"I always loved making art. I studied at art school, so there was never a doubt about what I wanted to do in life. I think making these comics is like writing a diary for me, and people reading them and saying 'Omg, that's so me!' makes me realize I'm not alone with these thoughts and feelings. It helps people connect in a cute and simple way. The little Frollein isn't just me; it's all of us," Valerie told Bored Panda.
As a creator of positive content, we asked Valerie how she stays upbeat and motivated, especially when facing personal struggles or creative blocks. "Unfortunately, I'm often not a very positive person in everyday life, and I think that's exactly why it's important for me to produce wholesome content," the artist revealed. "It's a kind of therapy for me. I try to practice what I preach, haha, even if it's hard sometimes. I have the feeling that we are now faced with so much misery on social media that it's important to see something nice sometimes.
I used to produce way more content than I do now, even when I wasn't feeling like it, to a point where it stressed me out immensely. I learned that it's okay to take breaks and to not be creative for a while. When it comes to art blocks, it really helps me to do different things besides drawing comics, like making stop-motion stuff or just illustrating things without the pressure to put them out there. I create comics for other people, but I also do it for myself because I just love doing it, and I need to remind myself of that sometimes."
We asked Valerie about the most surprising or unexpected feedback she's received about her work. "I mostly receive very cute feedback, so that's always a huge motivation to keep creating. I do remember one particular comment from a guy who said that my comics helped him and his partner communicate in their relationship. They sometimes find it difficult to find the right words to express their feelings, so they show each other my comics. Another person told me that my comics made them appreciate their partner more because they often overlook or get used to the small things that made their relationship great, and my comics keep reminding them of those precious little things.
So if I ever feel like I want to quit making comics, I think of these people and say to myself, 'I will keep doing this for you guys; I won't let you down!' haha."
Looking to the future, we asked the artist about her long-term goals for Mrs. Frollein.
"I'm pretty content and proud of what I've achieved with Mrs. Frollein already. The comics have found their way into the hearts of a lot of people, which is more than I could have ever wished for. I got to work with one of my favorite actors and had the opportunity to be part of some amazing projects. I never thought this would happen when I started drawing my silly little stories. If it continues like this, I'd be very pleased. I do love crafting and making tiny stop-motion videos, so if I could do something in that field, that would be amazing too, but I still have a lot to learn. I'm a huge music nerd with no special talent for anything music-related, but I always wanted to create merch or small videos for music artists, so maybe that will happen eventually.
As long as people keep enjoying my comics, I will keep enjoying creating them. Hope that works!"
