What's next?
I can’t believe it’s already been a week since Summer Art School.
I honestly can’t believe it’s already been a week since Summer Art School.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the experience, and one feeling keeps coming back:
Gratitude.
Gratitude for the generosity of the event.
Gratitude for the incredible participation from the community.
And gratitude for being able to witness what happens when thousands of creative people come together around learning, encouragement, and making art.
What impressed me most wasn’t just the number of people who showed up.
It was the way people showed up.
The comments were thoughtful. The project submissions were inspiring. People encouraged each other, celebrated each other’s wins, and genuinely wanted to see others succeed.
In a creative world that can sometimes feel competitive, this felt like the opposite.
It felt like community.
And, of course, Liz was amazing.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it many more times: one of the things I admire most about Liz is her ability to make professional art education feel welcoming, practical, and achievable.
But today I also want to take a moment to recognize someone working behind the scenes: Emily (Author of this lovely children's book!)
Many people may not realize how much work goes into keeping a live event running smoothly. Having worked in online communities myself, I know firsthand how challenging it can be. Emily was moderating chats, helping students, answering questions, keeping conversations flowing, and somehow doing all of it with kindness, warmth, and incredible attention to detail. What she accomplished during the event was remarkable. So this is my little public thank-you. Emily, you’re amazing! And I’m proud to have had the chance to witness your magic in action with so many participants!
I Did the Homework Too
Another thing I especially loved about Summer Art School was that I wasn’t just helping behind the scenes. I was also a student. And I looooove it!
Like many participants, I completed the assignments.
It was a busy week, so my project came together faster than I originally planned, but I did it. And I took it one step further.
Using what I learned before in The Studio and prepared during the event, I opened a Gelato account, used the Summer Art School discount, and ordered product samples featuring my artwork (commissioned by my family members!) .
They’re already on their way to Switzerland.
Now I’m checking the tracking updates far more often than I’d like to admit.
As an international artist, I have to confess that I had always assumed services like this might be more complicated or less practical outside the United States. Actually testing the process completely changed my perspective. Now I’m excited to see the final products in person and share the experience with you.
What’s Next?
If you participated in Summer Art School, don’t forget: You still have access to the replays for a full month.
Use them.
Watch them again.
Pause them.
Take notes.
Finish the projects you didn’t have time to complete during the live event.
And if you’re already missing the energy of drawing and learning together, there is a place where that continues year-round: The Studio.
If Summer Art School felt inspiring, The Studio is like having that experience all year long. You’ll find classes, trend reports, resources, live events, and a community of creative people who genuinely want to help each other grow.
One of my favorite things is that you can actually draw live with Liz every month. And this month’s live session is especially exciting.
We’ll be creating a wallpaper pattern together in Procreate.
If you’re feeling inspired after Summer Art School, this is a perfect next step. You can even start by exploring the newest wallpaper class and the trend reports before joining the live session.
One More Thing
To everyone who participated:
Congratulations!!!
Whether you completed a polished project, a rough sketch, or simply showed up and learned something new, you invested in yourself and your creative future.
That matters.
I’d love to hear about your experience.
What did you create?
What was your biggest takeaway?
Did you order products?
Did you discover a new direction for your art?
Leave a comment or send me a message.
I’d love to hear your story. Any question is welcome too.
And as always: Stay productive. But even more importantly, stay happily creative. 💗
This post contains my proud affiliate links. This comes at no additional cost to you, but it greatly supports my artistic endeavors. Thank you for being a part of my journey!