I'm an artist, surface pattern + fabric designer, author, mama, and online teacher in Portland, OR. I believe in the power of art-making as a tool for radical self-care. I help people feel a little bit brighter and a little bit less alone through the art and products I make, the words I write, and the classes I teach. Come join 18k+ people in my colorful, uplifting world!
Are you actually bad at the thing you've always thought you're bad at?
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Hi Reader! I've spent the last couple of days doing a product photoshoot with my wonderful assistant Emily in preparation for the opening of my holiday shop on November 12th, and oh my goshhhhh I'm so excited to show you everything!! The calendar photo above is my FAVE, but I also can't resist showing you one more: Ornaments!! I mean honestly. Could this be any cuter? What's most interesting to me about these photos is that historically I've always thought of myself as being a "bad photographer". Prop styling and photography in general have never been my strong suit, and so I've basically done all I can to avoid it over the years (or to make it as quick and easy as I can). It's funny how sometimes the things that don't come naturally to us are things we label ourselves "bad at" and then never think twice about questioning whether that's actually true or not. Maybe sometimes all we need is a little exposure, a little practice, a little bit of playing with something new in order to see that we're not bad at something; we're just inexperienced. Everyone is a beginner in the beginning! The question "I wonder what would happen if..." can be super helpful in allowing more room for play and exploration and less judgment and perfectionism. So, while I still don't consider myself to be someone who these things come naturally to, I did realize in these past couple of days that a beginner's mind and a playful attitude will take me far! If I dedicate some time and effort and have FUN and PLAY in the process, I can actually create some images that I like and I'm not just uniformly bad at it like I'd been telling myself I was. Who knew?! Am I going to get super excited about photoshoots forevermore? Probably not. BUT I'll certainly feel more willing and happy to do it again next time around, and that feels like a big deal! I can't wait to share the holiday goodies and the rest of the photos with you! I currently have over 600 pics to wade through, save or delete, crop, edit, resize, etc, so..... wish me luck. Ha. ​ I hope the rest of your day is wonderful, whatever you're up to and wherever you are. :) ps – what's something you've always thought you're bad at? Hit reply and let me know – I'm genuinely interested! ​ LET'S BE FRIENDS ON IG!
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​Jessica Swift.
I'm an artist, surface pattern + fabric designer, author, mama, and online teacher in Portland, OR. I believe in the power of art-making as a tool for radical self-care. I help people feel a little bit brighter and a little bit less alone through the art and products I make, the words I write, and the classes I teach. Come join 18k+ people in my colorful, uplifting world!
Hi Reader – Last week I hinted that something special was coming… and today I'm pumped that I finally get to share it with you! I’m thrilled to introduce 100 Creative Days – a brand-new 100-day workshop designed to help you build a consistent creative practice, (re)connect with your inner artist, and ease into the new year feeling grounded, supported, and creatively alive. For 100 days, we’ll move through a simple rhythm together: show up, make something small, celebrate the process. You’ll...
Hey Reader – Happy Tuesday! I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that we're at the start of the holiday season... but, here we are! Seeing as how it's mid-November already, I'm excited to finally share with you that my 2026 calendars are now available. Yay! This year's calendar is filled with drawings and paintings created inside my sketchbooks, to take you through the darker days of winter, through the fresh energy of spring, the ripeness of summer, the mellowing of the...
Hi Reader – The countdown is on – Art Oasis begins TOMORROW! 🌸 If you’ve been thinking about joining but haven’t signed up yet, now’s your moment. This is your invitation to spend seven days immersed in color, creativity, and connection. It's going to be a truly epic week. Here’s what’s waiting for you starting tomorrow: 5 daily workshops and demos from 30+ amazing artists Cozy Conversations filled with inspiration and insight A global creative community to share, connect, and grow with...