TL/DR

Starting October 1st, I will be creating an illustrated element (print) or a pattern each day for one year. I will upload each one to my Redbubble account, even if I think they are awful.  I will share my favorites on my various social sites.

Please follow along with me by joining my email list! 

Back in 2012 I did a drawing a day for an entire year. I started on January 1 and I drew when I was sick, I drew when I was busy, and even I even drew when I was traveling halfway across the world and got absolutely no sleep because I’m a terrible traveler. Seven delirious days in Sydney.

I did miss a day here or there, but I always made it up the next day. I had a full-time job, a 4-year-old and two teens. So I cut myself some slack when I absolutely needed it.

It was a challenging exercise but I had a blast with it. Some of the pieces I created were gawdawful.  There were a few pieces that I am still proud of today.

Here I am, 6 years later and I’m ready to go again. My then-4-year-old is about to turn double digits. My oldest is living on her own in another state with her sweetheart, and my middle child has one foot out the door.

Creatively, big changes have happened between then and today. I’ve grown as an illustrator and I’ve fallen in love with a few new things:

• Ipad Pro + Apple Pencil + Procreate is a threesome made in heaven
• Illustrator is now my go-to digital creation tool of choice. I’ve spent the last year teaching myself Adobe Illustrator and it’s worth every minute I’ve spent.
• Surface pattern design. I cannot stop making patterns, they appeal to both sides of my brain.

I’m still working full time at the same company, and my job is busier than ever; demanding and stressful. But, nevertheless, I find myself compelled to do this. Maybe because my move this summer put me so off track (still so many boxes) I feel I need this kick in the pants to get going again.

The challenge

My challenge to myself is to make a pattern or a print each day. By print, I mean an illustrated element, much like my fox – Something that can stand on its own or can be worked into a pattern in the future.

The plan

Starting October 1, 2018 (Inktober!)  I will design at least one element or one pattern each day. Each one will be posted on this blog and uploaded to Redbubble (this will motivate me to not cop out and make total crap).

The realities

There will be a lot of simple patterns. Creating something in a single day is a challenge. My fox pattern took me well over a week to create. Some days you might just get a polka dot pattern out of me – but I’ll still try to make it unique and interesting! Some days I may create a very simple element that will be worked into a pattern at a later time. Some days I may rework a previous pattern to add complexity, or put an existing pattern into a new colorway. The point is to challenge myself and have a lovely library of my work at the end of it.

My goals