One of my latest pattern designs, featuring the simplicity that confidence brings. (Mockup by Michael Gorelick Designs)

There’s a certain kind of progress that doesn’t come with fanfare or gold stars.

It shows up in the quiet moments—when you realize, mid-design, that you don’t need to add more. When you recognize that restraint is just as powerful as intricacy. When you stop before the piece is overworked, and smile, because your eye has grown sharper, steadier, more confident.

That’s the kind of growth I’m experiencing right now in my art practice.

Lately, I’ve been working on building out my portfolio—focusing on more seasonal patterns and story-driven character designs. It’s stretched me, in a good way. Historically, I’ve leaned toward peaceful, atmospheric scenes (and I still love those), but now I’m experimenting with pieces that hint at deeper narratives, like they’ve been pulled from a picture book or a folklore tale.

One of my recent quiet wins came while designing a seashell pattern for a challenge. I sketched by hand, moved it into Procreate, refined the line work, and paused. Usually, that’s the point where I begin painting and adding texture. But this time? I looked at the piece and saw that it didn’t need more.

I even tested my theory by layering extra elements—but the original, simpler version held more elegance and clarity.

Seeing my new pattern on mockups is always so exciting!

It feels so real now!

That moment gave me so much confidence.

It told me I’m growing—not just in technique (though I’ve been working on things like line weight and digital texture) but in discernment. My eye is becoming more refined. And honestly, that feels like a kind of magic. ✨

Now I’ve created several variations of that shell pattern in different colorways, and they each carry their own little mood and story. It’s the kind of flexibility I love as a designer, and a practice I’m excited to continue refining.

Over on Patreon, I’ve been sharing sneak peeks of this shell series, along with behind-the-scenes thoughts, struggles, and “aha!” moments as I shape my portfolio. It’s incredibly meaningful to know there’s a community cheering me on, and even more meaningful to think that sharing these moments might help another artist skip a few stuck places.

If you’re in a season of invisible growth—where your progress doesn’t yet show up on paper—I want to remind you: your eye is sharpening too. Your taste is refining. And sometimes, restraint is the most powerful move you can make.

💫 Want to join me behind the scenes?

My Patreon is where I share my artistic process in real-time—designs, patterns, character work, and honest thoughts from the journey. You can also vote on upcoming ideas and help shape my next moves.

→ Join here
→ Share your own quiet wins with me on IG: @starthistle.and.quartz
→ Use the hashtag #SQStudioNotes so I can cheer you on, too 💌