Hello Reader

Did coming back to the studio feel a bit… jarring?

Same here!

A week ago, my biggest "deadline" was finishing a book or deciding which snack to grab. Then suddenly I’m staring at a blank Procreate canvas and trying to remember how to draw a leaf.

Blergh!

If you’re feeling a bit sluggish, remember this: it’s okay to ease back into your creative practice slowly. "Baby steps" still lead to a finished artwork or pattern collection.

For those of you staring at a blank page wondering where to start or how to make this year feel "successful" without burning out by March, here are the shifts I’m making in my own creative practice to keep things fun, impactful, and overwhelm-free:

• Designing for the "End Home": Instead of just making "pretty things," I'm spending more time imagining where my patterns will live. Will this be a wallpaper in a nursery? A tea towel in a cozy kitchen? By asking "How will this bring joy to someone’s home?" I find my creative flow much faster.
• Quality Over Quantity: I’m hopping off the "daily drawing challenge" hamster wheel. This year, I’m prioritising a smaller, more intentional portfolio. Fewer patterns, but more heart. It’s better for my sanity and better for the brands I work with.
• Curating My Inspiration: Instead of doom-scrolling Instagram (which usually just leads to comparison-itis), I’m outsourcing my inspiration to the real world. More museum trips, more walks in the garden, and more "offline" sketching. It keeps my style authentic and my brain fresh.
• Deepening Our Connection: I want to get to know you - not just as a number on a list, but as a fellow creative. I want to know what motifs you’re tired of seeing, what colours make you feel alive, and what you’re struggling to draw lately.

Let’s make 2026 the year we create with more intention and less pressure.

The best art is made through connection. I realised that the best way to fight that "New Year overwhelm" is to have a creative home base - a place where we can build our portfolios together without the pressure of the "algorithm."

That’s why I’d love for you to join us inside the Learn with Mel Community (use this code for 20% off either a monthly or yearly subscription: AJSPDFRIENDS25)

It’s where we turn those "baby steps" into a professional portfolio, one month at a time. When you join, you get:

• Monthly Design Challenges: No more staring at a blank canvas. I give you the prompts and themes to build your portfolio.
• Live Q&A Sessions: Get your specific technical or business questions answered in real-time.
• Weekly Resources & Tutorials: Technical, creative and business tutorials posted every week.

Here's what one of my members has said about the community:

Let’s skip the burnout this year and create something beautiful together.

Mel
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