It’s August, which happens to be one of my favorite months of the year because… My dear friend and surface pattern design educator, Bärbel Dressler, offers an amazing FREE workshop called: The Keys to Mastering the Craft of Surface Pattern Design.

Today, I am thrilled to spotlight Claire Gentry, one of my students who started in surface pattern design by taking my beginner’s course: From Doodles to Dollars®. Claire's journey from a seasoned sales professional to a passionate surface designer is a testament to resilience and reinvention. Here’s a glimpse into Claire's world. I think you’ll find this summer spotlight inspiring.

Welcome back! This week’s blog is exciting because it’s all about challenging your creativity. Come meet Denise Chavez, a multi-passionate creative who took my Doodles mini-course and then went on to take my Pattern Design Academy program.

I’m excited to introduce you to another amazing woman in my creative community! Each week this summer, you’ll meet an inspiring creative entrepreneur who’s sharing their talents in a variety of unique ways.

You are in for a real treat this week. Meet Swedish watercolor artist Maria Ahl-Zanier. She shares her passion for watercolor and her beautiful studio in Berg, Sweden. Watch the tour and then check out her website and her Instagram profile.

Creating beautiful art makes my heart sing. It’s my jam. You too, right? Let’s share our favorite art supplies with each other. I love simplicity and trusted resources, and firmly believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to create pretty things.

I’m thrilled to share that I’m heading to Charleston, South Carolina, for an exciting three-day workshop on how to host virtual events. This experience promises to be a game-changer for my creative business, enhancing how we connect and engage in new, more interactive ways.

In today’s visually-driven world, high-quality images are crucial for establishing a strong brand presence. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a small business owner, or a creative professional, having professional photos of yourself and your products can significantly enhance your website, marketing materials, and social media profiles. Let’s explore the benefits of scheduling a professional photoshoot and I’ll share tips on how to best prepare for it, and highlight the top ways to use the photos you get.

Last week, we covered three effective strategies to improve your surface pattern designs: doubling the size of your repeat box, turning your repeat into a half drop, and adding a background texture. Now let’s take things even further and explore how color, depth and balance enhance your work. Each of these could be a masterclass in and of itself so keep reading and let’s dive in.

Surface pattern design is an intricate art form that combines creativity with technical skills. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced designer, there's always room to enhance your patterns and make them stand out. Let’s explore three effective strategies to improve your surface pattern designs: doubling the size of your repeat box, turning your repeat into a half drop, and adding a background texture. These techniques will not only add complexity and interest to your designs but also give them a professional touch.

I bet this won’t come as a surprise to you when I say that more often than not, I find myself comparing my business to others and fall into that dreaded “impostor syndrome” trap. Tell me, have you ever felt like a fraud, even when you’ve accomplished great things? Yep, and here’s the thing… It happens to everyone.

Things are changing in the world of online courses and guess what? This is great news for YOU! Since the pandemic, it’s become crystal clear that information is no longer a scarce resource. Information is everywhere, all the time, and it’s mostly free. Information used to be valuable because it was scarce. But that’s no longer the case. We’re blasted with information constantly.

Honing your skills as a surface pattern designer requires practice, continuous learning about techniques and trends, and avoiding common mistakes. As you dive into this exciting industry, it's essential to be aware of the common pitfalls that many beginners encounter. In this week's blog post, let’s chat about three mistakes that can hinder your progress and the actionable tips to overcome them.

In the world of surface pattern design, talent and perseverance will take you far. However, creating artwork that sells also requires market awareness and a willingness to make work that’s commercial. While it's tempting to let artistic expression run wild, it's crucial to consider the commercial viability of your designs.

This week, let’s explore my top three tips for commercial success in surface pattern design.

It’s so interesting to take a step back and look at your own creative business from time to time. The reason I’m saying this is because I didn’t realize that I’ve never written a blog post about my own creative membership before! It’s the best kept secret in my business and is truly a treasured program. Let’s pull back the curtain and talk about: Anne’s Atelier!

April is one of my favorite months of the year because spring is in the air, our pretty plum tree blooms, and… my friend and mentor Stu McLaren opens enrollment to The Membership Experience. His incredibly valuable online course only opens once a year and I’d love for you to consider it so that you can add recurring revenue to your business.

My friend and mentor Stu McLaren is still teaching his membership secrets this week so… If you've ever felt the stress of not knowing where sales will come from next month, then I want to encourage you to do one specific thing... Start thinking about how you can shift your attention away from "one-time" sales and more towards "recurring sales".

Are you curious about how memberships work? And the power of adding recurring revenue to your creative business? My friend and mentor, Stu McLaren, is running his “once a year” masterclass on the topic. It’s called: "Turn What You Already Know, Love, And Do Into A Profitable Membership Business." It stats on Thursday and it’s free. Click HERE to sign up. I assure you, you’ll learn incredibly valuable information and have fun along the way. Stu makes learning really fun!