Wednesday WrapUp Forest Botanicals

Welcome

On most Wednesdays, check this blog for a strategy, process, or reflection for illustration with the iPad app ProCreate or Affinity Designer. This week I’ve played with mushrooms and wildflowers for a Spoonflower Design Challenge. Take a look.

The Challenge

The Wildflower Collage Design Challenge asks artists to create “wallpaper designs that feel like stepping into a story-filled garden.” Two years ago I had created several designs with wildflowers and mushrooms for a collection called Forest Fungi.

One of the designs I had NOT uploaded was created as a rounded diamond repeat. I decided to pull that up to see if that design would work. As I looked at it, I realized that one of the motifs, the crocus, was contour outlined while the other motifs were not, but the basic pattern looked like a “curated yet organic” just as the challenge required.

Design Revision

I opened the “asset” Procreate file to find the original illustration of the crocus. I was able to revise the contour lines to simply define the petals. You can see the difference in the images above; this brought the style of the crocus in line with the other motifs.

Wildflower Research

The fungi and the moths represent the wild garden. But what about the flowers I drew? What wildflowers did they represent? Obviously, the crocus is a vibrant flower we look forward to in the early spring. What about the orange and the gold flowers?

I discovered that the salmon/orange flower represents a stylized version of the “little plum bitterroot.” The gold flower is like the gold “stickleaf” flower — which is what the leaves really do– stick to you!

So with the revised crocus and stylized versions of real wildflowers, I reworked the design with the revised crocus. I was able to insert both the crocus and the bitterroot inside the “diamonds” in two places to add a more varied component to the design.

Challenge Entry

Forest Botanicals Wildflowers Fungi Garden

Forest wildflowers, fungi in a charming, diamond collage composition to highlight leaves, colorful wildflowers, fungi, and moths; celebrating the natural abundance of the forest, including crocus, little plum bitterroot, gold stickleaf.

I entered the large version since the challenge is for wallpaper, but I also uploaded a medium sized version for fabric. You can see the difference below– large on the left; medium on the right. The tablecloth and runner are more difficult to compare. Click an image to view on Spoonflower.

Voting starts February 12th if you want to join the fun viewing and voting for the designs. I vote every time and always view all the designs, choosing the ones that best fit the challenge and that catch my eye. I also learn a lot from others’ design choices.

You can also vote now until February 10th for the Country Retro designs. You can view and learn about my design here: Country Retro Blues on Wheat Gold Checks

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope your February is filled with joy! Make some art to spread more joy!

You can find many helpful artists teachers on my Artist Resources  page. Take a look at their IG and YouTube. Find one that fits your learning and art preferences and stick with them a while to develop your skills. If you have any questions, just ask!

You’re welcome to follow this blog for art inspiration. We can share with #warmup4art to enjoy our work together! I look forward to your sharing and find me at @42Sheri, on Mastodon Sheri42, on Flickr teach.eagle Sheri 42. And, I’m so thankful you’ve been joining me with art this year! Take care!