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.