Surface & Pattern Design - City Maps

Here is a few surface patterns that I've been working on for the last week or so. The first one was done for Pin Hop and I had so much fun doing it so I decided to start a series. These are all cities I've visited and adored: Paris, Florence and London. Perhaps I'll continue the series when I've a little more free time.





And a last mention, I won't be posting or online over the next week because I'm exhibiting at New Designers in London with my University. I'll be at Stand T76 so if you're exhibiting or attending say hello :)

Surface & Pattern Design - Swans

Good Morning and greetings to new visitors from #TALKT! Here's something I'd like to share with you :) This was one of my favourite designs (of my favourite animal) that was intended for my University project but because it was far too time consuming there was no way I could follow up a collection of 9, still working in this style, and so, up to this point, I haven't yet shared it. But last week I was approached by Samuel of Mister Dress Up (a t-shirt printing company based in Montreal, Canada which places focus on artist promotion) who asked me to submit a design for production. The swans are now available to buy as a t-shirt, for one week only so please check it out and have a look at all the other artists exhibiting there this week!

Project Process - Shelves

I'm really very nearly almost there with my final project with this being design 9 out of 10. Lately I've been inspired by a lot of interior blogs, specifically Finnish ones like Weekday Carnival, Varpunen and Neovia House so I've tried to incorporate that somehow into this design! For the most part, the items on the shelves were inspired by suggestions from my Twitter friends. I've placed the design in stages just so you can see how the shelves fill up!








As you can see it's intended for placement print but I think it works just as well as a pattern!

For Inspiration - Dribbble

More inspiration from Dribbble. Dare I say it's not only shaping my current project but also changing my style, ever so slightly. I converted back to the dreaded vector for certain pieces that I've been working on, mainly because it's more applicable for the market I'm working on. Therefore I've been a bit cheeky and added my own shot on this list ;) Oh well!

(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 )

Project Process - Nordlys & Tekstil Inspirert

So it turns out I've had to make some "slight" alterations to my project! Being that so far the most successful design I'd completed was the previous Dala Horse. Whilst I've tried to retain my illustrative style to fit with traditional fok art, I've found that to be applicable to a current market it has to be modernised. This, in addition with a lot of contemporary artists I've researched matching the minimal style, means that a lot of my work is going to have to be simplified.

I've wanted to draw the Northern Lights in some way for so long and I'd never found a way to go about it. This was a sketch on paper that took two minutes and I think it works so well. It's minimal, aesthetical and functional which is my aim for at least one of the two collections I have to complete. As this is for gift wrap, perhaps I can afford to be a little more decorative when it comes to creating a collection for greetings cards.
Edit: I made alterations to the Nordlys pattern and added an additional one. Tekstil Inspirert means Textile Inspired (such an original title!). I adore the folk art influence but now I am wondering if the colours combined with the deer and winter trees are a bit too Christmasy? Thoughts appreciated

For Inspiration - Orla Kiely

For personal reasons which cannot be mentioned I'm going to have to "eat my foot" as concerns this post. Let it be said this remains a secret between me and the Northern Irish man in question.

I've never been a huge fan of Orla Kiely. It's too simplistic for my taste and I've never liked the solid vector shape with minimal colouring. I think in a similar way to Marimekko with the red Unikko design, the stem design with the orange and green colourings has been so overused. Never the less I've been drawn into this collection, possibly because of the Riviera print (in circles 6 and 7). I find it so tasteful with the adorably tiny shapes and sweet, fresh colours. The big bold planes are also so charming.

Which are your favourites from the new Orla Kiely collection?

Drawings & Illustrations - An Owl From Sweden

And here is what I have been working on in my spare time for what seems like forever now. I'm not sure if the owl really did come from Sweden but he is accompanied by bold colours and design from textiles so yes, he has to be! The second brighter print you see was inspired by a book that became my bible last semester at University. It was a beautifully bound box filled with individual sheets and a reference guide to traditional Swedish textiles, predominantly woven designs and tapestries. Of course, the colours weren't this bright but I've tried to create an even mix, using modern and traditional elements of Scandinavian design. The owl was drawn on a surface that measures 45x45cm which is around 5000x5000 pixels, so you can understand that when drawn with a brush that measures 3 pixels it is a bit time consuming. I am still not satisfied with this but I must love and leave it at this.





If you are in love with the Swedish owl, John's birds, carousels, whales or anything else I've drawn then you can buy them from my store on Society 6. It's a wonderful community and I've already had many beautiful messages and sales (yay!). Now I am heading back to University there couldn't be a better time for shameless self promotion.