Embracing the Analog: A Journey Through Letters and Art with Janice MacLeod
Janice MacLeod is a beacon for those yearning to reconnect with the tactile joys of an analog lifestyle. Through her writing, art, and letters, she invites readers to slow down and savor the simple pleasures of life. In an age increasingly saturated by screens, swipes, and digital noise, she offers a quiet, heartfelt invitation to slow down and return to something more intimate, deliberate, and timeless: the analog life.
It was the Paris Letters that first introduced me to her work. I bought them as a gift for our young daughter as a birthday gift, and she loved them…so much so that she framed a few of them and displayed them on her bedroom wall. She has since married, and still treasures this gift from years ago (with aspirations to travel to Paris one day, with her watercolor set and sketch book in hand).
Copyright & Credit: Janice MacLeod | Paris Letters
From the first moment you arrive at Janice’s website, you are welcomed into a world where watercolor meets wax seal, where handwritten letters still carry magic, and where daily life is approached as an unfolding canvas of wonder. Whether you’re flipping through her bestselling books or reading her blog entries on stationery, art, and simplicity, you sense one clear thing: Janice MacLeod is not just chronicling life—she is savoring it
From Corporate Burnout to Parisian Bliss
Janice’s story begins in a familiar place: the corporate world. A successful advertising copywriter, she seemed to be living the dream. But the relentless demands of her career and the detachment of modern work culture left her restless and unfulfilled. In what many would describe as a bold leap of faith, she sold most of her belongings, minimized her life, and set off for Europe.
Paris became her muse and her sanctuary.
It was there, amidst café tables and cobblestone streets, that Janice began creating hand-illustrated letters capturing the nuance and charm of Parisian life. These weren’t merely travel notes — they were works of art. A blend of watercolor illustrations and storytelling, the Paris Letters became a beloved subscription series, and eventually the subject of her New York Times bestselling memoir by the same name.
The Heart of Her Craft: Letters as Art
Janice MacLeod has a rare gift: she transforms the ordinary into the exquisite. Whether describing a street musician, the rhythm of a day in Montmartre, or the changing of the seasons, her illustrated letters invite readers to linger.
She has since expanded her offerings to include Cottage Letters, which reflect her return to a quieter, nature-rich lifestyle. These letters, inspired by the countryside and slow living, continue the tradition of hand-painted art paired with thoughtful prose. Each letter is mailed the old-fashioned way — through the postal service — adding a layer of anticipation and joy in an era of instant gratification.
For Janice, letters are more than communication…they’re connection. They’re tangible expressions of beauty, crafted with intention and delivered with care. In her hands, the simple letter becomes a sacred space of presence, artistry, and shared humanity.
Copyright & Credit: Janice MacLeod | Cottage Letters
Books that Enchant and Inspire
Janice MacLeod’s books are extensions of her analog ethos, each one filled with visual charm and contemplative depth:
Paris Letters (2014): This memoir chronicles her transformation from burned-out copywriter to joyful artist living in Paris. It’s not just a story about changing scenery, but about reclaiming one’s life through simplicity, art, and authenticity.
A Paris Year (2017): A beautifully illustrated journal capturing 365 days in Paris, filled with sketches, observations, and musings on history, culture, and everyday beauty. It’s a book that reads like a stroll through the city with a dear friend.
Dear Paris (2020): A collection of 140 actual letters Janice sent to subscribers of her Paris Letters series. These pages allow readers to experience Paris through her eyes … a city rendered not just in watercolor, but in emotion.
Spiritual Retreat at Home (2023): A guided journal that blends spiritual reflection, art prompts, and journaling exercises, this book is a balm for the soul. It reflects Janice’s belief that deep renewal is possible right at home, through analog practices of prayer, journaling, and silence.
Each book is not only aesthetically beautiful but spiritually nourishing. They reflect her deep understanding that joy isn’t found in hustle, but in attention—in the kind of presence that analog living fosters.
A Blog That Cultivates Curiosity and Calm
Janice’s blog is a treasure for kindred spirits who crave meaning and stillness. Her entries range from practical how-to’s on painting and journaling to meditations on grief, joy, travel, and homemaking.
A few personal favorite posts include reflections on:
A tribute to Autumn in Paris (wonderful photography!)
Whether she's posting a new letter design or describing a summer’s day in poetic detail, Janice’s writing is intimate without being intrusive. It’s like receiving a letter from a trusted friend who sees the world through gentle eyes.
Photos Copyright: Janice MacLeod via https://janicemacleod.com/
Analog Living as a Spiritual Practice
What makes Janice MacLeod’s work so compelling is not simply the content she creates, but the way she lives. Her entire creative process is anchored in the analog … hand-drawn illustrations, handwritten letters, natural materials, and seasonal rhythms.
This analog lifestyle is not a rejection of technology, but a recalibration. It’s an act of resistance against the tyranny of the urgent. It’s about slowing down long enough to notice the light falling on your desk, the colors outside your window, or the fragrance of ink drying on paper.
In a culture that worships busyness, Janice reminds us that slowness is not laziness … it’s reverence. Her lifestyle is an inspiring and contemplative one, and we get to partake through her words and art.
A Global Community of Letter Lovers
Through her Etsy shop and subscription series, Janice has fostered a global network of analog enthusiasts who cherish the tactile beauty of real mail. Her audience ranges from fellow artists to journal keepers, from Paris lovers to spiritual seekers. Each month, she ships joy in the form of art, paper, and story … reawakening the thrill of finding something handwritten in the mailbox.
Her community regularly shares stories of how receiving her letters transformed their day, reminded them of a loved one, or inspired them to pick up a brush or a pen after years away.
An Analog Treasure | Received Years Ago from Janice MacLeod
Some Final Thoughts
In our hurried world, Janice MacLeod’s work feels like a deep breath. She shows us that the analog life is not just nostalgic, it’s profoundly human.
She reminds us that letters matter, that beauty is worth pursuing, and that stories told in watercolor and ink still have the power to move hearts.
Whether you’re looking for artistic inspiration, a renewed rhythm, or simply a beautiful letter to read over a cuppa, Janice’s world offers all of that, and more. In her, we find not just an artist and writer, but a gentle guide back to the sacred slowness of life.
To explore her offerings, visit janicemacleod.com
To receive her illustrated letters, visit HERE
To collect her books and prints, visit her Etsy Shop