art for busy people

Art for Busy People art packs are made by Denise McMahon in Dunedin. Denise combines nature, art, and wellbeing into her products.

Tell us a little about what you make.

I make art packs for busy people who want creative outlets. Grounded in research and inspired by nature, our unique packs are themed and feature high-quality tutorials, easy-to-follow instructional cards, and premium materials.

What was your creative journey like, what led you to being a designer/maker?

I had been a Visual Art Teacher for over 30 years in Australia, surrounding myself in creative thinking, designing, and problem solving every day. In wanting to share my skills and knowledge with others, I started Art for Busy People, where I designed art packs. In effect, busy people were everywhere around me. People who needed time to pause, had no prior art knowledge, could not access materials easily, and had no time to listen to long tutorials or attend an art class in person. Those points became the criteria to design from.

How would you describe your design aesthetic/identity and where do you find your inspiration?

Nature is my greatest source of inspiration, setting the theme for each art pack and guiding the skills and compositions within. Over the years, my design aesthetic has evolved—from realism to abstraction, and from traditional to contemporary approaches—thanks to ongoing study, teaching, and practice. I intentionally emphasize an abstract style in my packs to remove the pressure of achieving realism, allowing creativity to flourish without constraints.

Do you have any advice for other makers and budding creatives?

Trust in yourself. Make and design from what you are passionate about, and the rest will follow.

What is the best part about being involved in GUILD?

Having a community of creative people to be able to connect with is one of the great aspects of being involved in GUILD. I find being surrounded by other artists and designers propels me forward in my own creative journey.