#Inktober Showcase

Inktober was started in 2009 and is still going strong today.  Mr Jake Parker, the creator of the project, has assigned very few rules

Pick up a pen, draw, hashtag it #inktober, repeat.

Anyone can take part and it seems like artists from all over the world do. I posted a picture and within 2 min 100 more pictures had been posted!

The goal is to practice your drawing skills and develop the positive habit of doing it daily.

Below are a few examples of my own work and a few from others within my surface pattern design community. Click on the pictures below for direct links to their Instagram accounts.

Julie Hamilton

Playing with light and dark. Flower shapes, some seeds and pods and an owl for good measure. When in doubt stick a bird on it.

Julie Hamilton

Next we have Katy Halford.  I found it hard to choose between all of her lovely drawings. This one made me smile so here it is

Katy Halford

Mary Tanana made some beautiful drawings on black paper with touches of gold, courtesy of uniball gelpens.

Mary Tanana

Heather Dutton spent her time illustrating every letter of the alphabet with beautiful patterns. Check out her instagram account to see more.

Heather Dutton

Amanda McGee  pretty much described all of us with her illustration. I am a big fan of her beautiful hand lettering!

Amanda McGee

Below is Flora Chang of Happy Doodle Land. Her name says it all. She loves to draw. Check out her new colouring book!

Flora Chang

Inktober will be back again next year, but don’t let that stop you from picking up a pen and just busting loose. Until then, feel free to share it with the rest of us on hashtag #shareyoursketch – another fun community to share your creative process.

Ink on!

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The “Illustrated” Advent Christmas Challenge

Well it”s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here, if only in my head.

My imagination is full of snowflakes and twinkle lights all aglow. Walks in the winter snow and skiing through the woods. Eggnog lattes.

Unfortunately, out my window  the rain is pouring down and the weather quite balmy. Not so good when you live in a ski town.

I am thankful for Faye Browns creation of this years #adventchallenge2014. A month-long challenge of  christmas prompts to illustrate, photograph, sketch and be inspired by.

I have been enjoying every minute and have to admit it has helped me get in the spirit of the Christmas season.

I have included a few of my favourites to date. I will admit I am already a wee bit behind, but that’s ok with me now ( I had to talk myself down the first day I missed, but now I realize it really is all Ok:)

I like to use these challenges to try new things. Maybe a new combination of colors or some different hand drawn textures. Anything that gets me excited to jump in and get immersed.

I have found this challenge to be a good exercise for practicing my hand lettering and characters, yes….those things with eyes. Why is it always so much easier to just draw a flower?

I will be tweaking all of these  designs in the New Year and making them ready for art licensing gigs, but for now it feels good to get some new ideas down on paper. I can play around with them later and add the on trend colours and style.

 

There are loads of gorgeous designs over on Instagram under #adventhallenge2014. As Faye says herself, popping by the challenge daily is like opening up your very own advent calendar. I have been enjoying all the colour and interesting interpretations of Christmas.

There is still  time to join in if interested. There is no pressure to create everyday, but if you have some time and need a little christmas inspiration then this is an easy place to start. Get a head start on your Christmas designs for 2016! All info on Instagram under #adventchallenge2014

Below are links to a few of the designers creating their own  advent calendars, either as part of the challenge or own their own accord.

Groovity

Genine Delahaye

Flora Waycott

Dawn Machell

The Print Tree

Tracey English

Sally Payne

Mondaland

Lindsay Buck

Rebecca Stoner

Happy Holidays to all!

Always Thankful…especially when pumpkin pie is involved.

Wishing our American neighbours a very Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

 

Thanksgiving is one of my favourite holidays both here in Canada (October) and the States (November). It is a symbol of Fall and the change of seasons. The farmers market is bustling and the village is buzzing with excitement as people arrive from all over to prepare for the ski season ahead.

 

It is officially “Opening” weekend here in Whistler. B.C.. Both mountains are open and the snow is starting to fall. The village is dressed up with twinkle lights, excited and ready for another great ski season (fingers crossed).

It is hard not to get caught up in the excitement of it all. It is also a nice reminder of the past when I arrived here, knapsack and skis in tow. I love that I am still here 20 years later with my own family.

 

As the days become shorter and the temperature drops, there is nothing quite as special as sitting in front of the fire, tucked in, with family and friends sharing. As I get older and my family has spread out, these times have become very special.

I am feeling very Thankful for it all..

Well it is official – the holiday season is upon us. Here’s to an abundance of pumpkin pie!

Enjoy every minute of it!

Global Talent Search 2014 RoundUp!

I am very happy to be able to share lots of goodness with you today!
A big thank you and shout out to all involved in todays blog post about Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search 2014. I believe everyone put their heart and soul into this one.
This years theme ~ create a piece of wall art based on “terrariums”
You will be amazed at the many different interpretations. Lots of detail, different medium, techniques and colour used. Beautiful work!

I will start with mine. A mixed media collage piece for you in a style I have been having fun with this summer.

Wendy Flynn

Stephanie Olivieri

Sharon Landon

Lesley Todd

Rebecca Stoner

 

Mary Tanana

Deborah Velasquez

Natalie Alexander

Sherry London

Gabriella Buckingham

Carrie Tasman

Jan Shepherd

Alik Arzoumanian

Barbara Chotiner

Lindsay Buck

Evelyn Cassoli

Brooke Witt

Onneke Van Waardenburg

Lisa Rivas
Nicky Ovitt

And finally Gill Egglestons lovely illustrated piece. I am very happy and proud to say that Gill has made the top 50. I warned her that it was going to happen and it did! She is busy preparing for next weeks submission.

We wish Gill the best of luck and are sending her lots of crazy good, creative vibes.

Well there you have it! A small selection of the 999 entries from 50 countries. To see all of the entries have a visit here. A Pinterest board has also been set up here for your viewing enjoyment.

I spent the morning perusing through all of them and  was amazed at the beautiful composition, colour and diversity all based on one small theme. The talent is staggering!

Thanks so much to all involved today. It’s always nice to share.

Best of luck to all those advancing on to Round 2!

Come and meet some inspiring creatives ~ a blog hop

I have been asked to join in on a blog hop by my good friend Deborah Velasquez. I have just spent the past hour drifting backwards through the hop and I still can’t find its origin, but it has been well worth my time as I have stumbled upon some beautiful artists , writers and like minded souls from all over the world. One of which lives just down the mountain from me!

Today I will answer a few questions about my work and then point you in the direction of a few other creative souls who inspire me – Deborah Velasquez, Margot Miller and Laura Wooten

What are you working/writing on?

In typical  fashion, I have many projects on the go right now. I hop about daily from one project to the next, working on what inspires me at the moment.

My main focus this summer  is centered on an illustration project I have for The Whistler Survival Guide, a  directory for newcomers moving to the area. It is my first illustrating gig and while I am finding it challenging, I am in awe of how much I am learning. There will be more here on the blog in the fall when it is released.

 

My summer fun project  involves creating a collection of 8 by 8″ mixed media pieces.  These mini works have become a a part of my daily creative practice.They are my go-to when I feel the need for a little painting, spraying and stamping in my life.

They make me happy.

I have recently written a post about the process here.

Mixed in with all of this is my art licensing work , monthly submissions for A Fresh Bunch and a new collection coming soon to Modern Yardage.

Life is busy, but very enjoyable!

Why do you create?

One of my favourite sayings and one that provides me with daily inspiration and the desire to create.

Never lose your sense of wonder

Six words that allow me to travel through life with eyes wide open

 

I am visually inspired by colour, texture and shape. My heart starts racing, I feel a little tingly all over and I can’t wait to dive into my art journal  when inspiration strikes. I love all the endless possibility that creating art provides. I love immersing myself in a theme and exploring different ways of representation. Simply put ~ I love the way art makes me feel.

When I am not creating I am in search of what to create next. It has become what makes me whole.

How does your creative process work?

I work best in short bursts of creative chaos. My paintings and mix media work are all intuitive. I start with marks and gradually move into texture and colour. I observe my mood and what is happening before me on the paper to dictate the direction the piece will take.

I can often be found lying on the couch, my artwork propped up before me, with eyes squinted as I turn my piece this way and that, hoping that something…anything.. will materialize before me.

 

My surface pattern work is a little more structured and usually focused around a collection of motifs.I love to doodle and my sketchbook and pen are never far from my side. Life here becomes a little more computer oriented as I have to scan my work in and pattern in Illustrator.

I love the combination of both the structured and unstructured. It allows me to play and experiment with new techniques.

Oh how  I look forward to the day when I have mastered all of the Adobe programs so I can express myself in all mediums..

Ahhh… big sigh..that was a lot of writing in one sitting.

Now, onto the women in my life that inspire and motivate me. Some I know well and others I am in the process of getting to know.I chose to reach out to them in hopes that they would share and  learn a little bit more about what makes them tick.

Deborah Velasquez

I first met Deborah through Kelly Rae Roberts Flying Lessons. I believe we  originally connected based on a similar love for seeds and pods . Our friendship grew as we continued on a similar  journey with The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design and then onto Make Art That Sells. She is my go-to girl in times of  creative need, both good and bad. She brings a smile to my face.

Please pop back to her blogpost here to learn all about her work and creative process.

Her work is modern, sophisticated, graphic and bold with a unique colour sense and reflects her simplicity for the love of line.

Deborah loves the mixture of design, words, art and craft. She has a very unique way of combining them all together. Watch out for this one!

Margot Miller

I joyfully came across Margots work in Make Art that Sells. I now follow her daily on Instagram at  @margot531 (#scenesfrommyscreen)  This woman is  multi-talented and funny too.

Meet Margot  ~ a collage illustrator from N.Y. She is a bit of a tweetaholic and likes her coffee too.. I think we could be friends.

Check out her website! I wish she would give tutorials on how she creates her lovely work…

 

Beautiful colours, shapes and texture! I love this piece she made for Make Art that Sells. Below is a hand lettering piece she  did for a friends book launch blog hop.

Pretty awesome.

 

Laura Wooten

Next up is Laura Wooten. Laura has been on a similar path with continued studies in both the Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design and Make Art that Sells. I was thrilled when I reached out to her to be a part of the bloghop and she said Yes! I love her  52 collage project – creating a collage each week.This has inspired me to no end and makes me want to try.

I admire her beautiful hand drawn sketches and prints. The colours are just beautiful –  I love the vintage feel.

Her website is full of lots of painting and pattern goodness.

Laura also instagrams  daily. I have been enjoying her daily sketch project. You can visit her here on Instagram

These women will be blogging about their creative lives next Saturday and introducing you to other creatives that inspire them. You just never know who you may meet so be sure to drop by!

Creative Process with Lindsay Buck

Today we have Lindsay Buck of Slumbermonkey Designs telling us a bit about her creative process. Lindsay blew me away with her attention to detail and process here.I admire her sketchy quality and love all the texture and layering.The colors are perfect for this season and her woodland theme is right on trend too!

Welcome Lindsay!

“Prickles and Pinecones”

The photos and process that I am going to talk about relate to an ongoing collection that I am developing based around Autumn, animals and natural forms.

I get inspired to create by all the things that are around me. For this particular work I began gathering conkers (from the horse chestnut tree) and pinecones when I was out walking my dog. I love their protective, spiky surrounds and their colours. I gathered quite a collection and then I began to draw.

I love working with fine liners and pens and all of my sketches are created in a little sketchbook that I use. I also began to think of hibernation and creatures that like to sleep a lot. I was drawn to hedgehogs and began to amass quite a few ideas and drawings.

I had lots of material to work with and, after scanning my drawings into Photoshop, I began to develop individual motifs and design elements. I love playing around at this stage. Trying out colours, layering, and placing and different filters. I seem to have loads of ideas whizzing about in my head so I work on lots at once. I keep an eye on colour trends (Pinterest) and am often inspired from what I pin.

This collection was something I was developing myself and I try and juggle this with chasing up briefs for competitions and submissions. At the moment I am really trying to build up my portfolio of work as I have only recently returned to Surface Design.

I decided to call the collection “Prickles and Pinecones” to draw together all the different elements that I was inspired by. I am still adding to it and keep returning to my theme, creating more drawings and patterns to put into various collections.

A Big thank you to Lindsay! I know these blogposts take alot of time and consideration to prepare and she did a great job recounting her creative process. All your hard work is appreciated! Thanks Lindsay.

Lindsay is a hardworker-look at all of her links! I have included them for you to drop by and say hello.She has just recently jumped in full force to the world of surface pattern design and would be a great person to connect to.I always love and appreciate meeting fellow creatives here on my blog or at many of the other social hotspots I frequent so please stop by and have a visit!

Links:

https://www.moyodirectory.com/slumbermonkey
http://www.behance.net/Slumbermonkey
http://slumbermonkey.blogspot.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/buck_lj
http://www.pinterest.com/SlumberMonkey/boards/
https://www.facebook.com/SlumbermonkeyDesigns
http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Slumbermonkey
http://folksy.com/shops/SlumbermonkeyDesigns
http://society6.com/Slumbermonkey
http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/slumbermonkey

Inspired by print & pattern – geometrics

Have you heard the latest, greatest news?

Marie Perkins of the infamous Print & Pattern blog is publishing yet another book to add to her ever-growing, wonderful ,collection of print & pattern books!

This one is all about geometrics!

Time to get out your pens and paint! Lots of time left to get working and submit. Due date is September 7th, 2013.

“We will be using the term ‘geometrics’ loosely with all kinds of abstract shapes, motifs and patterns (and not just those using exact mathematical style geometry) being included. “

I am not sure if these are considered geometrics, but once I started it was hard to stop! I like to think of it as the zen of doodling.

I have started a few patterns because that’s how I like to work, but thinking I may submit some collage art as well.

“We are looking for patterns, illustrations and prints that use circles, squares, triangles, chevrons, stripes, dots and dashes, polygons, facets, and all other kinds of imaginative shapes”

I am liking “imaginative shapes”..snowflakes?

Not really sure if these are considered “geometrics”. I may have to get a second and third opinion before I submit.What do you think?

I did enjoy the process and I can see adapting these towards Christmas. No work is ever wasted!

A little more on the geometric side of things…

How about some paper collage turned pattern? Lots of opportunity to play around with ideas for this one!

I really like the idea of pulling these out again and re-working them. They have always been one of my favorites because they remind me so much of the paper collage work I love to do. I think these have some directional issues, but once worked out would fit quite nicely into the category.

I am sure you also have some old geometric prints or pattern that could be renewed!

Need some Inspiration? Try these Pinterest boards
http://pinterest.com/darnitalhoward/geometric-patterns/

http://pinterest.com/sarah_bagshaw/surface-pattern-circles/

http://pinterest.com/sarah_bagshaw/surface-pattern-lines/

http://pinterest.com/juliehdesigns/inspiration-line,mark,texture

For more information on all of the Print & Pattern books , have a look at the Print & Pattern bookstore on Amazon.  Be very, very careful – it is highly addictive. Lots of visual eye candy! Don’t forget to visit her blog too for daily doses of inspiration!

Well, the summer is quickly coming to a close here in Whistler. The days are definitely getting shorter and the blankets and fireplace have come out for patio entertaining. I am a bit sad, but also a little excited. I like to treat Sept 1st as my second chance. A chance to re-assess my direction for 2013. A chance to accomplish all the goals I set out to achieve at the beginning of the year.

I am happy to say that I think things are running along tikkity-boo!

See you next week!

What does your creative process look like?

Do you ever wonder how other artists and designers come up with their creative ideas? I do!

I am creatively curious! I love to see the process of how one’s mind works from start to finish.

This week I welcome Jennie Whitham of JLW Illustration.

Jennie is a Designer/ Illustrator living in the U.K. She is a graduate of The Leeds College of Art, an active member of our Surface Pattern Design community, mother of 3 (almost 4) and produces a lot of work.She never ceases to amaze me with the beautiful patterns and illustrations she pumps out.

She can do it all! (and she does)

Creating motifs on her Wacom Tablet in Adobe Illustrator

What inspires you to create?

Pinterest is an amazing source of inspiration. Every thing from colours to textures, motifs etc, can be found there.

Creating textures for her work

What medium do you like to create in?

Adobe Illustrator. I would LOVE to be a ‘hand drawn’ illustrator/designer, but I just am not. I love nothing more than sitting at my computer, with a Cuppa tea, packet of biscuits, and my Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet. It is the best investment I ever made.

Artboards – playing with motifs, placement and pattern

Do you keep an Art Journal?

I guess my blog is an online directory of my goings on. I often head over when I need to find a design and see when it was created, and share my new designs with those who are interested enough to read my blog.

Finalizing colors and texture

Do you work on just one design…..

It depends on whether it is required of me. I get little time to just design ‘for fun’… theres always a submission to make, whether that be a competition, License opportunity, book submission etc. I like to create collections and I like to make lots of designs. The last collection is created ‘for me’ was my ‘pretty paradise’ collection, back in 2012, just after I finished ABSPD. I am currently doing #365patternchallenge, and decided to use the same colour palette throughout, So I guess come 2014 I will have a 365 pattern collection to work from. That should be fun.

Making a clipping mask

Do you prefer to design for a brief/competition or your own inspiration?

Both. I LOVE to be given a direction to work in, whether that be colour palette, theme, etc. it’s fun, not only to see how you interpreted it yourself, but how others have interpreted the same brief. On the flip side, it’s great to work freely. To just ‘let go’ and design exactly how you like to do it.

The final collection!

Ta Da! Her designs all mocked up and ready to go!

What time of the day are you most creative?

after 7pm…. I am a stay-at-home mum of 3 (soon to be 4) little rascals, and while I’d love to design full time, I manage to fit everything in between 7pm and Midnight. It works for our family dynamic.

I wish I could say the same for myself! I would love to be able to create at night, but I am a morning person through and through!
To find out more about Jennie please pop over to her social media hangouts.

Website :: www.jlwillustration.com
Facebook ::www.facebook.com/jlwillustration
Etsy ::www.etsy.com/shop/jlwillustration
Twitter Handle ::@JLWIllustration

Enjoy the rest of your week!  I can’t believe school is out in 2 weeks. Needless to say, but they are going to be the busiest two weeks of the year!

There is something about the poppy

I have a bit of a strange attraction to poppies. I love their whimsical ways, all their different colors and their podlike sidekicks.There is nothing quite like a field of poppies swaying in the wind,especially when it’s a field  somewhere in the french countryside.

I must have 1oo’s of pictures of poppies in all their glory .

A 4 month sabbatical in the south of France and it was hard not to come home with a picture, or two, and a sketch. That is a whole other blog  ago which I have never even mentioned here! (If you feel like an afternoon escape you can follow my family of 4 through a 4 month adventure, full of mishap, in Europe at http://www.lifeinaoncetime.blogspot.com. It seems like a lifetime ago.

I have started to incorporate my poppy drawings into the pattern world, but I have yet to do them justice. They are not BIG enough or whimsical enough yet. I find I am much looser with them in paint. In the digital world I am finding the pattern part a bit restricting.

I am starting Michelle Fifis The Ultimate Guide to Repeats today and I am definitely hoping for some insight into this.

For now I will continue playing with positioning and different ways of representation for my #365 pattern project.It is easy to whip up a pattern, but it takes lots of tweaking to get it just right. #365patterns is a good starting point, but I have to remember to go back and continue to work on my daily patterns.

And a coordinate just for fun! There is a small part of me thinking that I may start to create some digital download scrapbook pages and clipart so my mind is all about coordinates these days. I will keep you   posted.

Have you had a chance to check out Skillshare yet? Skillshare is an online global community centered around creativity, collaboration and learning by doing.

I have two colleagues teaching there next month and I think you may be interested. The first is Faye Brown of Faye Brown Designs. She will be teaching Typography  how to communicate effectively through the power of typography – starting June 14th, 2013
The second course is Reign Repeats learn how to create perfect repeats in Illustrator taught by Majo Bautista. Starting June 7th, 2013 she will teach you everything you need to know to create a design to submit for a Spoonflower competition.

These women are  both  knowledgeable and passionate about what they do.

Never stop learning!

Inspired by some sketchy sunday behaviour

I am always amazed at how my mind can wander when drawing. I should sit and write down all the crazy ideas that run through my head just for a laugh, but I cringe to think what I would sound like.

My latest idea to keep my creative juices flowing freely is to be computer free on Sundays. No web surfing, email, or.. gasp…no social media. I want to spend the day focused on the here and now.

My hope for this time-out day is to be creative. I don’t have a problem being creative,I know that starting is the key to my success,however, I do find that I am more creative and productive when my mind is free and open. I tend to be easily distracted by the computer and I find it can be very disruptive to my thought process. I am learning to love the feeling of being disconnected.

So, my latest idea is to spend Sundays sketching and sharing on Instagram and, of course, here on my blog.Please join me here on Instagram – I will follow you back.

My original plan to hashtag sketchy sundays(#sketchysundays) unfortunately will have to be changed. For a laugh you can check out my floral doodles amidst some other sketchy sunday behaviour. I swear those other photos were not there when I originally posted to it!I am having my own laugh about the extent of my ‘sketchy” behaviour – maybe if you are lucky I will pop out a nudie for you instead of my usual floral doodle.

After some more careful research I have decided to call it #shareyoursketch.

A creative space to share your sketches,inspiration,mindwork and even your finished product! It doesnt have to be on Sunday!. I love to see how other minds work and what they are inspired by. I also love to see what they can produce from all their inspiration. You have to admit we are all a very talented bunch so please…share away!

#shareyoursketch …now on Instagram and twitter too.

Have a great week. It’s beautiful and sunny here and hopes are high that it is going to stay this way.

p.s. Thank you for the great response to my shout out for “creative process” submissions. I am looking forward to featuring others in my community here. I am just in the process of figuring out the details and just the right questions to ask. I will keep you posted!