MOYO Surface Pattern Design Magazine Launch

Thrilled to announce the launch of MOYO the world’s first online magazine dedicated to surface pattern design! And one of my patterns made it into this issue, how fab is that? p.19!!! Yay!

The magazine is packed with interviews, design briefs, colour challenges, art reviews, student showcases, design tips, inspiration, trends and more, this free resource will be published quarterly. Grab a cup of tea and sit down and enjoy!

Open publication - Free publishing - More color

Paris??? YAY!!!!

Oh my...I've been invited to be "artist in residence" for the Tilton Paris tour!!! I couldn't be more excited and thrilled! I get to go to Paris, AND I get to go with Marcy Tilton, designer extraordinaire, textile aficionado, gallophile a la Paris! First thought, what can I bring to the tour as artist in residence...then....what kind of sketchbook am I bringing? Perfect! Second thought...shoes, must have some fabulous walking shoes...next thought, oh my, I have a lot of work to do before I go! Must get to work! Here is one of Marcy's jackets....how fun is that?

Artistic Expression

If anyone has been following my blog lately, you will have noticed I have had several different logos on there. Probably most folks have come and gone, and haven't seen them all, but being a former graphic designer who knows how important brands are, I am very self conscious about it. I really shouldn't be designing on the fly and publishing each iteration I fall in love with. But that's what I've been doing, and I'm no closer to a final design than I was a few months ago.

As an artist, I've been creating with paints and pastels professionally for about 15 years...I have a recognizable style, which sometimes I love, and sometimes I want to be different, but for better or for worse, it's mine, and it's here to stay. I get curious, about other mediums, about how other artists and craftspeople work. I added polymer clay to the mix about 10 years ago just as magnets at the holiday craft shows, but in the last 3-4 years I have developed a style of polymer clay collage that fills a price point in my my art market, and generates some nice income, and it is fun to do. It is very different from my paintings, but somehow, when I show them together, they get along and complement one another.

Ok so far, a little crazy, but manageable. Now I've added surface design, which I LOVE. I have no idea if I can, change my career and go off into this commercial realm. I don't know if I can keep it all, but even as I type that I think everything I have created up to this point will just make me a more awesome surface designer...I've got so much experience...and if I focus my attention on this, I could really create some beauty in the world. Does the world need more beauty? Always.

M2 Final Showcase

One of my pattern collections, Retro Flower Power, is featured on Rachael Taylors blog as part of the The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design Module 2 Final Showcase. I couldn't be more proud! http://rachaeltaylordesigns.blogspot.com/2012/08/module-2-final-showcase-part-2.html
This online class has been a journey of discovery and remembering for me, re-igniting my passion for sketching, and then learning how to turn these sketches into fun and colorful designs and also the practical steps to take them out into the world. The community of fellow designers that I have come to know through these classes is so supportive and it is very satisfying to watch us all grow and develop as designers. Thank you Rachael!

Underpainting with Dots

For once I took photos when starting a painting...and I found GOLD! It's just the very beginning of my under painting, but I love the energy and the colors, the drips, the light and then with a funky pattern on top...delish.

More Miss Chamois

I've been busy here at Tasman Studio, and I must've been making more noise than usual in the studio yesterday and woke Miss Chamois up from a nap. I've got half finished paintings everywhere, all kinds of books stacked up, sketches taped on the wall, it's humming.

I am readying for the Art Guild Clothesline sale that is coming up right up on Saturday, Aug 4 in Corvallis. I am also finishing up some design projects from my class with Rachel Taylor and working on some large pieces for my art shows this fall. I'm so excited about my new paintings, I can't wait to show y'all, but they are not ready yet, and I don't like to show my in-progress paintings, there is so much that happens in the studio that I don't want to subject to real or imagined public opinion. Easier to hear and follow my intuitive instincts, and let the paintings rest when they need to, for as long as they need to. So we will make do with Chamois photos and stories for now.

Love the head on the floor, looks so uncomfortable, it's one of her favorites.

Catching some sunshine.

Love this poem....

design by me  )