We’ve absolutely adored sharing the beautiful work of Queensland-based designer Naomi Robinson and hope you’ve loved her designs as much as we have! Naomi’s designs bring a playful, fresh Spring-time vibe.
And reflects Naomi’s charming, organic and whimsy style.
To coincide with Naomi’s ‘Follow Me Sunshine’ collection being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which we’ve shared below! The blog takes a closer look at Naomi’s creative process, detailing every step from initial sketch to final design. The blog also includes gorgeous photographs and process images which really help tell the story of Naomi’s work and the ‘Follow Me Sunshine’ collection. Keep reading to find out more about Naomi Robinson and her stunning designs!
Naomi Robinson
Hi, I’m Naomi a watercolour and mixed media artist based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. A place that is rich with natural beauty, and very tropical! I have been a visual artist for over 10 years, taking to watercolour only a few years ago. And recently beginning my career in surface pattern design, an aspiration I have had since 2012. I grew up 40 acres of bushland, close to where I live now. Spending much of my childhood playing outside; pondering, observing and interacting with the natural world. This sense of wonder and excitement has impressed my soul, and greatly influences my arts practice today.
Naomi working on her Dandy Wishes print
You may have already seen my curated selection of designs ‘Follow Me Sunshine’ available here at Digital Fabrics, I’m super excited about it! They are intended to reflect my organic, whimsy and delicate style. As well as being a stand-alone collection offering a playful, fresh, Spring vibe. My process for creating a pattern collection begins with inspiration from the environment around me. I go on to ask myself a series of questions; “What specifically is intriguing or inspiring me? Shape, form or colour..?” “What feelings arise from that? I.e. imperfect, playful, tropical”.
Original Sketches
Once I have my descriptive words I go on to collate images together to create a mood board and gather any other images that can help me further tell the story. It’s a very intuitive process. Colour is the next step, and again it is done intuitively and in response to the feelings I experience from my descriptive words. When I’m ready to sit down to paint, I begin by quickly and roughly sketching the motifs on paper to practice their form and build some muscle memory. So that when I go to paint I’m able to retain a ‘loose’ style. I assess the painting as I go and ensure it’s in alignment with my key words.
Designing in Progress
Once I’m ‘in the flow’ (a few watercolour pages later!) I start to see beautiful and organic shapes arise. My painting technique allows the magic of watercolour to take centre stage. I work quickly, and try not to fuss or overwork it, as I believe the natural and earthy pigments of the paint mixed with water imbue the artwork with an aliveness, imperfection and beauty much better than my conscious mind ever could!
Creekside Maiden Motifs
I’m really looking forward to seeing my patterns live a new life on your gorgeous products! Please tag me @naomirdesigns and @digitalfabrics in your projects on social media. And if you’d like to see more of my artwork and designs, head on over to my Facebook or Instagram page @naomirdesigns, I’d love to connect with you there!
Patterns, Love and Nature. x Naomi
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
It’s been amazing sharing all of the wonderful designs by textile designer LeAnne Payne with you! We hope you’ve loved them just as much as we have. To coincide with LeAnne’s ‘Spring Picnic’ and ‘Australian Flora’ collections being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which further explains her creative process, what inspires her designs as well as bit more about herself.
Keep reading to find out more!
LeAnne Payne
Hello! my name is LeAnne and I am the designer for Leanne Mary Designs. It is wonderful to be here at Digital Fabrics, an Australian owned and operated eco friendly fabric manufacturer. Digital fabrics have selected some of my stand alone designs to bring to you first, a collection of fun, whimsical designs.
LeAnne Sketching in Studio
At Leanne Mary Designs our focus is to bring designs that provide the solution to your project needs. If you have an idea, let me know and we can collaborate to bring it to life! I am blessed to live in the most beautiful part of the world, Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, where I live with my husband and one four legged friend. Our home is a peaceful haven from the busyness of the world and a place that I can create and enjoy my art, while getting inspiration from the bushland and lake. You will often see me stopping on our daily walks to pick up a twig or leaf because it has a great shape or colour, I find inspiration all around us.
LeAnne Sketching at Lake
I have always been an artist, dabbling away at watercolour, acrylics, digital, I even love coloured pencils. When I discovered Surface Pattern Design it blew my mind. I had never before thought of how the patterns on items came into being but once discovered I now see patterns everywhere! The moment I made my first repeating pattern is right up there in ‘Best moments of my life” I may just have emailed that pattern to everyone I knew I was so chuffed. And that was to be the start of an artistic obsession to make repeat patterns.
Watercolour Paintings
My process for making a pattern can start in a variety of ways but they all finish up the same way. With lots of refining in either illustrator or photoshop. I love the process of taking the motifs and making them into a repeat pattern but this is also the part that I take lots of time with. Going over each element to make a well balanced pattern. Why? Because I am passionate about art and illustrations and producing work that is quality and perfect for the project that you have in mind.
WIP Designs
I would love to see what you make with my designs, it is a buzz that never ends. Tag me on instagram @iamleannemary or send me a message: leannemary6@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/iamleannemary
https://linktr.ee/leannemarydesigns
Our current feature artist as part of The Designer Project is the wonderfully creative designer Nicole Wilton and we have been so fortunate to have her talents on board!
Nicole has offered a range of her hand-painted, watercolour designs as print-ready artwork in our Fabric Shop online, with each being available to print onto any of our stock fabrics! What’s more exciting is that the artist herself has shared with us a guest blog which discusses her primary inspirations and creative processes.
Keep reading to find out more about Nicole Wilton and her ‘Spring Harvest’ Collection!
Nicole Wilton
I’m more surprised than anyone when I tell people I am a watercolour artist and designer. I was previously studying medicine – true story, I was going to be a surgeon! And before that, I’d studied and worked as a medical scientist. Safe to say, I’d never really thought of myself as much of a Creative.
Painting in Studio
Completely self-taught, both in painting and the digital side of surface design, the learning curve has been steep to say the least. My designs all begin on paper. Sometimes I start by sketching out ideas, elements or whole patterns. And then I paint. A lot! All my designs are hand-painted in watercolour. I love the delicate honesty of watercolour. It is so beautifully imperfect, and captures the glorious forms and features in nature.
Painting at Desk
The whole process of painting – with an actual brush and paint and paper – it’s part of the joy of it all. Once scanned in, I can easily get lost in editing and creating patterns for hours. Seeing my paintings realised into patterns and ultimately products is such a thrill. I sewed an apron for my eldest girl using Heirloom Carrots – it brings a lot of fun and joy to the kitchen.
Painted Elements for Snow Pea Toss
As mama to three little people, I do most of my painting and design at night while they sleep! Our wildlings love to be involved in the process though too – we gather and forage together, sketch and paint. We’ve even collaborated on a few patterns.
Inspiration for Loads of Lemons
I’m never short of inspiration (just time!) – home-grown lemons led to Loads of Lemons, while veggies from the garden and our dinnerware set inspired Tossed Snow Peas and Wilton&Co Posy. I like to use neutral tones and simple forms to capture the striking beauty and understated elegance of Australian flora. While vibrant colours and playful patterns celebrate our delightfully ordinary days filled with gardening and honest joys.
Painting Elements for Heirloom Carrots
Born and raised in the country, my love of all things rural is reflected in designs inspired by everything our home paddock has to offer. Alongside my wonderful husband, we’re raising our three little wildlings in our home among the gum trees. It’s simple. It’s honest. It’s joy.
You can follow along @nicolewiltondesign
Nicole Wilton
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
We’ve absolutely adored sharing the delicious ‘Blooms & Bakes’ Collection by artist Jenni Rogers for this installment of The Designer Project!
As passionately described by Jenni, “When I bake the texture and colours consume me – there is never ending inspiration from these subjects. It’s life and it is a part of us all”. Jenni’s creative process starts with feelings that she gains from the observation of these subjects. Then her mind starts to envision how it could look, usually painting from still life, photos or real life as in plain air.
We hope that you have all loved Jenni’s beautiful collection as much as we have! Each of Jenni’s designs can be found in our Fabric Shop online. Keep reading to find out more about Jenni’s work, inspirations and typical creative process!
Jenni Rogers
Hi, my name is Jenni Rogers, artist, surface pattern designer and chef and I’m based in the beautiful Byron Bay Hinterland. I love creating paintings/patterns that combine two of my favourite things – cooking and art.
And I’m super excited to be included in the Designer project with Digital Fabrics, thank you!
I thought I’d introduce myself by sharing a little behind the scenes look at how my patterns start, what my inspiration is and how my sketches and paintings evolve into the patterns you see here at Digital Fabrics.
Almost all of my initial inspiration comes from food in some way or another whether it be raw ingredients, like how vanilla paste sparkles in the sun on a teaspoon (that may sound odd to you…lol ) or a messy table after a great meal shared with family and friends, with serviettes, plates stacked, etc. Yes these are the things that capture my attention!
I find all aspects of food and cafes very emotional. I often associate memories to food. I know when I bake bread, I think of my dad in the kitchen baking these enormous loaves for our family, my Grandma and I making little, sweet jam mushrooms with icing and pastry stalks and my mum and I destroying the kitchen through cake decorating, every bowl and appliance in the house was used. Our favourite recipes remind us of our loved ones – when we create them, in a way, it brings them back to us. My paintings and then patterns are a way of capturing those images.
This is my initial process on how I create a pattern and it starts in the kitchen:
1/Photograph whilst making the recipe – usually cake!
2/ Eat baked goodies and share with family
3/ Sketch out different elements within the baking process to see what looks good and to plan how the recipe will read and if its easy to follow.
4/ play around with painting different parts of the process
5/ This is the finished painting below. I call it Recipe-art.
Once the painting is finished, I then use some or all of the elements within the painting to create patterns. I start by scanning in my finished painting, basically pulling it apart on photoshop and then arranging them into repeat patterns. I usually end up with at least 50+ patterns from each recipe, its actually hard to stop!
High Tea Design WIP
And this is the finished pattern.
“High Tea” and it’s available to use now within Digital Fabrics.
I would love to see what you make with my patterns and I hope this has inspired you to get busy creating! Please tag both Digital Fabrics (@digitalfabrics) and myself on Instagram or Facebook.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetart_by_jenni
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetartbyjenni
Happy Creating , Jenni
This photo below is where I paint smaller artworks and working in photoshop.
Jenni’s Art Studio
And this photo below is my art studio where I paint larger artworks and I can get a bit messy.
Jenni Rogers
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
It’s been amazing sharing all of the wonderful designs by textile designer Susanna April with you! We hope you’ve loved them just as much as we have. To coincide with Susanna’s ‘My Hearts Garden’ collection being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which further explains her self-taught design process, what inspires her designs as well as bit more about herself.
Keep reading to find out more!
Susanna April
Hi fabric lovers! I’m Susanna, an intuitive acrylic artist and designer from QLD, and I’m so excited to be a part of The Designer Project!
Susanna in her Studio
I’ve been painting and dabbling in art for years, but recently have come alive with discovering surface design – as a graphic designer by trade it’s been a dream come true to marry my two loves of paint and digital together!
My process is quite fluid and simple, and really just comes down to loving paint and loving the feeling of making beauty with my hands. My art practice is very connected to my spiritual journey and I call it ‘a creative journey of surrendering all’ – you will see this in the titles of my prints! Art has always been healing for me and I’m passionate about seeing it set others free from fear and awaken joy in people hearts.
I start by layering many sheets of paper with acrylics to get in the ‘flow’ – usually at 10pm at night because I have two tiny and beautiful but also very needy kiddos. After I get in the groove I’ll work on a canvas piece or two, layering the colours intuitively – there’s not really a method to my creativity – sometimes it works, and often it does not! But the longer I persevere the more wonderful and delightful discoveries I make.
I like to think of my style as a ‘colourful minimalist’, there’s nothing better than seeing a certain colour shine on a background of white! I choose my palettes to sing together and don’t often use contrasting colours.
After I’m happy with an artwork I will either scan via my art scanner or take a high res photograph, and then create a seamless repeat in photoshop. I love how abstract art looks when it’s large scale – especially on textiles and clothing – almost like wearing a piece of art!
You can follow me along for the journey over @susannaapril, I share my heart and creative process quite openly. I would love to see the creations you make from my prints!
Thanks for reading, happy sewing!
Susanna x
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
It’s been so amazing sharing all of these beautiful designs by textile designer Andrea Maurer with you! We feel to privellaged to have not only one..but two stunning collections from her. To coincide with Andrea’s ‘Warm Winter’ and ‘Coming Home’ collections being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which further explains her self-taught design process, what inspires her designs as well as bit more about herself.
Keep reading to find out more!
Andrea Maurer
Hello! I’m Andrea Maurer and so excited to be included in the Digital Fabrics designer project. A selection of my prints will be available as part of their print on demand offering which I think is just a wonderful option for makers and creatives to have unique fabric without the minimums required by other suppliers.
Flowers are my go to inspiration! If I could spend my days surrounded by flowers and basking in the sun I would! My colour palette usually leans towards soft tonal colours and would say this is inspired by vintage wallpapers and textiles. My style is naturally feminine and I love creating a whimsical timeless feeling in my prints.
Andrea in her studio
My process often begins with an idea of a composition or at least of one or two elements. Once I get these original ideas onto paper I can see the rest of the print coming to life. This blossoming of an idea usually leads to many elements that help create a collection of prints which have originated from the original feeling of those first few sketches and paintings.
Once I have finished drawing or painting I then can’t wait to get my artwork digitised and imported into photoshop so I can clean them up and start playing around with a composition for a print. I scan them in and am always amazed at how well everything translates onto my screen! I love the flexibility of working digitally and being able to change the colours and composition to create a different feeling than if it was left on paper. After putting it into repeat the print is born and can be made into absolutely anything which is such a thrill!
Original watercolour motifs for ‘Winter Pantry’ Design
I love using mock ups to see how my print would look once it is made up into something and the way it looks on folds of fabric and wrapped around the body or onto a product. This process is really addictive and makes me want to turn everything into a print, which I nearly always try to do.
Winter Fruits Design
I am so passionate about creating and love the studio space in the corner of my home that allows me this sacred time to create amidst the chaos of being a mother to a tiny human. I try to keep paintbrushes and pencils close by so that when I have a spare moment I can create without much fuss. It’s important to me to see the artwork that I’ve created in the past and love, this helps me to know that I can do it again and builds my confidence to keep creating even if I’m not feeling 100% inspired in that moment.
Winter Fruits Product Mockup
I’m so grateful to be a part of this platform of other designers doing amazing things and whose artwork I love! I hope some people resonate with my prints and I can’t wait to see the creations and designs that come of it.
Thanks Digital Fabrics!
– Andrea x
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
It’s been an absolute blast sharing the playful work of Dominique Collins for our current installment of The Designer Project and we hope you’ve fallen as in love with her designs as we have! The Brisbane-based designer creates illustrations and print designs which typically incorporate bright vibrant colours and hand drawn motifs . We’re so thrilled to have Dominique’s ‘Whimsical Nature’ collection available in our Fabric Shop and are keen to see all the inventive ways our fabulous customers will use them! As part of Dominique’s feature the designer has also put together a guest blog which details her typical creative process as well as the things that inspire her! We’ve shared the blog post below so keep reading to find out more about Dominique and her charming designs!
Dominique Collins
Hi everyone! My name is Dominique Collins, everyone calls me Stixy. I am over the moon to be working with Digital Fabrics as part of the Designer Project. I currently own and run Stixylin, a very new illustration and pattern design business, I only started this in May 2022. I live in sunny Brisbane, with my hubby and two energetic children who keep me on toes and push me to create new designs and illustrations each week, with all their little requests (I love it!). I am following my dream as a creative freelancer so I can spend more time with my family while doing what I love.
Workspace + WIP Designs
Recently I took the leap to be a full-time artist/designer/business woman while being a full-time mum of two. I have been passionate about art and creating colourful designs since I was a child living in South Africa. Most of my work is self-taught and I love exploring different mediums, but found Procreate and Adobe Fresco are what I love to use the most (not to mention those apps being easy to travel with as you only need to take your iPad).
Fabric Testing of Falling Blueberry Leaves
I am excited to share my curated collection of pattern designs, creative inspiration and process and give you a sneak peak at my workspace. My work is still new and evolving in ways I could only dream of, with nature and family as my biggest inspiration. My work typically incorporates bright vibrant colours, hand drawn motifs and illustrations.
Work in Progress Falling Soft Blueberry Leaves
A little sneak peak into my workspace and how I got my dream space. We build our house two years ago and I designed it with a front office, featuring a great big floor to ceiling window which offers the best natural light. My workspace is generally clean with my iPad, computers and some fabric swatches and maybe a workbook. While creating I am always at my desk or on the couch, even sometimes outside. Depending on my creative mood, you will find me wondering the house with my iPad in hand and a big pot of coffee or tea floating around.
Dominique working on Blooms and Shrooms Design
Most of my inspiration comes form being outdoors, either with the kids or while running/cycling. Nature offers such a great inspirational palette of colours and shapes. My curated collection reflects this with rainbows, leaves, snakes and flowers.
My creative process will vary depending on what I am creating. I will often be prompted by something in nature that catches my eye and quickly try to sketch it or take a photo of it to use as a reference. I will sketch my ideas digitally on separate layers so I can adjust and move motifs around before creating the final design. Often I will get creative input from my son or daughter on new ideas and colours or if I am feeling stuck. During my creative process, I will search Pinterest for images to go on my mood-board to help select a colour palette and maybe alternative ideas to help me bring more life to my designs.
Snakes in Leaves Digital Sketch
An example of my kids helping me, will be when my daughter told me how she imagines snakes gathering in the leaves, their beautiful colours and how they flow from one destination to the next. From this I was able to create Snakes in Leaves Peachy Pink. All hand drawn in procreate with the colours and shapes on the snakes selected by my daughter.
Rainbows Forever Work in Progress
Design Workspace ft. Rainbows Forever Design
Rainbows Forever was inspired by the rainy days in Brisbane and the beautiful rainbows that followed every storm. Everyone has down days just like the storms, we need to remind ourselves that there is a rainbow after every down/stormy day. The pattern started as a single digital watercolour painting and then I started to play around in procreate to make it into a seamless pattern. This was one of the first patterns I created this year and by far still one of my favourites.
Blooms and Shrooms Original Sketch
Blooms and Shrooms Original Sketch Closeup
Blooms and Shrooms Moodboard
Blooms and Shrooms was first created as a whimsical illustration and has since been re-worked into a seamless pattern. The motifs are inspired by vibrant mushrooms and my daughters love for pretty little flowers. She helped me select photos for my moodboard from Pinterest to help create the inspiration and guide for creating this pattern. I used a magnolia tree and morel mushroom colour palette to create a bright yet whimsical feel. Once I finished drawing this illustration in procreate, I exported it to Adobe illustrator to create it into a pattern.
Sewing!! I have never tried making a dress with a sewing machine even though I own one. Its about time I took the leap. Definitely a new skill I would love to learn as there are so many great designs on Digital Fabrics. I would really love to create a Rainbow Forever Skirt to brighten my day everyday.
Design Workspace
I hope you enjoyed my work and the behind the scenes of my creative process. I look forward to seeing what you will make with these lovely designs. You can view more of my designs in the fabric shop and I would love to see what you will create with them. Please tag both Digital Fabrics and myself in any projects or crafts you make with these fabrics.
Follow me on Instagram or Facebook to view more designs and how I make them. Heaps of Love Stixy.
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
It’s been amazing sharing all of the wonderful designs by textile designer Diane Quee with you! We hope you’ve loved them just as much as we have. To coincide with Diane’s ‘Delightful Patterns’ collection being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which further explains her self-taught design process, what inspires her designs as well as bit more about herself.
Keep reading to find out more!
Diane in her Studio
Hello, my name is Diane Quee, artist and designer. I’m so excited to be joining up with Digital Fabrics to bring you designs for you to create personal items with.
I am a freelance graphic designer who is passionate about designing logos and brand identity, drawing, painting and creating surface pattern designs. In my leisure time, I love to create artworks using different media such as pencils, oil, watercolour and pastel. Also, I am inspired by the works of other artists; for example, the impressionist painters and certain contemporary artists. Inspired by the beauty of nature, I experiment and create various pattern designs.
Eucalyptus Flower Sketches
My design process usually starts with doing sketches in my sketchbook. I am inspired by the colours, textures and patterns in nature and nature provides the trigger for my creative juices. For example, I would use a pen or pencil and watercolours to sketch flowers and trees that inspire me.
Dinosaur Design Sketches
After creating the sketches, I scan and convert them to digital files so that I can edit and manipulate them in Photoshop and Illustrator.
For vector repeat patterns, I create each individual design element first and then arrange them in a visually pleasing composition on the computer screen. I experiment with different colours and compositions to see what works best for the design elements.
Nature Inspiration
Often, I use a limited number of colours in each pattern so that the design is clean and cohesive.
Creating repeat patterns can be challenging, but it is also a satisfying experience when I see the design process coming together and the endless possibilities that the patterns can be used for. I would like my patterns to bring joy and happiness to people, as well as being versatile in its application. That is, the patterns can be used on a range of items from fabric to homeware products.
Summer and Spring Leaves Sketches
I hope you are inspired to bring some of my designs into your life! Be inspired. Be Creative.
Starfish and Shells Sketches
Starfish and Shells Sketches 2
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
It’s been an absolute pleasure sharing these stunning prints by designer Julie Bunyard and we hope you have all enjoyed her designs as much as we have!
Julie is a freelance designer for print studio and fashion brands, working by hand in watercolours and gouache and digitally in Procreate. Her goal as an artist is to create prints that will make you feel good when you wear them, use them, or have them in your home! You might recognise her ‘Tasmanian Waratah‘ design from our lovely Cooper fabric samples as well! To coincide with Julie’s ‘For the Love of Australian Natives‘collection being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which further explains her one of a kind approach to creating surface patterns and what inspires her work.
Keep reading to find out more about Julie Bunyard and her beautiful designs!
Julie Bunyard
Hi everyone I’m Julie, a surface pattern or print designer, designing under my own name Julie Bunyard Designs. I design freelance for several print studios around the world, which I love, but even though my designs are out there on homewares and garments, I rarely get to see them. Which is one reason why I’m thrilled to be a part of the Digital Fabrics Designer Project. You will be able to buy fabric with my designs printed on it, and I can’t wait to see what you make.
Julie’s Workspace
I live in Hobart; I can see the beach from the front of my house and at the back is the bush; I am surrounded by nature. I often pick flowers or leaves, gather shells, and take photographs on my daily walk, to use as inspiration for my designs.
Design Inspiration
But probably the biggest inspiration has been growing up in the 60s with a dressmaker for a mother. There was fabric everywhere in the house, cupboards full of fabric. Bought simply because it was beautiful, and we ‘might’ make something out of it one day. I no longer sew, but I still have boxes of beautiful fabrics and an addiction to searching Vinnies for vintage fabric scraps. Have you heard the saying ‘she who dies with the most fabric wins’, well that was us.
Leucadendron Paintings
Apart from my vintage fabric collection obsession, I also get great inspiration from design books, I love collecting them. And I can’t forget to mention two of my absolute favourite designers, Vera Neumann, and Suzie Zuzek for Lilly Pulitzer, both women were inspirational designers and businesswomen.
Flowering Gum Paintings
I’ve been trying to narrow my style so it’s more consistent and cohesive, because I’ve been told that’s what I should do, but I struggle. I get distracted by wanting to try different techniques and materials. Recently I have been exploring working digitally with Procreate on the iPad. But if there is one thing that is a constant in my work, it’s colour. I love using colour and seeing the way it can change the feel of a design and how different colours work together.
Silver Dollar Gum Paintings
All the elements of For the Love of Australian Natives Collection started with me collecting plants from the bush around my house. Each plant was painted in water colour before the hand work was then scanned and opened in Photoshop where I created a layout and decided on final colours. The thing I love about working with watercolours, is when the colours bleed into each other creating new colours and gorgeous rich blooms. You will see this technique used in the Collection.
Design Work in Progress
I spent over 30 years working in a tonne of different jobs before I stumbled upon surface pattern design and realised that it was what I wanted to do. It makes me happy, and my hope is that my designs make their users happy as well.
To follow my design journey, follow me on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/juliebunyard_designs/
Julie’s Workspace Moodboard
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!
We’ve absolutely adored sharing the beautifully detailed work of Sydney-based designer Aiai Zhang and hope you’ve loved her designs as much as we have! Aiai’s designs are inspired by the harvest season where the leaves turn orange and yellow while fruits grow ripe and juicy. To coincide with Aiai’s “Orange Harvest” collection being made available to all of our customers through our Fabric Shop online, the artist herself has put together a guest blog which we’ve shared below! The blog takes a closer look at Aiai’s creative process, detailing every step from initial sketch to final design. The blog also includes gorgeous photographs and process images which really help tell the story of Aiai’s work and the “Orange Harvest” collection. Keep reading to find out more about Aiai Zhang and her stunning designs!
Aiai Zhang
Hi everyone! Aiai here from @breezybirdstudio. I’m very excited to let you know my Orange Harvest collection is now up on the Digital Fabrics shop. You can choose any of these designs to print on a variety of fabrics for your next sewing project, whether it be a garment or homeware decor, we can’t wait to see what you make!
Now you might be curious to know how this all began. Well, nature provides the biggest source of inspiration for everything I create. Travelling to new places definitely helps keep the creative juices flowing. However, most of the time I gather ideas from little things in everyday life. It can be a blooming flower in the garden, unusual patterns on the trees, shrubs waving in the breeze or a cute animal running through the neighbourhood. When I intentionally look for ideas, they seem to appear everywhere.
Mood Board for Collection
An inspiration board provides a reference point for the entire collection. It helps pull together all the ideas swirling in my head. This is why I have a habit of taking and collecting random images that stand out to me in my surroundings or online. Once I decide on what elements to use, I move onto the most enjoyable part of the process – painting up motifs and choosing a colour palette!
Floral Watercolour Painting
My favourite mediums to use are watercolour and gouache. I paint each element in various forms. The image on the left is an example of the original scan of “earthy bouquet” & “earthy bouquet blue”. I then clean and edit the artwork in photoshop and turn it into seamless repeats. Because of the variety of forms and values within this large motif, I created two prints from it with two colour ways. It is definitely the most versatile print out of this collection that is suitable for both fashion and Interiors.
Here are examples of how “Earthy Bouquet” and “Earthy Bouquet Blue” would look like on children’s PJ sets. Which one do you like more? Get in touch with the team at Digital Fabrics to chat about printing base fabric options that are available for your sewing DIY project.
Earthy Bouquet Floral Mockup
Earthy Bouquet Floral Mockup
Now let’s look at another print from its original form. “Orange Bouquet” was inspired by the ripe and juicy oranges bursting with colours from the harvest season. I used my favourite earthy tones to paint this design, such as flesh tint, yellow ochre, permanent rose and burnt amber. I then took it to the computer, cleaned it up and turned it into a seamless repeat.
Watercolour Oranges
Watercolour Stripes
Below is the final print “oranges on stripes” looks like after digital adjustments. The second colour way with a blue background creates a lovely contrast against the foreground. This design is to celebrate the earthy colours and shapes from nature. I hope you love it as much as I do!
Oranges on Stripes Blue
Oranges on Stripes Pink
So, all the magic happens here – my home studio! This is where I emerge myself into creativity. I absolutely love experimenting with colour palettes. From soft subtle tones to happy bright colours, I love to incorporate them to express different feelings in my designs.
Aiai’s Studio Space
Thank you for reading this far! Having a great idea of an upcoming project that you can use one of my designs for? Please check them out via my Digital Fabric online shop.
We can’t wait to see what you make! Please tag both Digital Fabric & myself in any crafty projects you undertake with this collection of fabrics. If you would love to follow my creative journey, I can be found via Instagram and Facebook. See you there! Warmest regards, Aiai
Oranges Bouquet and Floral Ditsy Orange Gingham
If you want to collaborate with us on The Designer Project and become part of this creative club, please apply! Send us an email with your portfolio and why you would like to be part of this initiative, and we will be in touch!