take care of the plants, and share my story.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’ve spent more than 8 years developing the story and illustrations for my picture book, What If I Leave?. It wasn’t just about writing or drawing but a process of exploring my own emotions, confronting self-doubt, and learning patience. Every draft, every sketch, every revision was a step in understanding the story I wanted to tell and the person I was becoming. It doesn’t get any easier with time, because I’ve changed—but the core messages I want to express haven’t. Therefore, there were times I had to mentally let myself shift to that dark period to capture the truth of it. It taught me that some projects aren’t measured in months or deadlines, but in the time it takes to truly grow alongside the work
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m watching TV with my husband, with our cats sleeping contentedly in our laps.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://annie1studio.com/about/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/annie1.art/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Annie1studio
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@annie1studio
