Introducing... The SUMMER PROJECT CLUB! ☀️
Make steady progress on your projects this summer!
Ready to finally make progress on that personal project you keep putting off?
Welcome to the Summer Project Club—a space for illustrators and creatives who want to make steady progress on their projects over a 3 month period! ☀️
What is the Summer Project Club?
It’s a brand new club that I’m launching for my paid subscribers here on Substack.
Get all the details below:
Who is it for?
The Summer Project Club is for illustrators and creatives who want to make steady progress on a specific project.
If your own projects often get pushed aside because you’re busy with life, client work, or another job, then you’re in the right place.
This is a space for consistent, creative work on a specific project or goal over a 3 month period. It is not about finishing things as fast as possible or looking for a magic solution to achieve a goal quickly. It’s about developing habits for steady, longterm progress without burning out.
It’s a space for you to dedicate time to your own projects and goals. You will pick one goal and work on it consistently for three months. We will check in during our live meetings and have dedicated work time. We’ll support each other, celebrate our wins, and make progress together.
When is it?
July to September and we’ll meet live twice a month.
We’ll kick things off with our first meeting on Tuesday, July 8 by picking a project you want to work on—whether it’s a new portfolio piece, a pitch to a publisher, or maybe a consistent sketching habit. The goal is for each month to build on the previous month. Here’s a preview of what we’ll do:
July is about setting your goal and breaking it into steps that you can begin working on.
August is about showing up and doing the work to reach your goal.
September is for final steps, reflection, and of course, celebrating your progress!
Here are the dates for the live meetings twice at month. They’ll be at 11 AM EST and replays will be posted:
July 8 (Watch the replay here and you’ll be all caught up!) and July 22
August 5 and August 19
September 9 and September 23
What do you do during the lives?
Set goals and make art!
Each live session starts with a short warm-up drawing prompt while everyone joins. Then, we’ll set mini-goals and get to work—with optional camera sharing during work time. You’ll leave each session a little further along in your project.
And by the end of the 3 months, instead of putting your project off again and again (which is so easy to do in the summer!), you’ll be proud of the progress you’ve made.
If you're craving the time and space for actually getting stuff done, then Summer Project Club is for you.
Make space for your goals, work alongside other creatives, and get ready to see steady, consistent growth month over month.
Upgrade now to join us for the kickoff session on July 8!
Have more questions?
Below are some Q&As I asked (and answered) myself 🤣
But also please feel free to send me an email directly with other questions, and you’re also welcome to ask question in the comments section! I can update this list of questions as you ask new ones:
How do I know if Summer Project Club is for me?
Well… if you have ever said, “I’ll work on that this weekend,” or, “I’ll have time next week,” but then weeks and months go by and you’re still waiting to work on your project, then Summer Project Club is for you!
Whether you're finishing a portfolio piece, setting up a website, or building a sketching habit, Summer Project Club is here to help you make it happen—with support, structure, and celebration.
Why did you start this new club, Katie?
I have noticed the most growth in my own work when I make consistent, intentional steps towards my goals over a long period of time. For example…
When I wanted to learn to paint with gouache, I joined instagram challenges consistently for a month and began to see real progress.
When I wanted to learn how to make patterns, so I took a course over a few months and came away with 6 portfolio pieces.
Three years ago, when I wanted to write a Substack, I set the goal of writing one newsletter a week. Now I have over 150 posts and an audience of all of you incredible creatives!
It’s all of my own longterm projects that have inspired me to create a space here on Substack for other creatives to carve out time for their goals. Here on Susbtack, I’ve written about how I’ve transitioned from being a teacher to illustrator, shared tips and tricks with you about illustrating books and selling art, and now I want to offer an actual space for my community to make progress on their goals. You’ve all helped me get here, and I believe that we can all support each other as we continue to grow.
(If you’re completely brand new and are wondering who I am and what my work even looks like, please feel free to check out my website, Instagram, and Substack!)
How is this different from other Substack subscriptions and workshops?
There are so many drawing sessions on Substack (including
which I co-host with ), but it seems there are less opportunities for people to work on their own projects. It’s so fun to draw prompts from other people and take classes, but if we don’t set aside time specifically for our own projects, we can easily get caught in a loop of doing classes, drawing sessions, client work, etc… and never leaving time for that ever growing list of projects we want to do.+ Plus! All paid subscribers also get access to my archive of over 100+ posts ranging from My Picture Book Pricing Guide to how to sell your work in stores to book studies and so much more. It’s a treasure trove, and the majority of my posts are recorded by me so you can binge them like a podcast.🎙️
Will you do another 3 month project after Summer Project Club ends?
I’m hoping to do one seasonally! So next up will be the Fall Project Club from October through December.
But, Katie, how can you help me reach my goals? What makes you the right person to lead this club?
I’m a former teacher, and I’ve learned that I really like motivating people in a calm, productive space.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced space to make as much progress as quickly as possible, then summer Project Club may disappoint you. Instead, if you’re looking for an intentional, supportive space to make slow and steady growth, then this is the right place for you.
That’s the type of support that I excel with. I used to teach English Learners, and they were my absolute favorite group of students. The consistent, steady growth over the course of a whole school year was absolutely incredible. For me, it’s all about intentionality and steady, consistent steps.
I will help you with that during our first meeting on July 8.
Upgrade below to join the Summer Project Club! ☀️
Make space for your goals, work alongside other creatives, and get ready to see steady, consistent growth month over month:
Hope to see you there!
- Katie
Really looking forward to this!! I don’t know if I’ve missed this info but how will get the zoom link? Xx
This sounds fabulous Katie! Just what I need, have excitedly signed up to get involved. Thank you for creating this space. The tick box in the flower sealed the deal for me 🌱☺️✔️🌻🌿