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!
Studio Notes | No. 4
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Studio Notes is my (mostly) weekly creative letter – part reflection, part art, part inspiration for real life. Inside this week:
Hi Reader, How ARE you? Happy February! Right?? January went so fast, it makes me wonder what the rest of the year will feel like. It's the year of the Fire Horse, so the fast-paced feeling makes sense... except that the Fire Horse energy hasn't actually even arrived yet. That happens on February 17th. We're still technically in the year of the Wood Snake, so we're still in an energetic season of shedding the old. That definitely feels true also, as I felt through so much of January like I was just trying to get caught up – to tie up loose ends, to finish things, and lots of waiting, rescheduling, and discomfort. Perhaps it all makes sense. My kids and I spent 5 days last week in my hometown in Colorado, helping to take care of my mom after her mastectomy surgery. It was all the things. Hard, joyful, exhausting, sad, fun, scary, emotional.... I thought I'd be able to easily bounce from role to role – caregiver, mom, artist, business owner, sister – but it was definitely hard. The emotional roller coaster of it all was energy-draining, which I naively didn't expect for some reason. This is not even to mention all the ugliness happening in the world right now. It's all just a LOT. I know you're probably feeling the a-lot-ness of this moment we're living in, too. We're all feeling it. My mom is doing amazingly well so far, though, and her resilience, both physically and emotionally, is inspiring. She's a tough cookie, and she still has a bit of a long road ahead of her treatment and recovery-wise, but all things considered, she's doing well. It's such a relief! Amidst all the wildness of January, my 100 Creative Days workshop began, and it's off to a bangin' start so far! We're already on Day 12, and it's so inspiring seeing what everyone is creating and sharing in our private community and on our live Zoom calls. It's shaping up to be a transformative and nourishing 100 days! I've got a small collection of 6x6" paintings growing on my studio wall, and I'm really loving the commitment to make new art every day. I don't know of a better tool for untangling my insides and processing what's happening inside and around me than making art. Here are a couple of my daily creations that I did in my sketchbook while I was home in Colorado: My vision of 100 of these square paintings is keeping me going and helping me stay motivated... I love making a bunch of small things that are all the same size and shape, watching the collection grow with each day... I'll share more as I go along! Free monthly live art-making in the Inner Magic Art Club On the first Wednesday of each month inside the Inner Magic Art Club, my friend Becky Hershey and I host a free live art-making session. You're invited! Pattern Camp Live Mark your calendar if you want to join in the next live intensive session of my Adobe Illustrator pattern design course! Registration will open on February 19th! Here are a few reminders for you from my Radiant Rainbows oracle card deck. I'm so proud of this deck that I made, which is a lovely companion for anyone experiencing grief or any kind of challenging circumstances. A personal favorite form the deck: "I can embrace the next chapter, even while grieving the last". That's all for today, my friend. I hope you found a useful tidbit of some kind to hold onto in this email today. Thank you for reading and thank you for being here! Until next time.... LET'S CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: |
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!
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