I'm looking forward to doing some block printing tomorrow, January 18, with Ali. Want to join us?
Deadline extension...
Coming up next week—entries for the Surface Pattern Design Guide close. Entrants will also be considered for many professional licensing and learning opportunities—including a Fabric Collection with Windham Fabrics.
This opportunity only comes once every two years!
I've extended the deadline to Wednesday, January 22, 23:59pm MST.
→ The entry fee is USD $40* and will be used to cover the hosting and administration costs of this submission system. It will also be pooled as payments to artists selected for UPPERCASE projects, such as the SPDG cover and patterned paper bonus for subscribers.
*If the fee is a barrier, use one of the discount codes below. I trust that they will be used intentionally and respectfully by readers of this newsletter. I always want everyone to feel welcome—and be able to—submit their work to UPPERCASE.
Regular Entry Fee: $40 USD Use “save10” for $10 off. Use “savehalf20” for $20 off. Use “free40” for a free entry.
UPPERCASE readers are all so talented, and I'd love for you to be able to make connections with fellow readers through this newsletter. Share the things you make and the things you love. Submissions to All About YOU are always open!
As a Chinese Canadian artist and stationery lover, I often found it hard to find beautiful well made stationery for Lunar New Year. So five years ago I started designing these luxury letter press LNY postcards. Each one is hand pressed and made in Toronto, 220lb thick, 100% cotton Crane Lettra paper to send well wishes to family and friends near and far. A pretty pairing of custom Snake lucky money envelopes make a great set. Hope you all have a healthy and prosperous 2025! Instagram / Website
PREXEL by Brandon Gamm
Brandon Gamm had the idea for PRIXEL in 2011 after using DIY label stamp kits to make abstract prints. He wanted a tool that would allow him to create modular illustrations but with an emphasis on play. Looking to typewriter art, ASCII art, pixel art, and modular letterpress-type ornament sets like Alpha Blox and Fregio Mecano, Brandon developed the idea from a rough LEGO-based prototype into the current iteration over the course of about 10 years. The result is a modular, movable type printmaking system designed for play. With a collection of simple, geometric shapes, users can print illustrations, messages, or abstract compositions. By breaking things down into modular parts, PRIXEL helps reveal the hidden patterns and interconnectedness that exist in the world around us. Instagram / Website
Whimsical Lives of Animals by Greta Parulske
My name is Greta, and I am an illustrator from Lithuania, currently based in Bielefeld, Germany. In my work, I love creating relatable animal characters and imagining what their everyday lives would look like if they could walk on two paws. I love filling my illustrations with tiny details, there is something very satisfying and meditative about painting with small brushes. Even though it usually takes a long time for me to complete an illustration, I really enjoy these hours I get to spend with my furry friends. If you are curious to find out how the bank vole decides when to have pasta for dinner or which bakery has the best pistachio croissants according to a pair of mischievous mice, follow me on Instagram! Instagram / Website
Surface Designer Adrienne Morris
Adrienne's playful patterns are inspired by her Texan roots, love for food, minimalism, plants, animals, and geometric designs. Instagram / Website
75 Art is a 75-day drawing challenge for surface pattern designers, artists and illustrators. Great motivation to be get some momentum for the year ahead!
Though “Glue” is the title, we are exploring all manner of mediums and methods that artists use to hold it all together. Some examples include paper collage with hand-painted papers, collages made with found ephemera, taped paper constructions, sculptures held together with wood glue and nails, mosaics grouted to a surface, art posters wheat-pasted in an urban environment, textile art using fusible adhesive and stitching… beyond traditional collage, we are looking for an eclectic variety of interpretations on how creative works can be held together.
The entry fee is $100.All entrants will receive one copy of the finished book, regardless of their publication status. There are no additional fees or remuneration for participation. If the fee is a barrier to entry, email Janine to request a discount code.
