February In The Studio

Dispatch from my first month in surface pattern design

Writing from a few weeks into creating my portfolio… although that sounds like the final outcome will be multiple pieces and multiple collections that can go on multiple types of product… Contrary to that, right now I feel like I’m working hard to get just one simple pattern made!

Before I dive into my process, I wanted to share a video I posted this week of me painting Anemone’s in my Hudson Valley, New York studio a few years ago (before our move down to Austin, Texas).

{SKIP BELOW FOR VIDEO}

I posted this for the students in my Intuitive Floral in-person series that worked so hard this week on getting the anemone flower just right.

It brought me back to when I started painting loose watercolor florals and the feeling of needing the final outcome to look a specific way... to “fit” in the cannon of loose watercolor florals I saw on Instagram. Almost like wrestling my hand to do exactly what my eyes and brain were messaging.

I don’t know how to say this without sounding cheesy… Over time, and probably working with a bit too much water, I realized that it doesn’t have to look like what my brain expects it to look like.

My job is to actually drop the expectation and the only responsibility I have as an artist, is to respond ~ respond to what i’m seeing, respond to what i’m painting, and respond to what the watercolor does on the page. As time passed, I learn to take the opportunities that watercolor gave me... meaning over time, I learn to see the opportunities that watercolor gives me.

Like many moments before, my watercolor practice is reminding me of something I’m working through in my daily life… There is a discomfort of being a beginner.

This is very true for me right now in the art licensing world. I feel much like I sense my students feeling. And my agent is no beginner, she sleeps eats and breaths art direction for patterns on product. When I speak with her, we are not speaking the same language… I understand her, but I’m only giving her a few words back in her own language.

The other artists at this agency have a strong foundation in their process, and some have been working with this agent for almost 10 years. I feel sooooo far behind. I feel the need to prove that I understand her with Pinterest mood boards and big concepts. She’s seen this before too, she’s seen many beginners ~ and you know what she says… “Just chill out, I know we’ll get there ~ give yourself grace”.

Learning to see like a watercolor artist, licensing artist or any visual creative takes fine tuning, takes time and takes a lot of grace. I am giving myself many reminders, just as I did when I was learning how to paint flowers, that where I am now, is not where I’ll always be.

Leave a comment if you can relate ~ and please share if this resonates ♡

Also, in case you missed my posts from this month ~ here’s a recap. As always, these are available in the app. I aim to email everyone once a month to keep out of your inbox. Stay safe and I appreciate you - xx- jaime

Jaime is a surface pattern designer and artist based in Austin, Texas. She graduated from Pratt Institute with a degree in Interior Design and a minor in creative burnout. Seeking a deeper connection with her body, she went on to dedicate the next 10 years of her life to studying Yoga and Meditation with some of the top teachers in North America.

She started painting while pregnant with her first child and quickly realized her watercolor practice provided a safe space to remember herself, loosen the tendency for control and regain a quiet mind space. Because of this she dedicated any free moment she could (with two tots) to her paints.

Jaime offers artwork and experiences that encourage a deeper connection with your perfectly imperfect nature. She is currently represented by Wains World Licensing.

Follow Jaime on ShopMy to see her recommended products for a creative life.