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!
Happy New Year! š
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Hi Reader ā Happy 2025! It's been a minute since I've written a Tuesday email, and I'm happy to be sitting down at my keyboard right now, channeling whatever's meant to come through my mind, my heart, and my fingers in this moment. Today is my second day back in my quiet studio after a wonderful and much-needed 2 week winter break. My kids and I didn't travel anywhere and mostly just hunkered down together at home, which was exactly what I think we all needed. I introduced them to the show The Voice, which I watched when it first came out many years ago and haven't watched since ā and oh my gosh, we were all quickly obsessed and miiiiight have binge-watched a bunch of the last season of the show. š«£š¤£š„° It was so fun, and also a little sad for winter break to end and the reality of school and work to set back in. Ha. Now that I'm back in the studio after my little pause, I'm gearing up for my free Art-Making For Inner Awakening workshop that starts on January 23rd and the launch of my Unleashed course (registration opens on January 28th!). If you're wanting to make art-making more of a habit as we start this new year, if you're wanting to find a way to ease some of your anxiety or worry, if you want to get to know yourself better this year, and if you just want to tap into your creativity in general ā I GOT YOU. I've also been painting up a storm the last couple of days in the studio! I finished 2 commissioned paintings, and I made this funny little painting above as well, which I'm calling the patron saint of new beginnings. Snakes symbolize new beginnings/endings/the cycle of rebirth and regeneration, and coincidentally 2025 is the year of the Snake in Chinese astrology. I love the symbolism of the snake, so much that I even have one tattooed on my arm. This painting is the start of what I think will be a daily-ish project.... though it's not fully fleshed out in my mind yet, so I haven't fully committed. ;) I'll share more once the idea has fully gelled! My word of the year this year is SPACE, and I think that'll be next on my painting list... the patron saint of space. I wonder what she'll look like? (What's another word for patron saint? I'm not religious, so this doesn't feel quite right, but I'm not sure what else to call her... send me your ideas!) That's what I've got for you today, my friend! I hope your start to 2025 has been easeful so far and that your holidays were merry and restful. I'm excited to share with you all the good things I'm cooking up for you this year as we move through the months. It's going to be a good year! Sending love and color your way today. Until next time... ps ā What are you looking forward to in 2025? What are you hoping to let go of? What do you want to invite in? Hit reply and let me know if you want to! :) LET'S BE FRIENDS ON IG!
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āJessica 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, Happy Tuesday! How are you? Things here are full and busy, with work stuff and life stuff and kid stuff and all the things. I wrapped up Pattern Camp this past weekend (it was so fun!), the Variety Show with my friend Sarah the week before that, and next week I'm headed to St. Helens, OR to teach at my friend Carrie Schmitt's Art Is Love retreat. And this week I have some awesome new free events that I was invited to teach in that I get to start telling you about. So many good...
Hi Reader! I'm so excited to share that the next session of Pattern Camp is coming up next weekend, April 12-13th, and registration is now officially open! š Not only is registration open, but there's a special $247 earlybird registration price today and tomorrow. Yeehaw! The price will increase to $347 on Saturday, April 5th. Get all the course details right here! I fell in love with Adobe Illustrator nearly 2 decades ago, and it's my absolute favorite design program. Faaaaaavorite! I've...
Hi Reader, It's Spring Break for my kids this week, and we're staying put in Portland this year since we're going on a big adventure to England this summer (my little family of three's first international trip!). which means I'm doing the ultimate juggling act right now, trying to work with 2 kids here 24/7 and also make time for fun stuff so they're not just sitting around in front of screens. Basically I'm bouncing between things like zoom meetings to going to the pool to hosting live...