Learning to do Surface Design

Earlier this year I search the internet for videos to teach me how to use illustrator to create repeating patterns for surface design. I did not study graphic design in school and it has been something I have been interested in the past few years. I dabbled with adobe illustrator this year with a couple of fabric designs I have in Spoonflower but was incredibly frustrated that I lacked the skills. Last week Bonnie Christine who is a surface designer was on the Creativelive last week teaching everything see learned on her own to do repeat patterns. This is the class and it is well worth purchasing if you are interested in surface design.

photo credit: Creativelive.com

 So all this week I have taking that class and attempting to do my next fabric design on illustrator. It has been so much fun! I was so excited that this class was offered!
Here are some pics of me sketching out some ideas and dabbling in illustrator.

And to end the week off right I did another custom portrait of this fashionable couple who is recently engaged to be married.
 

Check out Creativelive they offer some really great classes.  Hope you all have had a great week! Enjoy the weekend!

First Fabric Design

I took a break from drawing girlfriends these past two weeks and decided to tackle designing fabric. It has been a project I have been wanting to do for a while now. I was inspired by a photograph that Anthropologie posted in their instagram of Mara Ferreira on her blog.

Photo by M Loves M

  The hat Mara was wearing inspired me to sketch and watercolor an image of her wearing some Amaria earrings. The girl in the hat then inspired me to watercolor a seashell, and the mother of pearl earrings and pearl necklace. I then decided to design a fabric combining all the watercolors and came up with my first fabric design available at Spoonflower called Lady at the Beach.

Here is my swatch of the fabric

I have also uploaded it in my Shop so if you are interested in a tote, pillow, art print, etc.

I am pretty excited about this first fabric design and have already been working on the second one with a Moroccan theme. I hope to have it up and approved by next week!