If you are just coming back to my blog or shop you can't help but notice the new look. If you are new here, welcome!
After choosing to step away from clipart illustration in 2022 I've spent the last couple years designing templates, creating junk journal resources and generally experimenting with different tools and styles of work. Some of which you can find in my shop on Design Bundles.
In the past, taking a creative break and working on other things would allow for a re-charge and a new flow of creativity. While initially I poured this energy into my Etsy template shop (Terrific Templates), This year has been different.
Normally I have too many ideas. This year had me stumped. With all the changes to the digital design marketplace the past few years it has been so hard to find my path again. Taking time off was helpful, but it was a long time bouncing back into just the right creative flow.
This blog is my starting point to the next chapter of my design career.
A fresh new look and a whole new approach. But only sort of. I've been making digital paper patterns for years as a side piece to my design work. I'm looking now to making that a much more prominent part of what I do.
Here's what you can expect, and why I hope you'll keep coming back.
I will continue to offer regular freebies here, in fact, I'm hoping to ramp up the content in 2025 with a daily posting challenge. Can I do it? I think I can!
Most of the content posted here will be human made, some will contain AI generated elements - all will be designed by hand. Creating AI images was fun, informative and useful as an experiment. But the biggest lesson I learned over the past year and a bit is that the soul gets sucked right out everything when the computer does ALL the work.
I'm not dissing on generative AI. It's actually quite useful. And as a tool for actual design, it's a game changer. In some ways I'm having a lot fun with it. I'm able to do more and create differently with it as an assist in the process, rather than a replacement. A very important distinction not everyone has grasped yet.
Change is always hard. These last four years have seen bucket loads of that. I suspect there's a lot more of it to come. Being able to roll with it, pivot quickly and adapt while also continuing to thrive is a challenge. Luckily I've been through plenty of change in my life to understand what it looks like, feels like and where it all ends up.
So. A new day, a new chapter. For the first time this year I feel creatively energized, positive about the possibilities that still exist in this changing landscape and ready to get to work!
I have a few other projects simmering in the background and will announce those as they come to fruition ready for release. In the meantime, I hope you find this content useful.
Shawnna
0 comments