Natalie Andrewson: Wintery Floral

This week illustrator Natalie Andrewson did a pattern for us, her illos are great I really like the way she stylizes people. It's a semi-realistic approach of rendering mixed with some cartooning, its awesome! Not that there are people in this pattern to look for, you should all check out more of her work here!

Llew Mejia: Neon Olive

It's the olive flower this week, although I didn't decide to concentrate too much on the flower part of this pattern, I do love olives. Martinis are cool too, mostly in thought and not in taste, although if you like them good for you, you are much classier than me. But I do like drawing martini glasses, and the idea of sitting in a cocktail lounge and meeting strangers is pretty alright with me I think.

 Drew a lil dancin' olive and some other stuff, people cheers-ing if that is possibly a word, not totally sure. Tried a little more of a neon colorway on this one too, its weird but I can dig it.

Lindsay Nohl : Olive Flowers

Close-up of the inked detail

I have been spending quite a bit of time working in my sketchbook these days. I spent my Friday night sketching away amongst a bunch of talented people. We worked through the night on our different projects and I found myself craving a little bit of hands-on art making rather than my purely digital process.

I did a pattern the 'good ol fashioned way' this time, where I inked each layer separately, then compiled them together in the computer and colored them.


The repeat tile

I'm really enjoying letting the inky brush strokes show on these and backed by a dark background you really see it.

This pattern is inspired by the olive flower. I really like the shape of the leaves more than anything, so I did something a little viney -- reminiscent of a wall paper pattern.


And here it is repeated

Jordan Walzcak: Nug Bugs

 This week a my good friend and all around go getter kinda guy Jordan Walzcak is up to bat with this crazy weed buds pattern, skeletal leaves with flying skulls on fire, the definition of hella trill. Check out more of his sick skater/gnar stylezzz at his website!

Also he is owner/co-founder of Corpse Corps a really sick company full of great artists who do decks and apparel for him, also they specialize in coffin shaped skate decks, get one while you can!!

Llew Mejia: Kitty Kush

So this is the first time I think we have done anything drug related, which is cool, also it was fun drawing a stoned cat.Although I know that catnip isn't related to weed in anyway I think it still applies to felines because of the euphoric and similar buzz they can catch from kitty weed. Anyway it was good fun drawing some cats, which are definitely my favorite, as well as becoming extremely trendy as of late, so I guess I am on trend for this pattern.

Has anybody seen that really crappy movie where cats and dogs talk and then they get into a war, thats probably how that goes, and they are actually all spies, yeah it's a real movie just google it up. Another retro looking pattern, enjoy it up! CATZ R DA BEST

Quiet Garden by Lindsay Nohl

Inspired by raspberry flowers and little shoots

Recently I've really enjoyed making patterns that are a little more free-form than the normal rigid patterns I've done in the past. I think in the last year I've really liked the organic feeling patterns the best -- the ones that feel like they're floating in the wind, or the ones that look like they're drifting on top of the water.

This is a good example of what I mean. I wanted to make something quiet and understated, with some little guys that look like sprouts.

I've also been listening to a lot of piano music these days. It's comforting.
This pattern reminds me of that music...


And here it is repeated!

Meera Lee Patel: Mari-Medicine

This week Meera is joining us, her work is really great, especially her watercoloring techniques, and she had a few things to say about this weeks floral: "While researching marigolds for this project, I discovered that there are four major types: African/American, French, Signet, and Mule -- all four are components in this pattern. I always knew that planting marigolds around other flowers and produce would help keep insects away (because they give off a strong odor), but I also learned that they having skin-healing properties. Marigolds are anti-inflammatory, can improve eyesight, and also make you feel beautiful inside!" Also be sure to check out her site for more work!!!

Llew Mejia: Bad Dogs

So I chose December to be the month I do all retro florals, so I guess like four total, anyway I chose to start it on a goofy note with some dogs and flower pots broken. I am a cat person really, even though I don't own one, but I know that in my heart, that is my true calling. Anyway, so I think dogs are pretty dumb, I mean they really are for the most part, and I like that cats are sneaky. They also act like humans trapped in an animal's body, I am going on a tangent now, but I decided to depict the dog as a more devilish character...sorry 'bout it, to anyone who loves dogs it isn't personal.

Lindsay Nohl : Marigolds

I wanted to do something a little nested today, and a little sketchy.
Here's a vintage inspired pattern where there's little-to-no negative space.
It was nice doing things in line work and silhouettes!

I spent a little bit of time shopping for Christmas presents this afternoon on Ebay, where I inevitably end up looking at vintage wrapping and wallpaper. Today I was smitten with the bright papers of the 60s.

Katie Scott: Veggies Galore

This weeks artist is one of my favorite of all time illustrators, the massively talented Katie Scott. Her work is reminiscent of scientific illustrations from a better era of illustration, some fictional some more realistic, regardless all the work is great you should check out her site for more of her work!

Llew Mejia: Cabbage Stew

So this weeks floral is centered around cabbage. Yeah its a semi-boring subject, because its just a leafy green that kind of looks like a brain in some ways, so veiny. Anyway, had some fun with this one and went conceptual with it, so a small history lesson, which most people already know.

Irish people are mostly if not all catholic, so I made the papal emblem in my own way, and then gave the cabbage a godly glow, because well it saved them when they were eating green potatoes. And I'm not religious but still this bland vegetable pretty much saved some of them, like a god would, and cabbage stew is an iconic Irish dish because of this...sort of. Anyway it was good fun, and I hope you enjoy it because it's probably one of the weirder looking patterns I will make.

Lindsay Nohl - Gouache Flowers

This weekend I got the chance to head to the art store where I treated myself to some new gouache. It was super cheap, but it was definitely still fun to work with!
So, instead of taking the normal digital route, here is my gouache-painted floral pattern!

Alexa Thoen: Roundabout Lilies

 Alexa Thoen joined us this week with her awesome and sometimes psychedelic work, it is crazy detailed which is an immediate attraction for me in other people's art.
Here is a bit about her:

 Alexa is an artist and designer that grew up in the northern-midwestern United States. She have always been creative with a particular interest in the natural world, the unnatural spectacle of graphic art, and how those two things intersect. For more great work check out her site!

Llew Mejia:Retro Tiger

I like this weeks flower, but all I could think of while I was brainstorming for this pattern was how can I manage to throw a tiger in there with the tiger lilies. So everything is pretty abstract and retro, circa maybe 1950's or so. One of my favorite periods of design, illustration and lettering, they did it well, I can't really see it getting any better than that. Although people say art is cyclical so maybe, we will see. Just a toss this week, enjoy it!

Lindsay Nohl : Tiger Lily

I did a really nice drawing in my sketchbook this morning and returned to draw on it throughout the day. Thought it wasn't originally for my pattern, I decided that I'd want to do a damask-style repeat for today.

Here's a tiger lily pattern for you! I am really enjoying these dusty colors and the repetition.

Julian Howley: Childhood Mantis

So this week we have a talented illustrator and friend of mine Julian Howley, he has a real scummy/grime feel to his art that reminds me of punk art mixed with something else but I can't put my finger on it. Check out his site and his tumblr! anyway he had this to say about his pattern:

I wanted to revisit my childhood by repping both the flag flower of the great Hong Kong metropolis, and the terrifying majesty of a She-Mantis I once had as a pet.

Llew Mejia:Hong Kong Clams

This weeks flower is the Bauhinia Blakeana, such a complicated name, for a complex flower. This belongs to a flowering tree which is rare as it is sterile and can only be cultivated by taking other parts from other trees for propagation. So basically their is one grand-daddy tree and all the other trees are his children.

Pretty crazy stuff, anyhow, I tried to make a clamshell pattern and just freestyled it put some of my favorite occult symbolism in there as well as some random babylonian symbols that have nothing to do with anything, but aesthetically I think it all goes together alright. If you are confused the flower is in the middle, and the heart shaped leaves are the weird looking things flanking each side of it. Alright, well thats about it!

Floating

I had a really productive day today. Productive and I learned a whole lot.

I got the chance to go over to the Science Museum in Saint Paul today and look at the Egyptian exhibit, which inspired me to go and get a new audio book to follow up what I had learned while I was there. So here I am, listening to a book on ancient Egypt, making my flower pattern for today, and feeling good.

Besides that I also got the chance to make two pumpkin pies and a huge vat of butternut squash soup. AND, they're actually delicious! So - I learned how to cook something! All in all, I feel accomplished.

Andres Guzman: Cosmic Dandelions

Andres is a good friend of mine, I didn't really agree with his choice of flower for the week, but he said he had to root for the underdog, in this case a stupid weed. Either way he is one of the most talented people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, so check out his site, you wont be disappointed!Here's a some info on him:

Andres has spent most of his youth in Denver, but he is originally from Lima,Peru. He graduated from MCAD and majored in illustration, and took some interest in graphic design. He tries not to limit himself by any specific visual style as he believes there are too many beautiful methods and processes in the world of art to settle on just one. He hopes to inspire with his work as much as he is inspired by others.

Llew Mejia: Dandy Lions

Soooo, the cold is creeping in slowly but surely, actually the other day it snowed here, good thing it didn't stay. Not a fan. But either way, I think dandelions are boring, the only reason I did them is because Andres Guzman told me too, so blame him. But since we are in Fall season now, I drew things that reminded me of Fall with the Dandelions to make it a little more interesting. Brings up some nostalgia about roaming in the woods a lot more when I was younger, sometimes you just have to get outside, everyone should...I read this article about how if you spend 5 minutes outside minimum everyday it actually affects your health positively, and the euphoric effects of spending time outside can last for the entire day. So have a bonfire, or catch some newts in a stream, while it's not too late and everything's dead.

Bill Rebholz: Kiwi BIRDS!

So, this post is a little late unfortunately but at least it's here, so feast your eyes on a pattern by my good friend and illustrator Bill Rebholz. His work is really awesome and definitely one of my favorites, I think you will agree. Check out his website for more work!!!

Here's some info about Bill and also a comment:

Bill Rebholz is an illustrator based out of Minneapolis, MN. 

Frequently asked if he was born in the wrong decade, Bill insists he in fact was not, but rather just appreciates the old realm of commercial art, and wants to keep its relevancy in the modern world of design and illustration. His skills include, but are not limited to, all manners of illustration, design, lettering, and sign & mural painting.

"In a perfect world, Kiwis would scurry around sniffing kiwi flowers while their feathers reflect fractal patterning."