Hello Reader, I'm teaching at the 2026 Summer Creative Retreat this year, and I'd love for you to come make a repeating pattern with me in Procreate. It's a free online creative event hosted by the amazing Peggy Dean and it's happening August 1–6, with live workshops from artists across all kinds of mediums. You just pop into the sessions that sound fun to you. My session is called Bloom & Repeat: Easy Surface Pattern Design, on August 3rd at 4pm PDT. We'll take a simple motif all the way...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, We're told that creative success comes down to talent. Or going viral. Or landing that one big break that changes everything. After 13 years in this industry, I think that's mostly a lie. What I've seen in my own career, and in the careers of the designers and illustrators I teach, is that it comes down to habits. Small, consistent, often unglamorous habits that most people overlook because they don't make for a good Instagram caption. I just published a new video where I share the...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, There is a specific "aha!" moment that happens when an illustrator transitions into surface pattern design. It’s the moment you realise that a beautiful drawing doesn’t always make a beautiful pattern. In fact, some of the most stunning illustrations fail as repeats because they suffer from "Static Layout" syndrome. You know the look. You have gorgeous motifs, but when they’re put into a repeat, they look like they’ve been frozen in place. They look like a sheet of stickers...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader As we jump into March I want to talk a little about pattern collections for licensing. I see it all the time: A designer spends 10 hours on a stunning, intricate floral pattern. It’s a masterpiece! But when they show it to a client, the client asks, 'What else goes with this?' If you don't have an answer, you’re leaving money on the table. In the world of Surface Pattern Design, we don't just sell 'prints'; we sell stories. And a story needs more than one character. To build a...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader I hope you're having a wonderfully creative week. Colour is the heartbeat of Surface Pattern Design. A mediocre motif can be saved by a killer palette, but even the most intricate illustration will fall flat if the colours don't harmonise. This is something a lot of us struggle with so I wanted to offer up a few tips. Today, I’m breaking down four pro-level colour tips that have helped me move past "default swatches" and start creating sophisticated, commercially viable designs....
5 months ago • 1 min read
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...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Hello Reader I’m thrilled to announce my brand new Skillshare class: Moths are naturally beautiful and mystical, making them the perfect subject to practice symmetrical pattern design skills. In this super quick class (45mins), we’ll dive into Procreate’s symmetry tool and using a free pattern tile template you'll discover just how easy it is to create a seamless repeat pattern. Ready to spread your creative wings? Signup for the class today by clicking on the link below. If you're not a...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Are you dreaming of making a consistent income from your pattern designs? I hear you! It seems there's a lot of mixed messages out there about how easy (or hard!) it is to make a full-time income, especially when aiming for ambitious figures like $10,000 a month through licensing. So I decided to create a YouTube video to tackle that question head-on, sharing my honest, no-fluff perspective based on over a decade in the industry. Here's a sneak peek at what I cover: The Reality...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, Do you ever feel like being a "starving artist" is just part of the deal? I used to believe that to create authentic art, you had to struggle financially, waiting for inspiration and feeling guilty when it didn't strike. This "starving artist" mentality isn't just about money; it's a harmful internal conflict that can lead to burnout and a warped view of an art career. But what if I told you that financial stability can actually fuel your creativity, not stifle it? The...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read