Hello Reader,

I hope you're well and are enjoying either your summer sun or winter woolies depending on where you are in the world. It's very cold down under in New Zealand so I'm enjoying lots of hot chocolates and cozy evenings on the couch.

When it comes to Illustration and Pattern Design I love working with raster-based programs like Procreate and Photoshop because they capture the texture and richness of my artwork beautifully.

However, when it comes to creating seamless patterns, resizing and manipulating elements can be frustrating. Raster images often become pixelated when resized or rotated, which can be a real challenge for pattern design. You can reduce this in Procreate by ensuring Interpolation Bicubic is switched on, however, I prefer to go one step further by taking my motifs into Photoshop to create the final pattern and today I'll show you why.

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In my latest YouTube tutorial, I dive deep into the world of Smart Objects in Adobe Photoshop. Learn how this powerful tool can streamline your pattern design workflow, saving you time and energy and best of all - eliminating pixelation.

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Let me know if you have any questions or if there's anything else you'd like to learn and read on for July's Artful Insights

Happy Pattern Making,

Mel

Artful Insights

I'm always on the hunt for new books, podcasts, artists to follow, tools and apps that complement our artful journey, and I do love sharing. So once a month I will showcase what I've discovered in the previous month.

So grab a cuppa and enjoy!

Here are my artful insights for July:

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Creative to Follow - Art Agent Jehane Jehane is not only an artist but an incredible Art Agent. She also runs a weekly art challenge, which I'm loving doing on the side (off social media). I highly recommend signing up for her Golden Thread Art Journey to help make art a daily practice and build your portfolio. Check it out

My Favourite New Tool - Convert Kit Earlier this year I switched my subscriber list to ConvertKit* (an email marketing platform specifically designed for creators and online entrepreneurs) and I haven't looked back. I have found it so much easier to use to manage my subscriber lists, campaigns and newsletter. I highly recommend it for building your subscriber lists. Check it out

A super useful tool - Streak Ever wondered if that potential client that you've pitched to has opened your email, well now you can check. If you use Gmail, you can install this nifty little Google Extension called Streak* and it will enable you to see when someone has opened your email and even if they click the links within it. It's also free! So cool! Check it out

Disclaimer: Note some of the links in this email are Affiliate links, which means if you do click through and make a purchase, I receive a small fee so I can enjoy a fancy cup of tea! I only promote tools and resources I use and love.