Week 2 – Lilla Rogers MATS Class – Home Decor

Hi everyone. I’ve just finished Week 2 of Lilla Rogers MATS class. This week was Home Decor and the subject matter was Bromeliads. OK I’m going to be honest. I had never heard this word before. That wasn’t the problem – it was the sound of the word. Bromeliads. It made me go ‘yuck’! Strange reaction. I love words, some are just fantastic. Cinnamon, licorice – I love these words – they sound musical to me. But everytime I heard the word Bromeliad, it made my skin crawl!

Another thing that made me procrastinate this week was the subject. You will think I’m even more strange. I love flowers, love growing them, smelling them, love their names 😉 but I don’t really draw them.
I think I get frustrated with myself. I get overwhelmed with all the beautiful watercolours. People have been drawing flowers for centuries. I think of all the botanical notebooks and the fine drawings. I prefer to draw them from my head as little doodles. I don’t enjoy drawing them from life. Read more…

My first week as a student at Lilla Rogers’ MATS class!

Hi everyone. I’ve enrolled in Lilla Rogers’ MATS class (Make Art That Sells – Part A) and have my very own student card! The first week is over and I want to tell you how I’ve been getting on and show you what I’ve been doing!

The first week was all about Bolt Fabric. We learned to analyse different styles, what makes a great fabric design, how to make your designs stand out. There were interviews with Lilla’s artists and influential buyers in the Bolt Fabric industry. Lilla even spells out step by step how to approach a buyer.

The assignment for the week was to make a mini fabric collection (main print & two coordinates) based on Berries & Pyrex Casserole Dishes. Lilla broke down the assignment into simple steps. She emphasized having fun, because her motto is – People Buy Your Joy!

Unfortunately I had the flu for the first few days and I was panicking that I would get left behind. I managed a few scribbles whilst lying in bed but I really wanted to get stuck in. I kind of freaked out a bit, but I got some advice from my designer friends – look after yourself first, and everything else will look after itself!

So I took it easy, reading the course notes and a few days later when I was better, I started to draw a bit more and explore ideas about how I would approach the brief.

Lilla emphasized our Uniqueness and wanted us to put Us into our work – we all have a unique way of looking at the world.
When I was reading the brief, the idea of collecting berries reminded me of Harvest time. In Ireland, in Celtic times, an important Harvest festival, Lughnasadh was celebrated here. It was the gathering of the first fruits of harvest, namely berries.

I loved this idea and wanted to give the brief an Irish slant, but I didn’t want it too obvious. If you google Irish and Celtic symbols, you’ll see a lot of intertwining symbols. While these are very beautiful, they are ubiquitous in Ireland, so I wanted something less obvious.

Newgrange is a Neolithic structure in County Meath, Ireland. It was built over 5000 years ago and is thought to be a religious monument. The structure is aligned with the rising sun and its light floods the chamber on the winter solstice.

The tribal markings you can see on the ‘Doodles’ picture are Celtic symbols found on the massive stones in Newgrange. These are less obviously Irish but are beautiful. They are thought to explain the astronomical significance of the structure. (Also you may see there are quite a few geos in the design – those Celts were right on trend!)

Here is my finished piece:

Lúnasa (modern Irish spelling of Lughnasadh – pronounced Loo-na-sah) is also the name for August in the Irish language.

I hope you like it. I enjoyed making it and learned so much in Lilla’s class. She offers loads of advice and tips. I’m looking forward to Week 2. ♡

Lilla Rogers’ Global Talent Search and my Design Journey!

Hi everyone. I’ve entered the Lilla Rogers’ Global Talent Search. As you may now, Lilla is perhaps the most famous agent in the world. She represents some of the most well-known artists working today and I count several of her artists as my favourites.

Lilla launched a talent search in order to find her next artist. This and her Make Art that Sells course has attracted some of the most talented contemporary designers working today.

I entered because I am quite a fan of Lilla. I have her book I Just Like to Make Things. I am planning to do her course in October. I don’t think I will be her next big thing. I feel like I am still on a journey of discovery. But I know that by doing this brief, I will push myself and make a piece of art that I am proud of.

So the brief was a Journal Cover for Paperchase! I squealed with delight when I read this! Paperchase are my No. 1 Dream Client!  (Have a peek at one of my Dream Designs for them.) Their stationery shop makes me want to do cartwheels in the aisles! It’s a smörgåsbord of delightful design! Read more…

Comparing Yourself to Others

Hi everyone. I’ve been comparing myself to other designers lately. Not even my work, but at the reaction their work is getting from others. I’ve been questioning whether I have what it takes to make it as a commercial designer.

This is a recurring theme with creative people. The dichotomy is we shouldn’t be comparing ourselves to others, but we need to in order to know what is marketable. If our stuff isn’t marketable, we won’t be able to pay the bills.

So I’ve been feeling a bit lost. I believe in my work but if others don’t, then I can’t really make a career out of it?

I’m not going to give up – I’m too stubborn for that. =) But lately I’ve found some inspiration that has let me see things in a different way.

Lilla Rogers, probably the most famous art agent in the world replied to someone on Facebook about exactly the same dilemma. She said, ‘It’s not a competition.’

Read more…