3 Amazing Things I Learned From My Students
Every morning, I leap out of bed because I have the best students!
You are the most creative, fun, and supportive students I’ve ever met. I’m so grateful for all that you teach me and I’m delighted to share three special student stories with you today.
While it was difficult to choose just three, these stories about Heather, Kathleen and Shari stood out. I hope they will inspire and motivate you. I also wonder if you’ll see a little bit of “you” in them. I bet you will.
If you are not a member of my online community, joining is easy! Click below and join our private Facebook group, Anne’s Art Club. You’ll meet wonderful creatives like Heather, Kathleen, Shari and so many more. I hope you’ll consider being a part of our group. We can’t wait to meet you.
When I started down this path of sharing my passion for surface pattern design, I didn't anticipate how much I would benefit from it.
Several years ago, I had just lost my fancy corporate job and was trying to figure out my next step. I discovered surface pattern design and was immediately hooked. I couldn’t get enough of it. And then I thought: I have to share this passion with the world. This is so much fun. But teaching was an experiment - I was throwing spaghetti against the wall. And the spaghetti stuck!
For me, the joy of teaching is diving into a craft that I truly love, but even more importantly, I'm inspired by my students every day.
You are courageous, unique, ambitious and curious (just to name a few of the many qualities that you offer to the world).
Before I share Heather, Kathleen and Shari’s stories, I want to offer this:
I’d love to learn your unique story, so I can help you to use surface design in a way that reflects your personality. I’d love to understand what you enjoy, and what you are struggling with, so we can brainstorm with this powerful creative community to help you discover your brilliant idea.
Actually, you probably already have that brilliant idea. It's like a little voice in the back of your mind. Let's talk about it. Let's figure it out together - it’s probably easier than you think. I’m always here if you need me.
Join Anne’s Art Club and let’s get started!
As I’ve said before, I love learning from my students and am always amazed by what you each create! Here are three unique stories:
Heather Taught Me: New Ways To Use Surface Pattern Design
Heather Lowery is an accomplished woodblock printer who used surface design to expand her business. She had an instinct that surface design could help her business expand, and she was absolutely right.
I was impressed, from the beginning, with Heather’s talent in design and color. Her woodblock prints are stunning and as soon as I saw them, I realized how beautiful they would look as repeating patterns on fabric and other products. Endless possibilities!
Heather is a very tactile person who needs to touch things so transitioning to digital work was challenging. She had to experiment a lot to discover how to bring out the beauty that’s naturally apparent in her woodblock word in her digital work.
Before I met Heather, it never occurred to me that there could be this amazing synergy between woodblock printing and surface pattern design. But it is a perfect fit and makes sense; when you look at her woodblock prints, you can see natural and beautiful patterns right away.
Heather continues to explore ways to expand her creative business with surface design in stationary applications like cards, wrapping paper and more. Her designs translate beautifully on fabric, for a duvet cover or tablecloth, or the cushions on your living room couch.
What I love about Heather’s story is that she busted the myth that making money as a creative is impossible - particularly in specialty crafts like woodblock printing. She also discovered a love of teaching and has started to explore in-person workshops. I wish I lived closer to her and could attend one myself!
[Read Heather’s full story here.]
What Kathleen Taught Me: The Possibilities Are Endless
So many people think they can’t pursue a creative passion like surface pattern design because they aren’t “artists”. And that’s crazy because you don’t need an art degree to pursue your creativity. In today’s connected world where you can learn anything if you have a computer, don’t let those thoughts hold you back.
Like many of us, Kathleen is not a trained artist. And this lack of confidence in her creative abilities really held her back for a long time. However, her visions of having her artwork on aprons, tea towels and reclaimed wood led her to my wonderful community, and I am so glad she’s here!
Kathleen, a minister on the east coast, relocated with her family across the country for her husband’s job. This big life change was challenging and Kathleen didn’t see it, at first, as the perfect time to change careers and focus on herself for a change. But she realized, with the support of our creative community, that she needed to invest in her talent to build her artistic confidence. Kathleen also needed to learn Adobe Illustrator - yikes!
She did a fantastic job on both fronts. Kathleen looks back on her first creations and remembers, “All of a sudden, I had this newfound confidence and I began thinking I want to feel this way all the time. I want to build a business doing this all day long.”
Today, Kathleen is investing in herself again, but this time through business coaching. Her business focus: building a membership and online course for women’s empowerment through art.
I’m inspired by the art and community Kathleen has created with her surface design. She combines her love of practical things with her passion for women's empowerment and created a nurturing, inspiring community of women.
She’s proof that you can do surface design your way; based on your personality, your unique talents, and what you love to do.
[Read Kathleen’s full story here]
What Shari Taught Me: Quiet Strength
Creativity is something we all have and it’s our job to nurture and develop it - no matter what stage we are in our lives. The great thing about creativity is that if you nurture it, it will give back to you. Shari uses her creativity to help her cope and it has given her a completely new perspective on life.
A few years ago Shari was diagnosed with Chronic Pain Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. She was forced to leave a job she loved, which was devastating and caused her to lose interest in everything. Slowly, she started to adjust to her new life at home and leaned into her creativity.
She took my free surface design workshop and was hooked.
Her perspective on life changed as she learned a new way to express her creativity and “use her brain.” Shari feels invigorated to be learning again and is creating beautiful things. Surface pattern design has given Shari an outlet for her creativity and her passion for life is back!
Shari’s quiet strength has taught me about resilience. I am sure she felt like life slammed a door in her face when she got her diagnosis and had to leave her job. I admire her perseverance and determination to find purpose and joy in life.
I also admire Shari greatly because she is an incredible force for positivity and encouragement in our private Facebook group. She is always giving back. She is active, posting new work whenever she can. And she leaves comments with encouraging words and helpful suggestions for other creatives which means so much to them and to me.
[Read Shari’s full story here]
Kathleen, Heather and Shari all used surface design to help them discover a more meaningful and joyful next stage in their lives. In doing so, they also taught me valuable lessons that I am grateful to be able to share with you today.
I celebrate you, dear students.
Thank you for all you have taught me and continue to teach me everyday.
Enrollment opens next week for my signature 8-week program, The Pattern Design Academy. Get all the details and join the waitlist so you don’t miss it. Enrollment will only be open for 4 days: January 20-23.
Remember,
It’s Never Too Late to Create
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
