Progress: Mini Moodboards

This week I decided to turn my lack of internet access into an opportunity to work slightly differently. Knowing that I would not be able to turn to Google or Pinterest every time I needed a shot of inspiration made me plan some research in advance. I'm away from home and couldn't bring many books either. So I spent Tuesday morning gathering photos, magazine clippings and colour chips and put them all into a box file along with an old notebook.

I'm now spending a little time everyday putting together sort of mini mood boards in my book and it's really fun and inspiring.

I'm really glad that I decided to do this - I feel like I'm learning a lot about my style through my choice of imagery and colour combinations.

Coincidentally, on MATS part B today, Lilla Rogers showed how you could do trend research like this which made me feel like I am on the right track with my new book.

So now I'm really glad that I had to leave my books and internet connection at home!

Have a lovely weekend,

Frankie x

Play: Florals, watercolours and layers

This week...

My obsession with layers continues... I'm spending lots of time playing with watercolours - I love the accidents and imperfections. 

I'm using a variety of media: Derwent Inktense pencils, watercolours, gouache, felt tips, white gel pen, fountain pens and my Derwent Graphik Paint markers arrived yesterday so I've added these into the mix too now. 

I love painting circles and then drawing floral motifs over them. It's fun and relaxing. 

And here's some jumpers for the Christmas collection I'm working on.

I really love working like this on paper. The challenge is to create this look in Illustrator! 

More on Friday,

Frankie x

Progress: Geos and my Pattern Camp collection

Hello!

What a busy week it's been. I've been working on some more new techniques this week in an attempt to get my work to look more hand drawn. Don't get me wrong, I love very clean, smooth vectors and make plenty of patterns in that style but I also love to paint and scribble and I wish I could get that look in my Ai repeats. So here what I've been doing...


I did some geometric collage and paint pieces and started exploring different ways to bring them into Ai. I played with layers to try and emulate a watercolour style. 

Playing with the blob brush in Ai.

Manual tracing, drawing and layering it up...

More experiments...

I really like these soft edges...

I completed the patterns I started on Pattern Camp. I also did some more research and sketching for some further patterns for the collection.

Love this but have since tweaked the flower slightly...

Did this...

Then changed it to this! Decided it looks more interesting like this!

This was the first thing I developed on Pattern Camp. I've edited it a few times but think it's done now.

Started doodling some more motifs for this collection.

I did some scanning and tracing experiments with Ps and Ai and really loved the results.

My January Bootcamp stuff much improved! 

I also drew some Christmas baubles, danced to a lot of cheesy pop music and took this little cutie out running and walking a lot.

My lovely little Border Collie Jip

Have a great weekend,
Frankie x

Progress: Geos, white pens and Pattern Camp

Despite very late nights at the computer doing Pattern Camp last weekend I was raring to go all week and thanks to the course I was brimming with new ideas and skills. I'd recommend the course even to experienced designers just for the infectious enthusiasm of Jessica and the other Pattern Campers. It was great fun and opened my eyes to working in different ways.

A photo posted by Frankie (@frankielovespattern) on Feb 9, 2015 at 12:01pm PST

As well as creating new work, I found myself reworking old patterns too. I made a true half drop repeat with this Suzani pattern. I've only ever done 'faux' drop repeats so it was great to finally master this. Next I'd like to put some stems and leaves on this pattern so I took a little time to teach myself how to create a pattern brush. I experimented with it and made the pink pattern below...

A photo posted by Frankie (@frankielovespattern) on Feb 9, 2015 at 7:55am PST

A photo posted by Frankie (@frankielovespattern) on Feb 11, 2015 at 6:09am PST

I played around with my geo shapes a bit more... It's a work in progress and I'm finding the endless possibilities quite overwhelming! I may have to set some further rules for limiting shapes and colours.

A photo posted by Frankie (@frankielovespattern) on Feb 9, 2015 at 3:57am PST

There are just so many ways to go with it! 

A photo posted by Frankie (@frankielovespattern) on Feb 10, 2015 at 3:23pm PST

My white gel pens arrived and I LOVE them. I tend to be a bit heavy handed with colour and often lose all the white when working on paper. It’s great to be able to work over watercolour and gouache with these to add detail.

A photo posted by Frankie (@frankielovespattern) on Feb 11, 2015 at 2:57am PST

A photo posted by Frankie (@frankielovespattern) on Feb 12, 2015 at 5:48am PST

To see more of my work in progress follow me on Instagram. Hope you had a great week too, Frankie x