Showing posts with label trends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trends. Show all posts

Monday, 26 January 2015

Be Inspired: Deconstructed/Multi pattern/Multi Layer

This week, I'm looking at a style that I adore and am constantly striving to achieve in my own work.
Liberty
This 'deconstructed' look is made up a mishmash of patterns and motifs from a variety of styles, layered and blended to create an eclectic, relaxed feel. It reminds me of my art school days spent taking photographs of urban decay and layering canvases with collage and acrylic paint except it's more decorative. Here are some examples of this future and current trend. The example above is from Liberty's new fabric line inspired by Alice in Wonderland and is made up of check fabrics from their archives.

White Stuff

White Stuff are particularly good at this look, combining patterns of different styles and scales to create a unique design. Here's one of their gorgeous Christmas jumpers...
White Stuff

Here's another example from Peter Pilotto...

Peter Pilotto
Many gorgeous examples of this style can be found at Carpet Vista - I find these rugs so inspiring and  would love to own one!

Carpet Vista

Carpet Vista 
Carpet Vista

More about this style on Wednesday!
Love
Frankie x

Friday, 23 January 2015

Spotlight: Jessica Nielsen

To round up this week's posts featuring graphic floral art, I thought I would focus on the work of Jessica Nielsen a surface pattern designed based in Rotterdam. Jessica's designs are bold and bright and inspired 'by subject and shapes from nature'.

This shell pattern looks like it was so much to fun to create...
I also like her limited use of colour. It helps to create a really striking design, allowing the shapes to take centre stage... Notice how although the motifs are very simple in their shapes and construction, there is still variety - it's not just a case of copy and pasting the same motif over and over again. The same idea has been executed several times and this gives a better sense of rhythm to the pattern. 


This quirky floral was commissioned by the Dutch store HEMA. Again notice that the motifs are the same yet different. Considered, well executed design. 
You can see even more of Jessica's work on Pinterest and on her website or why not visit her Etsy shop here where you can purchase stationery items featuring her designs. 

I hope this week's features on bold graphic styles has inspired you to make your own designs in this style and please join me on Monday for more pattern inspiration!
Love
Frankie x

Wednesday, 21 January 2015

Try it: Cut Out Florals


Following on from my post on Monday about Matisse inspired cut out style, I thought I might show a little bit of work in progress this week and share a few ideas.


I'm working on a floral pattern using this cut out technique. I made my motifs using scissors and origami paper. You could paint your own paper or use material or textured papers particularly if you work traditionally. As I am working digitally I didn't worry too much about the colour of the paper as I just want the shapes.



Unlike the current papercut trend for fine and intricate details, I'm going for simpler shapes with a playful feel. I tried using a scalpel but found that made me want to get too fiddly.  So working with scissors and large pieces of paper made the process more fun and expressive.

I then assembled flowers in a sketchbook. For more variety you could just scan all the elements in separately and then assemble a variety of flowers in Photoshop or Illustrator.



I scanned the flowers in and used the pen tool to trace them but there are lots of other ways to make them digital. For example you could trace the motifs using Live Trace or retain a more handmade feel by creating the repeat in Photoshop.

So I'm currently playing with palettes and layouts...




I really like this drawing technique. It's a fun and easy process and great for if you are not very confident in your drawing skills or are just looking to loosen up and be more creative in your approach to drawing. I also think it really lends itself well to vector art with its simple lines so works a treat in Illustrator.


I hope you've found this post useful/inspiring! On Friday I will be featuring the work of Jessica Nielsen whose bold graphic style caught my eye whilst researching this week's posts.

Love
Frankie x
 

Monday, 19 January 2015

Be Inspired: Bold Cut Out Style...

Guy Bell/Rex
Morning!
Summer seems soooo far away at the moment, so I thought I would brighten up this week by taking a look at some really bold and colourful designs...

The Tate

Matisse's cut out art seems to be influencing both current work and future trends. This bold and colourful style would look great particularly on homewares and swimwear and is a really fun technique to experiment with.

The Tate

Bold colour palettes and simplified and stylised motifs on a plain background make for a crisp and clean look as can be seen in these classic Marimekko prints...

Print and Pattern

Print and Pattern

You can see more examples of Marimekko prints in this great Print and Pattern post here.

It would be impossible not to mention Marimekko's Unniko print at this point which turned 50 last year and there's a whole site devoted to it here. This iconic print still looks as fresh today.

Marimekko


Here are a couple more examples of this style from Kate Clarke and Aimee Wilder.


 Kate Clarke 
 Kate Clarke

Aimee Wilder
Aimee Wilder

Hope this burst of colour has brightened up your Monday morning!
Love,
Frankie x