Back in January you may remember this post where I had been working on some drawings of vintage cutlery.
As part of the Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design course (now on the last Module) we were tasked to create a collection of designs.
This was huge learning curve for me. Firstly it became quickly apparent that I didn’t have the computer equipment to do this (15 mins spent waiting for an image to move 1cm across the page!) so we upgraded to a beautiful, big, fast monster of a Mac.
Then I had a lot to learn about Adobe Photoshop (BTW did you know that BIG discounts were available if you are a student or teacher?) I can now use lots of the tools thanks to Rachael’s brilliant tutorials and I’ve remembered stuff from my college degree that I’d forgotten I’d forgotten!
As with all learning curves I would already handle designing these in a different way (nicer colours for a start) and I’m now trying to stay truer to my painters hand when I design.
But I think they have some merit especially because I came across these a few weeks after I’d completed my designs. So maybe I’m on the right track after all!
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April 24, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Dana Barbieri
Nice patterns Claire! It looks like you had a lot of fun designing this collection. I look forward to seeing out in the world! xo
April 24, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Abs
Of course you are on track! (or on trend!) These are really lovely – I could imagine them as funky wallpaper, fabric or wrapping paper and oh so many other things. Glad you have a new super dooper Mac – I am sure it must make art life and work much less frustrating
April 25, 2012 at 1:26 am
Betsy
Those are just wonderful! I especially love the grey one with the knives!
April 25, 2012 at 7:09 am
sue
How wonderful those designs are Claire, I love your colour choices and think you’re bang on trend!
April 25, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Helen Philipps
How funny to find you’ve just written a post about vintage cutlery, when I’ve just been sorting out a big box of similar cutlery from my late mother in law’s house! It is so interesting to see the different pieces. I love your cutlery prints, Claire.
Helen x
April 25, 2012 at 6:49 pm
knitsofacto
Hello Claire, just catching up here.
I don’t know how it happened but I lost a whole bunch of people from my blog aggregator a few weeks back and I’m only just beginning to realise who went missing. I was beginning to think it odd that quite a few folk had stopped posting!
Anyway, lovely to see you’re still here, and to get up to date up with what you’ve been doing
April 25, 2012 at 9:43 pm
sharon | the teacup incident
What marvelous designs! I’m intrigued by the whole surface industry, especially as it applies to fabric design. I think I’d have a big learning curve too although I already have the Mac. I’d like to try printing my own fabric via Spoonflower. Great to see what you’re up to!
April 26, 2012 at 3:27 pm
anne
These are wonderful! Such fun! Definitely on the right track.