​ August Wallpapers This month's wallpapers are all about soaking up the good parts of summer. Think breezy sundresses, freshly picked flowers, refreshing bubble tea, and ice cream for a hot day. Just simple, happy things to bring a bit of joy to your screen while these last warm weeks roll by. DOWNLOAD FOR DESKTOP DOWNLOAD FOR MOBILE

Hi Reader,

How’s summer treating you so far? Over here, we just had one of those weekends where smoke from the prairie wildfires rolled in thick. The air felt heavy, smelled like a giant campfire, and apparently, we even topped the charts for worst air quality in the world. So, I slowed right down, grabbed a cold drink, and hid out indoors. These past few summers seem to bring more and more of these smoky days from the west, and it has me thinking about how much our summers are changing and how this might be something we need to get used to.

This month’s Studio Sessions is a mix of updates from the studio, a little behind-the-scenes peek at what I’ve been working on, and a mini tutorial for anyone who uses Procreate. So grab a drink, get comfy, and come hang out with me for a bit.

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Licensing Talks in Progress

I’m chatting with a company right now about licensing a few of my greeting card designs. I pitched to them again in July after a few years of trying, and this time they immediately showed interest. They’ve always been kind and positive with feedback, but nothing ever moved forward before. Fingers crossed 🤞 this time is different!

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Royalty Milestone

Last month, I got my second royalty payment from one of my licensing partners, and honestly, I’m still a bit in shock. It turned out to be my biggest royalty payment for a single design so far, and I just feel so grateful. It blows my mind that those hours spent sketching away at my desk can grow into something like this. It’s such a good reminder to keep going and enjoy the process because it really can pay off.

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Studio Update

The last couple of months have been slow and steady behind the scenes. Between cups of tea and late-night sketching, I’ve been giving my website some love and breathing new life into older portfolio pieces using the feedback I got from my portfolio review a few months ago. It feels so good to see things with fresh eyes again. And because I can’t help myself, there’s also a mini Christmas collection starting to take shape on my desk.

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What's Coming Next

Next up, I’m working on a batch of new greeting cards for a new licensee in the UK. Even though these cards will only be available online, the idea that something I’ve made might land in someone’s hands and brighten their day still makes me so happy.

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This month has been all about polishing and updating work that was already in my portfolio. Colour tweaks, composition fixes, little adjustments that make a big difference. I’m even completely redoing a birthday mini pattern collection. It’s slow work, but so satisfying to watch it all come together bit by bit.

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Let's work together! Are you looking to collaborate on a project or maybe you're interested in licensing my artwork? I'd love to hear from you! Let's Chat!

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Procreate QuickMenu

Okay, so I have to tell you about something that has been making my life in Procreate so much easier. It’s called the Quick Menu. It’s like a little pop-up toolbox that appears wherever you want on the canvas. You can fill it with all your go-to brushes, tools, or actions so you’re not constantly digging through menus. Honestly, why didn’t I try this sooner?

I’ve set up one menu with my most-used brushes (still testing favourites) and another just for actions like flipping the canvas, adding a new layer, or clearing a layer. Once you get into the habit, it’s so smooth.

The best part? You can make it your own. You could create a menu just for your favourite tools, one for texture brushes, or one for lettering tools. Whatever you use the most, you can stash here.

Here’s how to set it up:

Set up the gesture:

Step 1: Go to Actions > Prefs > Gesture Controls > QuickMenu.

Step 2: Pick a gesture that feels natural to bring up the Quick Menu. I use a single-finger touch.

Set up your QuickMenu:

Step 3: Use your gesture to open the Quick Menu from anywhere on your canvas.

Step 4: Touch and hold the little boxes in the menu to assign your favourite brushes, tools, or actions.

Bonus Tip: You can create more than one menu to keep things tidy. Tap the center box.

The only hiccup is that sometimes I open it by accident when I’m just trying to colour pick or rotate my canvas. I might tweak the gesture later, but honestly, even with that, it’s worth it.

If you use Procreate, give it a try. It makes everything so much faster, and now I can’t imagine working without it. And if you want more details, here’s the official guide: QuickMenu Guide​

Let me know if you try it!

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Using Reference Isn’t Cheating I loved this little pep talk on using references in your art. Such a good reminder that references are tools, not shortcuts, and that they can actually make you grow faster. Read More About It

The Art of Adaptation: Embracing Revisions in Art Licensing This one dives into revisions in art licensing and why they can be a good thing. A nice perspective shift if you sometimes dread hearing the word “changes.” Read More About It

Problem-Based Pricing: The strategy freelancers aren’t using (but should be) This was such an interesting read about thinking beyond just hourly or flat rates and instead looking at the actual problem you are solving. It made me rethink how I look at pricing creative work. Read More About It

Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with any of the above resources. I'm sharing them because I found them interesting and thought you might as well!

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Question of the month

What’s your current favourite Procreate brush? I’d love to know! Hit reply, I'd love to hear from you!

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Thanks so much for hanging out with me and catching up on what’s been going on in my little studio world. Writing these always feels like catching up with a friend over coffee, and I’m so glad you’re here.

What do you think about these mini tutorials? Should I keep sprinkling them into these emails? Hit reply and let me know, I’d genuinely love to hear what you think.

Until next time, stay inspired and keep creating!