This week my design time was drastically reduced. I participated in a Creative Live course with Bonnie Christine of Going Home to Roost. Her class was a blast. Really intense. Three full days on Illustrator and surface pattern design. More on that in a bit.
I only had three days to complete my designs for the MIID assignments. I was determined to complete them all, so I had to simplify. K.I.S.S. Keep it simple, stupid.
Make It – Beginner
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Tribal Shapes, MIID Beginner Brief 2, © 2014 Sheila Delgado
For the Beginner theme, Tribal Shapes, I came up with this basic repeat. I knew that I would incorporate it in the Tribal Collage for the advanced assignment.
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MIID Beginner Brief 2 details
I added lines to mimic a woven fabric, and then I erased them partly for a worn look. I used a second brush to add splotches of color.
Make It – Intermediate
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MIID Intermediate Brief 2, © 2014 Sheila Delgado
Animal Print was the intermediate theme. I felt the need for steed. My original thought was to do some sort of quilted pattern of just hides. But then I thought about those terrible 70’s patchwork purses, and I just couldn’t go that route. I am not sure this is better. Animal prints in general are just not favorites of mine.
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Faux horse hide
I added the same texture details, thinking of nubby old blankets, or an old itchy rug. I do like how the details turned out, but they do not translate well on screen, and I am not really sure they are visible in MIID gallery pages. I also completed the required product mock-up for this, and I really like how it looks in use.
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Mock up, MIID Intermediate Brief 2
Make It – Advanced
Tribal Collage, the advanced assignment, brought these elements together. I did this pattern in about six hours. Right up against the deadline.
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MIID Advanced details
So tell me what you think. Did I take the texture too far, or not far enough?
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MIID Advanced Brief 2, © 2014 Sheila Delgado
Design Surface Patterns From Scratch With Bonnie Christine
So amazing! Bonnie is a terrific teacher and she is so generous in sharing all she knows. To anyone interested in learning pattern design, I highly recommend this class. The instruction in Illustrator was geared specifically for pattern design. I have worked in Photoshop, honestly, because learning Illustrator seemed daunting.
Bonnie made it look so easy, she explained each step. I had planned on creating my MIID designs in Illustrator, because I was short on time I stuck with Photoshop. You know, learning curve.
But I am tackling Illustrator this weekend. Bonnie’s assignment is to create a six piece pattern collection. FUN!!
Enjoy your weekend!
I love what you are doing Sheila. I think that you might be overthinking MIID Advanced Brief 2. My thought is the white makes you notice the patterns more as it stands out so brightly. I hope I will have enough money to take a class….maybe I can email or chat with you sometime abut it.
That is true, the white does stand out. Anytime Susan, when you are ready for a class… you know where to find me 🙂
I think that your texture is perfect 🙂 I love what you did with design Sheila!
Thank you Sylvie 🙂
Love these patterns. So refreshing. Sounds like a great class.
Thank you Sea, I really enjoyed it!