Hey Reader!
Happy July 1st and Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians! 🍁 I’m kicking off the month with a cold drink, a cozy break, and a fun fact: Canada has more lakes than any other country, over 2 million of them! Not bad, eh?
This month’s Studio Sessions includes a peek into some behind-the-scenes changes, a sketchbook check-in, and a little deep dive into a few personal realisations. Plus, your free July wallpapers, of course!
Goodbye Paid Plan, Hello Freedom
For the past few weeks, I’ve been quietly moving everything over from my old paid Kit account to a fresh new free one. If you’re wondering, Kit is the email platform I use to send out this very newsletter and share studio updates. It’s been my trusty little tool for a while now.
I’d been paying for it monthly, but with a fresh look at my business finances, the $20+/month felt a little too steep, especially when the free tier now includes everything I use. So, I reached out to Kit to see if I could just downgrade my plan, but it turns out that while the plan was listed publicly, it wasn’t actually available to existing customers yet. Bummer. They offered to put me on their waiting list for when it became available. But six months later...I was still waiting to hear back. I decided to take matters into my own hands and start from scratch.
So, all through June I rebuilt everything bit by bit. If you happen to get a strange welcome email or notice anything’s off, just let me know but everything should be working just fine from here.
Portfolio Review Reflections
This month I did something I’ve been meaning to do for a while: I booked a portfolio review with an experienced licensing artist. I’ve been feeling stuck, not in a big dramatic way, but in that quiet, itchy, something’s-not-quite-right way. I needed another set of eyes. Someone who knows this world and could help me see what I couldn’t.
She was kind but honest. The biggest thing we talked about? Colour. I’ve always leaned toward darker tones without even really realising it. She pointed out that my palettes were often a little too dull and dark, even when I didn’t mean them to be. I’ve worked really hard on my colour skills, so hearing that was tough but also the nudge I think I needed.
What really surprised me though was when she pointed out I didn’t have any proper “hero patterns.” Her way of explaining what makes a hero pattern finally clicked for me, and she was right. I don’t really have any.
So, I’ve got my homework: build better palettes, create true hero patterns, and lean more into the natural quirks of my art style.
I’ve already started binging some Skillshare classes she recommended, taking notes, and doing small art studies to push myself out of autopilot. But I’ll be honest, it also left me with a swirl of doubt. Can I actually do this? What if I never figure it out?
I don’t have any answers, of course. But I do have my sketchbook, my curiosity, and the tiniest bit of stubborn hope. So that’s where I’m starting. Again (or at least what feels like it anyway).
Sketchbook Progress
My sketchbook hasn’t been a daily habit, but it’s been a soft and steady presence. I pick it up whenever I feel like doodling (with no strings or pressure attached). One thing that’s really helped lately is adding a new kind of prompt: art studies.
I got the idea from @depresseddrawings on Instagram. The idea is to pick art I wouldn’t usually make myself, and try to reverse-engineer it. Why do those colours work? What’s unexpected about that shape? How can I learn from it?
The best part is how surprising it’s been. Some of my favourite pages have come from stepping outside my comfort zone. Even the messiest ones feel like progress. Even the ones I’d never show anyone. Especially those, actually.
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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!
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Building from the Inside Out
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about slow, steady growth. The kind that’s invisible from the outside but quietly reshapes how you work and think. My portfolio review was a much-needed nudge to take a closer look at what I’ve built and where I want to go next.
It reminded me how hard it is to be objective about your own work when you’re in it all the time. It also made me realise I’ve been trying to fix too many things at once. So I’m slowing down and taking a different approach. Instead of overhauling everything, I’m starting with one change at a time. One palette. One shape. One page.
It’s a bit like tending a garden. You don’t plant every seed at once, and you can’t expect blooms overnight. Some days it’s muddy, some days you forget to water what you planted, but then something small and lovely peeks through. And that tiny win reminds you to keep going.
This quieter season of figuring it out feels uncomfortable, but also necessary. And while I don’t have all the answers, I’m learning to trust the process a bit more, especially when the progress doesn’t look shiny or fast. It’s about rebuilding from the inside out.
If you’re in that same stretch of slow-but-steady, I’m right there with you.
Pantone® Fashion Colour Trend Report For London Fashion Week
A look at the rich, moody tones coming down the runway this fall. Worth a peek if you’re colour curious.
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What to Include in Your Art Licensing Portfolio
Cat’s breakdown of what makes a licensing portfolio strong is super clear and helpful, and great food for thought, whether you’re starting or evolving.
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How do you choose a color palette?
This one hit home for me, especially after my portfolio review. Some honest, thoughtful takes on picking colours that feel true to you.
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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!
Question of the month |
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What’s something you’ve been learning (or re-learning) lately in your creative journey?
Hit reply, I'd love to hear what's on your mind.
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Thanks for sticking around for another little window into my world. Whether you’re spending the summer recharging or full steam ahead, I hope you’re finding joy in your own creative process.
Until next time, stay inspired and keep creating!
