Side Hustle School Ep. 3379 - TBT: These iPad Paintbrushes Never Run Dry
Apr 2, 2026
Karen Newport, a New Zealand software developer behind iPad Lettering (KiwiCoder). She explains how the iPad transformed her art and how she created and sold Procreate brushes. She shares stories about early growth, balancing a day job with a creative side income, adapting in a crowded market, and using accountability to stay focused.
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From Hobby To Paid Procreate Brushes
- Karen turned a personal hobby in hand lettering into a paid product by sharing Procreate brushes she developed for iPad Pro and Apple Pencil.
- She started with free Dropbox links on Instagram, then built a website and sold three brush sets, getting her first sale within three hours with ~3,000 followers.
Digital Tools Replace Physical Limitations
- Digital tools removed physical constraints and let Karen practice and create without worrying about supplies or space.
- Receiving an iPad Pro and Apple Pencil in 2015 plus Procreate enabled rapid experimentation that formed the business foundation.
Optimize Side Hustle For Free Time Not Just Revenue
- Treat a side hustle as a system to optimize for time freedom, not just income replacement.
- Karen's goal is to streamline iPad Lettering so it can replace her job without requiring more work hours.