What to make?
So, I have decided I’m going to try my hand at Surface Pattern Design. Over the last year or so, I’ve taken a number of online courses, attended webinars, followed a number of other artists – I am gathering info and making a list:
- Portfolio
- Website
- Promote
- Dream. Comes. True.
Sounds easy, right? Only four things.
Let’s start with 2 and 3 – I do these things all the time as part of my day job. No problem to build a site. No problem to build a promotional campaign. I do need to build a contact list, which is a tricky one since I’m not usually the one who does that… and I don’t know anyone in the industry. But, I have some ideas on how I will tackle that. All in good time.
But number one – wow – that’s a toughie. Not that the creation part is an issue, but what to create? Having been a hired hand for my entire career, I take pride in the fact that my skill set is wide and I find all of it fun and engaging. Techniques include ink, watercolor, abstract techniques, pencils, encaustic, oil paint – I love it all. I also have a wide array of styles that appeal to me – from french country to shabby chic to middle eastern tile work to asian calligraphy to indonesian ikat to midcentury modern and 70s hippy – oof. There’s just so much out there.
So, in my research I found a line (forgot to write down where I saw it) that counsels: Make what you love.
I look around my house – what’s on my walls? what’s in my closet? what really sings to me as far as style and palette and tone go? I keep coming back to a single word:
From patterns to colors to scale, it really grabs me when the statement is bold. That will be my keyword for the portfolio launch.
