Hello Reader, Hope you're all well! It’s been a hectic few weeks with end-of-year celebrations and home renovations. But amidst the chaos, I've managed to squeeze in some creative time. I'm excited to share that I’ve started work on a new picture book for CSIRO Publishing. I've also been busy creating new pattern collections and planning for 2025. In this newsletter, you'll find: A new YouTube tutorial to help you level up your design skills A spotlight on Esther Nariyoshi's incredible...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Hope you're all doing well! It's been a bit of a whirlwind here with the school holidays, upcoming renovations, and a new children's book project. But hey, that's the creative life, right? Wouldn't have it any other way. Speaking of creativity, I'm excited to share my new Procreate brush set designed specifically for surface pattern designers. I get so many students asking for help on how to layout a design, where to put motifs and how to create a well balanced pattern, so I've...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Wouldn't it be amazing to see your artwork on fabrics, greeting cards, or even puzzles? Licensing your art can open doors to a whole new world of creative possibilities. One of the most common questions I get asked by artists and surface pattern designs is: “How do you get clients?” You may have an amazing portfolio but if you don’t know how to get it seen by the right people you won’t be able to build a career. So I created a class that shows you my top 3 proven strategies that...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, What if I told you that there are three simple reels that you can make to help boost your Instagram engagement without sacrificing your precious art time? And what if I told you that those reels are reels anyone can do in just a few minutes? Would you want to know what they were? I thought so… which is EXACTLY why I am showing you how today. I've created a short YouTube tutorial that will show you three simple yet effective reel ideas that will help you capture attention and...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader Ok so I know this is a BIG call, but there is one thing I ALWAYS stand by when it comes to running a creative business. It has COMPLETELY changed me from being anxious that people are judging my work, to knowing that I am just fine in who I am and what I create. And that advice is this: You are NEVER going to feel like your art is good enough, and the moment we learn to embrace imperfect art, everything becomes better. As an artist, I know firsthand the pressure to create...
6 months ago • 1 min read
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,...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, I'm back with some more artful insights, but before I share those, I thought I'd give you a little update on what's been happening in my life. Also if you get to the end there might be a little surprise gift for you. Last week, I turned 50! Yes, 50! It's such a strange feeling to cross over into the 2nd half of a century, but it also feels like quite a milestone. There were many times when I didn't think I would reach the milestone, so I'm very grateful and happy to be here....
7 months ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader, I hope you're week is going well and your creative juices are flowing. Today's newsletter brings something special for all you pattern design rockstars! I'm finally unveiling a highly requested tutorial... Adding texture to your artwork can significantly enhance its visual appeal. One such texture that's gaining popularity among surface pattern designers is the linen texture. It adds a layer of depth and realism to patterns, making them stand out. If you're keen to incorporate...
8 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, We need to talk about A.I. for just a minute! I’ve seen this huge movement from artists who are fed up with Meta for not allowing them to opt out of allowing A.I training bots from scanning their images on Instagram. These artists are moving off Instagram onto a newly created platform called Cara. An app created by and for artists. I have gone ahead and set up my profile and you can follow me there (I will follow everyone back). Follow me on Cara I’m not ready to jump ship from...
8 months ago • 2 min read