Creating repeating patterns with your artwork
Enrollment for Immersion is open now through February 22, 2022
In the Fall of 2019, after making the decision to take my art business from something I did for fun on the side to a full time business, I knew I would need to have several streams of income if I wanted it to work. One thing that piqued my interest was surface design. It just seemed like a good fit for me and the kind of art I made. I also knew that I was going to invest in myself, in my education, in my first year in business, which is how I came to enroll in Bonnie Christine’s course in surface pattern design, Immersion.
The course was so good that I ended up taking it again the following year! But I’ll back up for a minute. If you are not familiar with what surface pattern design is, it is more specific than surface design –which is any design on a surface (think packaging, alllll the packaging that has some sort of design on it). Surface pattern design is what you get when you turn that into a repeating pattern (think fabric, wrapping paper, wall paper). As a botanical artist, this idea was very exciting to me. I loved the idea of seeing my artwork on different kinds of products.
The course is a very deep dive into Adobe Illustrator, and an introduction to licensing and business entrepreneurship. When I enrolled I thought I was pretty good at Illustrator, as I had used it for 20+ years in my design work. I was sorely mistaken. I learned SO much from the course, and after two years, I still go back to the lessons to learn more. I now use Illustrator nearly every day in my work, whether making patterns or not. Taking Immersion was like being in a graduate course on Illustrator. I also learned how art licensing works, and maybe most importantly, I learned a lot about mindset shifts around making art for a living.
Bonnie Christine also offers a free course on getting started in surface pattern design. I took this as well, and after making my first repeating pattern, I was hooked:) If you are interested in learning more, and having some serious fun, I invite you to join me for the workshop this year!
As a complete believer in Immersion, I am now an affiliate for Bonnie Christine, so if you end up taking the course, I may receive compensation. But remember, the mini workshop is completely free.