November/December Newsletter
A New Stationery Business, Book #4, and Live Events!
Hi everyone!
If you’re new here, welcome! Each month I write this Monthly Newsletter as a way to share and reflect about the previous month. I’ll share my updates below, but what I really love is hearing what you’ve been up to. So please feel free to share in the comments.
It’s been busy, so I have lots to catch up on from the past couple of months! But first, I want to get two upcoming Live Events on your radar:
Upcoming Live Events:
Monday, January 20 | illoguild Live
Join the
for a live Zoom session where we’ll dive into the power of personal projects and how they can fuel your creativity, grow your portfolio, and spark new opportunities. Hear from the illoguild as we share our experiences, insights, and tips for making time for what truly excites us as artists.Whether you're starting something new or revisiting a long-time passion, this conversation is for anyone looking for a reason to pursue a personal art project!
Use the button below to sign up and check your local time, as clocks change this month:
Thursday, January 23 | Art Gym Workshop: Anthropomorphic Animals
Adam Ming and I will take you on a journey of different ways to capture animal likeness while giving animal characters human traits (and costumes), we’ll study how some of the greats have successfully achieved this, then try to create some of our own. Animal characters are so in demand in children’s picture books. They also look great on cards, and can help convey certain messages for editorial illustrations and even comics.
As always Art Gym is for all skill levels, here beginners and seasoned pros rub shoulders all the time. Subscribe here:
Monthly Updates:
Launch of Book #4!
Yayyy I completed my fourth picture book in November!! I got to attend the launch of the book with the family who commissioned it, and it was such a special experience. The book featured their family home and the many beautiful memories in it. And! There were five dogs I got to illustrate throughout the book. Here I am with all the artwork posted up on the wall (I was super proud in this moment):
Working on a personal project:
I’ve been working behind the scenes on a secret personal project, inspired by the Arty Book class from Make Art That Sells. In December I had the incredible opportunity to meet up with Lilla Rogers to go over some notes for the project. I’m beyond grateful for her valuable insight and guidance. Read more about that visit here and see a tour of her famous studio!
I launched a stationery business!
My husband and I got married in September, and I designed our wedding invitations. I enjoyed the process so much, and since I’ve been wondering how I can offer surface pattern commissions, this seemed like a great way to bring everything together.
This past Monday, I had my first design consultation with a client, and their vision for the stationery is so cool. The request is an intricate floral pattern with the bride’s 3 pet snakes intertwined and hidden amongst the florals. Her engagement ring is a black diamond, and I feel that this design is so perfect. I can’t wait to get started on the custom artwork!
Here are some pictures of the stationery I designed for our wedding. I’d love to keep drawing these florals with hidden pets. It’s such an elegant way to include them in the wedding. If you know who is looking for custom stationery, you could forward them this email with my work!
Some festive artwork
I had to make at least one piece of festive artwork in December! This Vespa Santa was created with gouache and colored pencil, and the background was added digitally with a vintage paper overlay.
Art Gym
There are officially over 100 artists signed up for a year of Art Gym with and me! We have so many fun and valuable sessions planned for 2025, and the first session is next week on January 23.
Bonus: When you upgrade to a paid subscriber at Art Gym, you can upgrade to Adam’s Substack and my Substack for 75% off each. That means… Buy One, Get Two for 75% off. I hope you’ll join us!
A Successful $1 Card Sale
During the holiday season, I ran a $1 Card Sale, and I did not expect it to do so well! Thank you to everyone who purchased cards— you made me feel like such successful retailer which was really fun! There were so many orders coming in, and I was able to successfully clear out over 600 cards in one week, which is nuts!
This helped me make space in my small studio and provide funding my next artistic adventure: wedding stationery. You all helped me to close the chapter on card selling on such a positive note, and I will always be grateful for that. Cards were how I first began selling my art in 2021, so although it’s been bittersweet to close this chapter, you’ve all made it feel really positive. Thank you! 🙏♥️
There are a few cards left. You’ll have to scroll through some out of stock ones, but if you want any, this is the time to get them. They won’t be restocked.
The most spectacular Saturday at Lilla Roger’s Studio!!!
I mentioned this above in the section about a personal project, but it was such a cool experience that it needs its own section! Read the post here:
A birthday card for my mom
I like trying new styles of art when creating personal work, such as cards for family. This one is all digital: digital pencil line with flat color and a digital texture overlay. Now I want to paint this design too!
Monthly Pup-date
Auggie is happiest in the snow 🥰 What have all your pets been up to this month? I really wish Substack allowed photos in the comments, because I’d ask for monthly updates on your pets. Maybe I should start a Substack chat channel for this??
Alright I think that covers everything! If you’re new here, thanks for reading the Monthly Newsletter with updates. The other weekly newsletters will share tips and insights that I’ve learned over the years as an artist.
If you’re interested in accessing the archive of posts, such as Children’s Book Studies or How to Sell Cards and Products, consider upgrading your subscription. You’ll get instant access to the Library of Guides and Toolkits.
See you all next Wednesday for the regular weekly newsletter!
Katie
Katie, 🎨🫶 ☕️🥧
I feel very tired after some turbulent days. Thinking of going to bed rather early. But it would mean that I would miss the Illoguild meeting. Is there any chance that youll send a repeat to see on your substack account.? I would love to hear what is coming up. There are always interesting subjects on Illoguild and I would be happy to catch up.
Viveca Persing, Stockholm, Sweden
That's terrific! Thank you.
Yes, I enjoyed the rest and the sleep.