Print Life Podcast: For Surface Pattern Designers

What does it take to build a creative career that feels true to you? In this episode of The Print Life Podcast, artist and surface pattern designer Elizabeth Olwen joins Leslie to talk about art licensing, developing a signature style, and staying connected to your creativity as your career evolves. Known for her colorful patterns and playful approach, Elizabeth shares her journey from graphic design to licensing her artwork—and how moving from Canada to Lisbon opened up new space for creative exploration.

Together, they explore the role of color and intuition in surface pattern design, how a recognizable visual style can help build an artist’s brand, and why making room for experimentation matters. Elizabeth also shares how The Artist’s Way, morning pages, and solo creative retreats helped her reconnect with painting and embrace her identity as an artist, leading to her first solo exhibition.

Whether you’re starting a surface pattern design business, exploring art licensing, or rethinking your creative direction, this conversation offers an honest look at balancing artistic fulfillment with a changing industry. You’ll hear Elizabeth’s perspective on moving beyond social media pressure, reaching clients directly, and keeping personal storytelling and human connection at the heart of your work in the age of AI.

In this episode

• Elizabeth’s transition from graphic designer to surface pattern designer and licensing artist.
• How color and a distinctive visual language helped shape her creative brand.
• Why life in Lisbon changed her creative process in unexpected ways.
• Reconnecting with play, painting, and intuition through morning pages and The Artist’s Way.
• Expanding into teaching, creative retreats, and a solo art exhibition.
• Navigating social media shifts, client outreach, and AI without losing connection to the work.
• Why Elizabeth sees your relationship with creativity as the foundation of a lasting creative career.
  
  Stay Connected:
  • The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
  • Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

Stay Connected:

• The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning your wheels—trying to update your portfolio, pitch to clients, post on social media, and somehow still find time to create—this episode is for you.

Today I’m sharing how I’ve built real momentum in my surface pattern design business… not by doing more, but by doing less—more consistently.

I’ll walk you through how one simple micro habit completely changed the way I pitch, how I use this same approach to nurture clients at The Print Book, and why building self-trust through small actions is the real secret to building confidence as a designer.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to:

• Choose one big focus that matters most right now
• Reverse-engineer it into a small, doable daily habit
• Build confidence and momentum by keeping small promises to yourself

You don’t need to overhaul your entire business to make progress. You just need to start small, stay consistent, and let those tiny steps stack over time. ✨

Stay Connected:

• The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

Control is an illusion—but intention? That’s where your real power lies. In this episode, I’m sharing a vulnerable reflection on how life threw me off course and what it taught me about creative flow, focus, and letting go of the hustle.

If you’ve been juggling multiple projects, feeling scattered, or telling yourself “I just need to do more,” this episode is your permission slip to pause and choose what actually matters.

We talk about:

• The difference between control and intention (and how knowing that changes everything)
• Why staying busy feels safe—but keeps you stuck
• The surprising freedom that comes from choosing one clear path (just for now)
• What to do when life pulls you off track—and how to come back with grace

If you’ve been craving creative clarity and direction, I hope this episode feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to change your mind. And it’s powerful to choose again—with purpose.

Stay Connected:

• The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

This week, I had the joy of sitting down with Jesse Rae Akin, a print designer and new mama navigating creativity in the middle of life’s most tender transitions. We talk about how she discovered surface pattern design almost by accident, what it’s been like balancing art with early motherhood, and how she’s finding rhythm in the messiness. Jesse shares honestly about fear, feedback, and forging your own pace in a world that feels constantly rushed. A beautiful reminder that we’re allowed to take our time—and that beauty doesn’t require perfection.

In this episode, we explore:

• Falling into surface pattern design (and staying for the joy)
• How new motherhood reshapes your creative time and energy
• The pressure of pitching your work and the power of just starting
• Learning to trust your hand, even when a brief feels like pressure
• The emotional boost of a good dress and a beautiful print

🧡 To connect with Jesse Rae Akin:

If you’d like to follow along on Jesse's journey or reach out, you can find her here:

www.jesseraeakin.com
www.instagram.com/jesseraeakin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseakin/

Stay Connected:

• The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

We’re digging into the stage of the creative process most designers skip — the part where your actual style gets formed.

Whether you're licensing, selling on Spoonflower, or pitching agents — rushing into repeat patterns and mockups without honoring your artist phase can leave your work feeling disconnected, no matter how good it looks.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• Why your signature style doesn’t come from finishing prints — but from what happens before
• The real difference between the artist and the designer (and why you need both — separately)
• How to create the space your creative voice needs to fully emerge
• What to do if your portfolio looks finished but doesn’t feel aligned
• How to spot which season you're in — and where to focus next

Whether you're still discovering your style or revisiting it for the tenth time, this is your reminder: you don’t need to start over. You just need to dig in a little deeper.

Stay Connected:

• The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

If you’ve been spinning your wheels trying to do all the things (more posts, more platforms, more pitching), this one’s for you. We talk about:

• Why clarity around your voice is more powerful than chasing metrics
• How to identify your unique point of view through your art and process
• What clients really want to see in your work
• A 90-day focus shift that could change everything
• A simple journaling exercise to strengthen your style and brand

The Print Life Membership – Where Design Meets Direction → https://printlife.io/

Stay Connected:

• The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

If everything in your creative business feels heavy or overwhelming, it doesn’t always mean you’re burnt out — sometimes, it’s a sign you’re ready for a realignment.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the moments when things feel out of sync — and how to reconnect with your true creative identity before making big changes.

We’ll cover:

• How to recognize when you’re ready for a shift
• Why simplifying your focus can reignite your creativity
• The power of authentic connection in building a sustainable business
• How to move forward from a place of clarity, not confusion

This episode is a soft reset — a mindset shift to help you simplify, refocus, and step into your next season with confidence.

Stay Connected:

• The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

Today on the Print Life podcast, I’m so excited to sit down with surface pattern designer and creative entrepreneur, Elizabeth Rachel. Liz (as many of you might know her from Instagram) has built a vibrant, playful, and thoughtfully curated product-based business rooted in her years of experience as a print designer. Her work spans home goods, accessories, and art prints — all bursting with color and her own refined, joyful style.

We talk about everything from how she got started in the fashion industry to the pivot that led her to launching a thriving Etsy shop, shipping orders solo, and growing a business that truly reflects her creative voice.

Liz also opens up about what it’s been like to juggle freelance clients, building a product line, and being a mom — and how she’s carved out space for herself while still prioritizing her family. We dive into her creative journey, how she finds inspiration, and her dream of future collaborations with brands like Liberty and even her top-tier dream: Anthropologie.

Whether you’re curious about shifting into product-based work, balancing freelance with your own line, or simply want a peek behind the scenes of a designer building something truly aligned — this episode will leave you feeling inspired and encouraged.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Liz’s creative pivot from fashion to home goods
• What it looked like to start her Etsy shop from scratch
• How her style evolved and became more playful through product design
• The reality of juggling freelance work, motherhood, and building her brand
• Dream collaborations, favorite sources of inspiration, and the mindset that keeps her going
• The advice she’d give to any designer starting out

Connect with Liz:
Website: https://www.elizabethrachael.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethrachael/

If you loved this episode, be sure to reach out to Liz and let her know! And if you’re building your own design path and looking for creative alignment, stay tuned for more conversations just like this one!

Stay Connected:

• The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

What if your next collection didn’t require starting from scratch?

In this episode, we’re exploring a mindset shift that could change the way you approach your portfolio, your pitch, and even your creative process.

Instead of chasing new ideas, Leslie invites you to look inward—to revisit the sketches, motifs, and half-finished prints that may already hold the clarity, connection, and style you’ve been looking for.

You’ll learn:

• Why constantly creating new art can become a form of avoidance
• How to recognize the value in work you’ve already made
• A simple way to organize and re-engage with your “creative backlog”
• What buyers actually respond to—and why your existing work might already be ready
• How to refine, recolor, and reposition your prints to make them pitch-ready

This episode is your reminder that you don’t always need more art—just more intention.

 📥 Grab the free checklist: 7 Ways to Make Your Prints Stand Out

https://lesliekenehan.myflodesk.com/portfoliotips

Stay Connected:

• The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

This week, I had the joy of sitting down with Woody Roseland—filmmaker, photographer, comedian, and all-around creative soul with a story that really moved me.

Woody shares his journey through multiple creative outlets, how surviving cancer shaped his path, and what he's learned about embracing experimentation, letting go of outcomes, and simply staying in the process. From commercial video work to painting rooftops in Oaxaca, his story is full of wisdom, warmth, and a whole lot of heart.

One of my favorite moments? Woody talks about how no one will hire you for something you haven’t already shown you can do—and how our most meaningful work often comes after years of showing up. He reminds us that your magnum opus doesn’t happen before the process—it’s born because of it.

If you're feeling stuck, second-guessing your direction, or waiting for the “perfect time” to do your best work… this conversation is exactly what you need.

Tune in and come back to what matters: the process, the joy, and your own creative voice.

Stay Connected:

• The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
• Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/