Dear Reader,
I've signed off on the proofs—the next UPPERCASE will be on press soon!
This issue (#68, Jan-Feb-March 2026) is scheduled to be mailed in early December, which means I need to get the mailing list done this week.
Mailing data might sound like a boring topic or irrelevant to your enjoyment of the printed issue, but it is very important. It represents the number of active subscribers and shows me how well the magazine is doing. Simply put, subscribers make producing the magazine financially possible.
Each quarterly issue costs CA$105,000–$110,000 for print production (paper, printing, labour), packaging, freight, postage and editorial (commissioned illustration, photography, writing and copy editing). Subscriptions are $96 in North America and $144 overseas (typically sold at a $10-$15 discount through my newsletter offers).
At its peak in 2023, UPPERCASE had just over 8,000 subscribers.
As it stands today, UPPERCASE has 6,676 subscribers.
There are 980 readers whose subscriptions have concluded with #67 (Oct-Nov-Dec). I've been sending this group of customers renewal reminder emails over the past few weeks (the most recent was on November 14, sent from shop@uppercasemagazine.com), and I will send another round this week.
While UPPERCASE has never been a business about more, more, more—I've always had a slow-and-steady perspective—I do need to maintain what I've been building over the years. I want to get the subscriber list back up to 7,000. Can I do that by Friday? I don't know, but I'll try!
Everyone can use the code take15 for CA$15 off subscriptions and renewals.
If you're already a subscriber—thank you! Please share the discount with your creative friends or purchase a Gift Subscription for someone.
If you've been thinking of becoming a subscriber, please join us.
Last week, I shared the front cover by emerging illustrator Lora Slobodian with lettering by Lila Rogers.
And now, here's a look at the back cover by Wendy MacNaughton:
Wendy MacNaughton is a New York Times–bestselling artist, graphic journalist and educator. Her sensitive, journalistic drawings bring sketchbook-style honesty to her subjects. Wendy, who has trained as a social worker, sees drawing as “a vehicle for connection.”
In 2020, during the first few months of the pandemic, Wendy started a weekday drawing broadcast for kids via Instagram. DrawTogether became a beloved show for children and their creative parents.
Over the years, DrawTogether has grown into a large creative community for people who “want to become more curious, connected and confident,” says Wendy. “Every week we gather together and use the simple, joyful act of drawing to slow down, open our eyes and change ourselves (and the world) from the inside out.” Her nonprofit DrawTogether Classrooms offers educators free lessons, curriculum and training to provide more art and social emotional learning.
Paid members get access to the DrawTogether Grown-Ups Table (aka The GUT), where they can enjoy art assignments, guest interviews, field trips and creative musings. It is an inclusive space that encourages joy and care, with simple rules:
Please subscribe or renew by Thursday, November 20, to get the next issue hot off the press. Subscriptions will still be available to purchase after that date, but they won't be fulfilled until later in December.
Thank you!!!
For your convenience, I've gathered gift subscriptions, books, bundles, and back issues on a single page. Feel free to explore the overall website for more information and to look inside each publication.