This is not a fabric design yet. I’ve been focused on other things. It’s an example of how my pure abstract style tends to lean toward pattern. This painting can be turned into a fabric design, but it isn’t a true pattern yet.

Surface Design

When I mention the term surface design, many people don’t understand what that means. A surface design is an artwork, pattern or design that can be applied to the surface of an object. Perhaps it is art for your wall, wallpaper, fabric, carpet, a mobile phone cover, clothing. Anything with a design on it requires an artist or a designer to create the pattern.

There are many approaches in working with the painting to turn it into a design. I need to consider where it would work best before I select one of them.

How do you imagine this design in use? I can imagine it as a lightweight fabric on a summer dress. It think it would work as a home decor design. The possibilities are endless. Some of the decisions I will make include:

• Do I want this to be an all-over pattern, or will I use it in sections?
• Will the elements in the design be large or small?
• Are the colours right for the design I am imagining, or do they need to change?
• How do I think this pattern would work best?

As I work with a design, many other questions will arise along the way. The end result will be the accumulation of these decisions. If I put the end design next to the painting, it may look very different. So, when I use a painting as a basis of a pattern, I have two creative processes. The first one is to paint something interesting. The second one is to create a design from an artwork.

Tips for Beginners

Next time you go shopping, take a moment to look at all of the products which feature patterns or artwork. Notice the size of the design on each one. Is the orientation of the design portrait, landscape, or is it square? What draws your attention and why? These are the considerations a surface designer must weigh when imagining a design on a specific product. I find the whole process fascinating.

One of the reasons I put my artwork on Redbubble is because it allows me to see how a design will look on different products. There are many other Print on Demand websites out there, including Zazzle and Gelato to name two. You can Google and find others. Happy playing if this post has sparked your interest.