Learn how to create beautiful color palettes for surface pattern design and illustration using simple color recipe frameworks. You'll learn how to develop cohesive color combinations, stronger color schemes, and more intentional colorways for patterns, prints, and decorative artwork.

Many artists understand color theory — but actually choosing colors for a design can still feel surprisingly difficult. Without a clear structure, palettes can quickly feel random or unbalanced.

In this class, you'll learn a practical system for creating palettes using five color recipes. Each recipe demonstrates a different way colors can work together, from calm, harmonious palettes to combinations with more contrast and energy.

Through real design examples and step-by-step demonstrations, you'll see how these palette structures translate into finished artwork and repeat patterns. You'll also learn a fast Photoshop method for experimenting with new colorways so you can explore multiple palette options quickly.

By the end of the class, you'll have a set of reliable color recipes you can return to whenever you're creating a new design, making it much easier to develop cohesive palettes and explore new colorways with confidence.

What You'll Learn

In this class, you'll learn how to:

• Create balanced color palettes using simple recipe-style frameworks
• Use analogous colors, complementary accents, and neutrals effectively
• Understand how color relationships and proportions shape a palette
• Avoid common mistakes that make color palettes feel chaotic or flat
• Analyze artwork to understand why certain color combinations work
• Create stronger color hierarchy in your designs
• Quickly generate alternative colorways in Photoshop using a fast experimentation method
• Develop reusable palette references you can apply to future designs

Who This Class Is For

This class is especially helpful for:

• Surface pattern designers creating repeat patterns for fabric, wallpaper, or products
• Illustrators and artists who want stronger, more cohesive color palettes
• Designers who understand basic color theory but want a more practical system for choosing colors
• Creatives who want faster ways to develop multiple colorways for a design

Basic familiarity with color theory and design software like Illustrator, Procreate, or Photoshop will be helpful, but the concepts can be applied to any creative workflow.

Get my Free Curated Color Palette Library!

It’s a great source of inspiration with 24 color palettes shown in the class — along with swatches and hex codes. It’s free when you sign up for my newsletter here.

Jenna M

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