New art, sketchbook experiments, and a little studio catch-up 👀

Published 20 days ago • 5 min read

May Wallpapers

Hey Reader!

Spring is officially here, though I’m still waiting for the weather to fully catch up. This month's Studio Sessions is a mix of fun updates, a creative experiment I’m hoping sticks, and some new art fresh off the digital canvas. So grab your favourite drink, get comfy, and let’s catch up!

Creative biz updates & what’s in the works

Behind the Scenes

Trader Joe’s card spotting!

If you happen to swing by a Trader Joe’s soon, keep an eye out for my greeting card, "Kick It Up" (I popped in a photo ➡️ for reference). Since there aren’t any Trader Joe’s stores here in Canada, I probably won’t get the chance to see it out in the wild myself. So if you do spot it, I’d be so grateful if you snapped a quick pic and sent it my way!

Sellers Publishing card sample arrived!

I just got my hands on a shiny new card sample from Sellers Publishing for my "May The Course Be With You" design. It turned out so beautifully printed, with rich colours and a super fun foil finish that really catches the light. The inside of the card is fully printed too, and honestly, it looks pretty fab. There’s something extra special about seeing your design in print, holding it in your hands, and seeing all the little details come together. I added photos below so you can check it out and if you spot it in stores, please, please, snap a pic and send it to me! I'll be forever grateful!

my latest finished artwork

brushes down

Flat Out Loved – Mother's Day Collection

I’ve just finished working on a new Mother’s Day card collection called "Flat Out Loved," which is a set of four designs, each including an interior message and designed to match its cover illustration. This collection is thoughtfully illustrated with mom's favourite things, this flat lay card collection celebrates every kind of mom and her happy place. Whether she’s out in the garden, soaking up spa time, getting creative, or enjoying a well-deserved night out. Check out the card covers below!

LET'S WORK TOGETHER!

Looking for fresh art for your next project? I’d love to chat about licensing or collaborating! Just reply to this email to get the ball rolling!

LET'S CHAT

This month's creative deep dive

beyond the canvas

Sketchbook Diaries

Let’s see how long this lasts! If I’m being totally honest, I’ve never been great at keeping up a sketchbook practice. Every few years, I treat myself to some shiny new art supplies, thinking this will be the one, and then... I usually burn out before the month is over. The cycle of hope and crushed dreams continues…

So why am I giving it another go now? Well, there are two big reasons and a little extra nudge from the universe.

First, a few years back, I got into urban sketching (basically drawing on location and capturing real-life scenes like cafés, markets, streetscapes, or little everyday moments, often with notes and doodles). It felt so relaxing and fun, like journaling but with pictures. But it was a little too complicated to keep up with consistently. My medium of choice back then was watercolours, and even though I absolutely love them, they were tedious to use, especially when sketching on the go. Setting up watercolours on location was pretty inconvenient most of the time, and let’s be honest, if there’s a choice between hauling around paints or just staying cozy at home, guess which one wins? So now I’ve been looking for a simpler way to keep the spirit of it alive without all the extra hurdles.

Second, I stumbled onto Dylan M.'s Skillshare classes on illustrated journaling. Oh my gosh, I’m hooked! Her prompts are simple, easy to reuse, and perfect for keeping the momentum going. They make it feel doable instead of overwhelming. I even made my own list of extra prompts to keep things fresh and avoid the dreaded blank page.

And because good things come in threes...
I want to get my hands a little messy again. Working digitally all the time makes it so easy to undo every little mistake with a quick tap of CTRL+Z. But in real life, there’s no magic button to fix a wonky line or a weird colour choice. And honestly, that’s kind of the point. In a world where AI can churn out polished art in seconds, it feels even more important to stay connected to the real, imperfect marks made by me. Pencil on paper, brush on page, streaky marker lines and all. There’s something satisfying about embracing the wobbles and smudges. It feels a bit like carving out a little proof that "Hey, I was here, and I made this."

The other thing I’m doing differently this time is sticking with the same art supplies. I love a limited colour palette, so for my birthday, last March, I splurged on some Tombow Dual Brush Markers (no regrets!). They’re quick, colourful, and low-pressure. I picked markers instead of pencils or paints because I wanted something easy to grab and use without overthinking it. Plus, the streaks and imperfections help me not fuss so much about everything being "just right." Life’s too short to fight with watercolours at 10 PM.

No pressure on how often I need to journal, just regularly enough to make it a thing. I’m hoping this practice will eventually become a habit and help boost my creativity, filling me with new ideas to explore and play with. I popped in a few of my first pages below if you’re curious. Let me know if you’d like me to keep sharing my progress in future emails. It might help keep me a little more accountable too!

Have you ever tried keeping a sketchbook or journal practice? Are you more into writing, drawing, a bit of both, or neither?

If you’re curious, here are the Dylan M. courses I’ve been loving:

must-read articles & inspiration

The highlight reel

I love sharing interesting things I’ve found online that are related to art or surface design! Maybe you’re already in the loop but if not I hope to introduce you to some new courses, challenges, blog posts, and anything else I find fun and interesting that I think you might also enjoy!

So let’s begin!