Petra Monaco

Hey there, One of my favorite parts about creating art is seeing the journey it takes. A tiny sketch that started as an idea while sitting at my desk somehow turns into something that gets to become part of everyday life. Still slightly wild when I think about it. For Strawberry Fields, I wanted the pieces to feel nostalgic and useful. The kind of things that make ordinary moments a little sweeter: ☕ sipping coffee in the morning✏️ writing down ideas before they disappear forever (looking at...

Hey there, Sometimes a collection starts with a huge idea. And sometimes…it starts with a strawberry. Strawberry Fields began with simple little sketches: berries, blossoms, leaves, and those tiny details from nature that are so easy to walk past if you’re moving too quickly. (Which is exactly why I stop approximately 47 times on a hike to look at moss, mushrooms, flowers, and other tiny things.) As the drawings came together, they slowly grew into a full pattern collection. The bold...

Hey there, This week was less eventful in terms of encountering nature, but we did have a few hot days, and Milo enjoyed a quick dip in the makeshift dog pool to cool himself down. This Week in the Studio… I've been working on Strawberry Fields, my new surface design collection. I took some of the motifs and turned them into coloring pages. I am finalizing the collection and some other ideas that came along, and will be sharing this in the next week. Stay tuned! New on the Blog Why I finally...

Hey there, I wanted to send a separate note this week. You may have already noticed it in my emails to you on Sundays, but I hadn't officially introduced it to you yet. Wild Ridge Studio on Patreon is now open. Over the last few months, Wild Ridge Studio has grown in ways I honestly didn’t expect. What started with learning surface pattern design has turned into collections inspired by trail walks, watercolor studies, woodland details, and the little moments I keep collecting from the Blue...

Hey there, This week, we encountered Turtles in our walk after a big rainstorm that came through. It's actually one of my favorite times on the trail because a lot of people don't come out on the trails as it can be too wet and muddy - but it's perfect for reactive dogs. Remi and Zina are checking out the turtle. This Week in the Studio… I decided to enter a design contest and put everything else aside, and managed to finish ahead of the deadline, which is a new one for me, as I usually wait...

Hey there, This week, on a morning walk, I came upon a little fawn on the trail. It startled me at first, and then I worried it was injured. So I stood there for just a moment, pondering what to do. I opted to walk around it, and the moment I did, it got up and ran off into the woods. Whew, crisis averted. This Week in the Studio… I am working on a new collection, Deer in the Woods, and it's interesting that I'd walk upon a wee fawn on the trail. It's like the universe sending tiny messages...

Hey there, This week I’m settling back into a routine of eating well, working out, and moving through the familiar rhythms of life as a stay-at-home dog owner and artist. Spring is doing what spring does best around here: cool mornings, warmer afternoons, everything slowly waking up and stretching toward summer. I’ve never been someone who thrives with too much structure, but over the years, I’ve learned that a little routine helps me actually get things done. As a creative, that balance can...

hey there, You know how life just keeps moving along, things are good, and then suddenly your dog splits her paw open and has to spend the night at the vet because she needs stitches? That’s been my kind of week. Somewhere between the stress, lack of sleep, and trying to keep everyone calm, I found myself thinking again about how much I’ve been craving slower rhythms lately, not just in life, but in the way I create, too. This week in the studio… I’m participating in Bärbel Dressler’s...

hey there, It’s open. Wild Ridge Monthly: The Quiet Collection is now available. The first release will ship at the end of June. I’m keeping this first round small so I can manage production and make sure everything goes out the way it should. If you want in, you can join here: Join today! That’s it. Cheers, Petra Petra Monaco Pyrography Academy Wild Ridge Studio Ridge Raven 1506 DUDLEY MOUNTAIN RD, Charlottesville, VA 22903 Unsubscribe · Preferences