Category Archives: Uncategorized

Starting new art is intimidating. But I’ve found that there are two approaches that help me to get started on a new illustration. First, I start with the “next smallest step.” Fortunately, that rarely starts with a blank sheet of expensive paper. In fact, it usually starts with my sketchbook — testing out different layouts,Continue reading “Small Steps”

Hello February! This year I thought I would shake up the blog a little bit. I really like offering a second post for the month, but I don’t quite work fast enough to regularly post a sketchbook tour. When I do have a sketchbook or project to share, that will stay at the mid-month post.Continue reading “Introducing: The Shallow End”

Happy New Year! 2019 was a whirlwind. I quit my job to make art full-time, turned thirty, went to Italy, and had my first expo booth! It was all super exciting and incredible experiences! But a lot of the year was spent in the quiet normalcy of routines that I love — trips to theContinue reading “Forward”

Surprise! Another sketchbook! I’m really pleased with how this one turned out. I think watercolor landscapes might now be some of my favorite work. But I’m also exhausted! I’m working on a new sketchbook challenge currently and one of the prompts was “landscape painting” and I was like, “yeah, no thanks…” and improvised something elseContinue reading “Sketchbook Tour: Watercolor Landscapes”

This year I’ve been trying to work on gratitude. I’m not very good at writing it down — things that I’m grateful for — because it almost gives me weird test anxiety. I worry that I’m not including the right things, or that my list is too repetitive. I just didn’t care for it. ButContinue reading “Gratitude”

A few months ago, I wanted to challenge myself to drawing everyday. As an extra challenge, I wanted the sketchbook to be cohesive. So, the task was two-fold– be consistent, and don’t get bored. (I usually can handle a “theme” but I don’t typically draw the same subject matter multiple times in a row.) ButContinue reading “The Neighborhood Sketchbook”

— In case you missed it, HERE is Part One! — This sketchbook started out as a place to work on ink and watercolor pencils. But by the end, I was getting restless and was rushing through it. I was using all kinda of media, and struggled to find quotes. I was much less worriedContinue reading “A Sketchbook Tour – Part Two”

I thought I’d shake things up a bit this month, I hope that’s okay! First, I want to offer my gratitude. Like any community, the internet is not an inherently welcoming place. We all have the opportunity to participate and share, but there is no guarantee for how it will be received. In the timeContinue reading “A Summer Survey”

I would like to introduce my newest surface pattern collection! Camp Sunshine! This collection was inspired by a summer spent outdoors, and the aesthetics of the 70s. I never went to camp as a kid, and I wasn’t around in the 70s either, but this collection is how I imagine it — yet updated toContinue reading “The Camp Sunshine Collection”

Can you believe it is May already?! I can — the holidays feel like forever ago… and I cannot — should it be only like March? I thought this month would be a good time to give a general update about things here at Summer Child Designs. I don’t have any big announcements this time,Continue reading “The General Store (Update)”