Why I Finally Created a Patreon for Wild Ridge Studio
For a long time, I kept trying to figure out where all the “in-between” parts of my creative work belonged.
Instagram usually gets the finished artwork.
The polished mockups.
The final patterns.
The completed collections.
But most of the interesting parts happen long before any of that.
The sketchbook pages.
The watercolor motifs spread across my desk.
The trail walks that slowly turn into collection ideas.
The Illustrator files that somehow multiply overnight.
The experiments that work.
The ones that absolutely do not.
That’s a huge part of why I finally created a space on Patreon.
I wanted a place where I could share the actual process behind Wild Ridge Studio while things are still evolving, instead of waiting until everything feels finished and polished enough to post publicly.
Inside, I’ve been sharing:
- pattern collections in progress
- watercolor studies
- behind-the-scenes studio work
- inspiration gathered along the trail
- collection development
- placement prints
- seasonal artwork
- and the general creative chaos that comes with building an art business
I also recently launched Trail Side Post, a monthly collectible artist mail subscription inspired by Appalachian trails, seasonal artwork, and collected paper goods.
Which honestly feels like one of the most “me” things I’ve created in a long time.
The entire idea grew out of my love for:
- fine art prints
- old-fashioned mail
- field notes
- seasonal collecting
- watercolor motifs
- and the idea that artwork can become part of someone’s everyday life in small, meaningful ways
At the moment, June’s Trail Side Post is centered around mountain laurel season in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which feels like the perfect place to begin.
I’m still building all of this as I go, but for the first time in a long time, the different parts of my creative life finally feel connected instead of scattered.
And that’s been a really good feeling.
