Layer by Layer

Issue #32

A weekly note from the studio

Oh hello!

In the Studio

This past week has been all about preparing for my very first local art market on 20 September, now less than two weeks away.

My studio has been buzzing with making, planning and testing.

What I’ve been working on

1. Finding local manufacturers New Zealand may be small, but we have incredible makers right here in Auckland. Choosing local means shorter lead times, supporting our economy, reducing waste, and keeping our footprint gentle.
2. Reviewing existing artwork I sorted through my fine art pieces and pattern designs. Deciding which works belong as fine art prints, and which patterns can complement them as stationery or small products was more time consuming and more dificult than I anticipated.
3. Placing orders Fine art prints, jotters, and A5 art books are officially on their way.
4. Planning my stall layout Sketching out how everything will look and feel on market day. Thinking about different heights, signage and baskets for organisation.
5. Sewing my linen tablecloth A simple, tactile foundation for the stall (handmade, of course).
6. Custom fine art stands My son designed beautiful display stands in SolidWorks, complete with my logo. We prototyped them and 3D‑printed them in marble filament. They look so elegant.
7. 3D‑printed business card holder Also in marble filament, a small detail that feels aligned with my brand.
8. Online payments I’ll be using my Hnry accounting app for payments. No card machines or additional transaction fees needed.
9. Thank‑you stickers A tiny touch of delight for every purchase.

Still to do:

If you’ve presented your work at art markets, or been to art markets before, is there anything else you think would make the experience magical for both me and my future collectors?

I’m building this with intention, and I want every detail to feel thoughtful.

Build Your Digital Art skills

If you have been following me for a while, you will know that I love painting with watercolour, acrylic paint and real paint brushes.

Once in a while, I do wish that I am more confident designing within the Procreate app.

I have been taking steps to practice more and will also attend the 2026 Twotap Art Summit. This summit begins in 9 hours. At this moment of posting this email newsletter, you can still get free passes for 4 days worth of digital art lessons.

Note: I am not an affiliate, I love to share free workshops that we can all learn and benefit from.

This week on the Blog I discuss Who Owns the Copyright?

It is important to understand, paying for custom artwork does not automatically give you copyright ownership.

I’ve seen this misunderstanding crop up in early stage product development meetings, in emails from new clients, and even in conversations with seasoned professionals.

So today, I’m breaking down what rights you actually get when you commission custom design work, and how to make sure your agreements are fair, clear, and commercially sound.

Additionally, I created a Checklist for artists, designers and manufactures to check important factors when considering licensing art for product development.

Download it here:

​Custom_design_rights_checklist.pdf​

Please hit reply and let me know if this email resonated, if you found it helpful and please ask questions if you have any.

In creativity and community,

Nelléne

See you next week!