If you've been following along on Graphic Journal Club or reading Frocio in Translation, you know my work lives mostly in sketchbooks, podcasts, and pixels. But there's something about holding a physical object - something you can wear, pin to your wall, or carry with you - that changes the relationship between art and person.
That's why I'm opening this shop.
Why physical objects?
Drawing is intimate. It's personal. And for a long time, I kept that intimacy contained in journals, on skin (with my tattoos) and digital spaces. But I started thinking: what if someone could take a piece of that practice home even when the cannot or don't want to get tattooed by me? What if an illustration I made at a coffee table could live on someone's t-shirt, or a queer story I told could become a print on their wall?
This shop is where my drawing practice extends beyond the page. Every t-shirt, print, and small object here started as a sketch, a feeling, or a story. They're not just products they're my invitation to you to live with my work in a different way.
What makes this different from Patreon and Substack?
Good question. Here's how I see it:
- Graphic Journal Club (Patreon) is where you see the process—the messy sketches, the experiments, the community of people who love making marks on paper.
- Frocio in Translation (Substack) is where the stories live—the writing, the reflections, the Balboa Park Podcast episodes that dig into queer narratives and translation.
- This shop is where the art becomes something you can touch, wear, and use. It's the physical manifestation of everything I create elsewhere.
Think of it as three parts of the same practice: the process, the story, and the object.
What you'll find here
Everything in this shop is illustrated and designed by me, Nicoz Balboa. You'll find:
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Wearable Art:
Drawings you can live in.
T-shirts, long sleeves, and soft layers that turn illustration into clothing. - Paper & Prints: Small editions on paper or vinyl: illustrations, stickers, and postcards that bring a bit of art into your world.
- Home & Rituals: Everyday objects that turn small gestures into rituals: candles, mugs, and companions for moments that matter.
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Packs:
Why choose when you can have it all? Packs are bundles and are designed to support your journey of self-care and queerness. Each pack combines my (and yours!) most loved products at a special price, perfect for yourself or as a meaningful gift for someone special.
Save and celebrate yourself with those combinations
Each piece is made with the same care and intention I bring to my journals and writing. Because whether it's a sketch, a story, or a t-shirt, it all comes from the same place: a need to make queer stories visible, tangible, and wearable.
Welcome
If you're here, thank you. Whether you've been following my work for years or you just stumbled upon this shop, I'm glad you're here. Browse around, find something that speaks to you, and know that every purchase supports an independent queer artist doing what they love.
Let's turn some drawings into objects you can live with. 🫀
XOX Nicoz