The art and Business of Surface Pattern Design (EEEEK!)

Ok so, I've had a little time off Blogging, but hopefully I am now back into the swing of things, after starting the amazing 'Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design' ecourse, Featuring Rachael Taylor. 


I am 4 days in, and already thanking my lucky stars that I found this course. I've yet to put pencil to paper, because I actually fear my sketchbook, and feel an urge to draw straight onto my computer. I must put away the Wacom Tablet. 


I hope to keep a Weekly Blog with my updates and showcase some of my work, inspiration and problems that might occur. Im also hoping my blog might take me somewhere in the future. 


The first week of the course delves in to 'inspiration'. As beautiful as nature is, I've never really used it as a source of inspiration, even though I do tend to draw flowers constantly. However, already I have learned that pattern is EVERYWHERE in nature, and really is the best source of inspiration to draw from. Here are the images I took which I (fully) intend to draw from (this evening, I promise). 

                                                           

A mini task set for us was to pick a shape and use them to create some patterns, motifs and generally have a play around. 


To get into the swing of things, I pulled out my stash of buttons. simply laying them randomly on the bed of my scanner, I then used Illustrator (*slaps wrist) to change the outlines, colour and textures of the buttons. These are the results. 

What will be done with these I am yet to find out, I may never use them again, I may come back to them and incorporate them into a design. But for now, they are simply.... Here. 

Text Designs

I've been doing a few bits of commissioned work for friends. And with Mother's Day approaching (and my fathers Birthday), I decided to play with words. I don't tend to use fonts much, they're not my favourite Illustrator tool, but I will admit I had some fun creating these. 

A design detailing my Daughters birth details. 

A Design created for a friend who has twin girls. 

Mothers day and comissioned work

A few mothers day designs that I have created. 

A few 'Bedroom' designs for some happy clients

A commissioned wedding design, which will be printed and framed for the client. I designed a variety of layouts and let them choose. 

This was the selected design

Designer Block

It appears I had a bit of a Designers block, since setting up my new Facebook page for selling, I've had very little time to design 'Just for fun". So I took a day off, and just drew for me, for no client, no restricted colour palette, no drawing things i've never attempted before, and it was Lovely!!!!! 

No more Designer's block (i focused on 'Live colour' this evening). 

This one is my favourite colour range

New Facebook selling Page

I have started a new selling page on Facebook, as a result of one design that I created for my niece, which is to be printed on fabric and stretched across a canvas. It was so popular people started asking me to edit it for their child. I sold 7 in a few days. So here I now have a page for selling my designs. And this is the design that caused such commotion, followed by a few that I created to sell to others. 

This was created for a friends Son 

 

A few Variations of the original

A Ballerina version of the original Princess design

 

A few random designs available to buy 

A mothers Day design I have created for my momma.

various things

 Spoonflower competition entry: Bicycle

An adaption of the "Thank you" card I originally made for my sister. She wanted a 'get well soon' card for her friend who is a student nurse, and recovering from a broken ankle/knee/Leg.