Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 1 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 2 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 3 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 4 - student project

I just finished another pattern. I had to get in some of those creepy crawlies my girls like so much, lol! I intentionally tried to blend the frogs in and make them prettier! If you look closely you will see spiders everywhere too! I was trying to make patterns with them looking more like their "real" colors, and I just couldn't do it...it was giving me chills. lol...I incorporated one of the watercolor textures that I had vectorized to create a background that is reminiscent of water or the ground (at least that is what I was going for anyway). Anyway here is the pattern:

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 5 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 6 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 7 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 8 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 9 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 10 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 11 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 12 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 13 - student project

This is one of the colorways I will be using:

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 14 - student project

Here is a group of vectorized and combined watercolor motifs. I have not colored them yet with my chosen colorways though...

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 15 - student project

So, this is my second attempt at using watercolor. I I have never used it before this weekend and was not happy with my results my first try. I tried a little more today and I'm getting better I suppose, lol... I did not have time to make the backgrounds white or scan them in, so these are just photos taken with my cell phone.

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 16 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 17 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 18 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 19 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 20 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 21 - student project

Leaves! I love all of them, lol!

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 22 - student project

I seriously have only made it through one more flower....I can't stop playing with the recolor Artwork tool! Every single time I do it, I think that it is prettier than the last time... Just thought I'd share my newest obsession with everyone! Anyone else get stuck in the Recolor Artwork Zone?

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 23 - student project

I'm having so much fun playing with recoloring these little wild things that I haven't traced any foliage or flowers yet, lol!

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 24 - student project

So I have a little time today to trace some photos, and this frog is my first attempt. I loved how he turned out so much I couldn't wait to share him! I will share other tracings as I finish them. :)

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 25 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 26 - student project

THEME:

Camp "Wild Things"

WORDS:

Rustic, Wild, Frogs, Tomboys, Snakes, Bugs, Mud Season, Fun, 4-Wheeling, Camping, Off-Grid, Freedom, Peaceful, Nature, Wildflowers, and of course Wild Things

STORY:

I couldn't get out to take any photos for this workshop because my 9 year old daughter has the flu; however; Bonnie suggested to dig into old photos...I am so glad she did! I took all of these photos at our camp last spring right after I had taken Bonnie first Skillshare Class. We can't wait every year to go to our camp. My girls absolutely love going and they are very much girly tomboys...they love mud, and bugs, frogs, snakes, spiders, you name it, lol! Their favorite things to catch are frogs and of course, they all are given names. There have even been a few snakes that made it into our camp by way of my 9 year old daughter so that the snakes could play in her wooden dollhouse...Yes, I have screamed many times, lol, but that is part of the fun!
Going to camp is an escape from the chaos of our regular lives and we know that when we go it is going to be amazing. We have no cell service or internet . etc. and it is so relaxing...No distractions, only fun playing in the mud, hunting for frogs, going 4 wheeling, swimming at the creek just down the way, and exploring everywhere! Time goes too fast when we stay, but we are always planning the next trip back to camp. My 3 year old daughter is already asking everyday "Is time to go to camp yet?"...Children who just want to go to "Camp Wild Things"...What more could I ask for?!

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 27 - student project

Theme:

Young Love

Words:

French, Victorian, Proper, Wanderlust, Explorers, Serenity, Opulence, Romantic, Gardens, Dreams

Story:

While I live in gorgeous Vermont, I found myself constantly thinking about where I'm from, and I was looking through photos my oldest daughter had sent me. She is in college at UCA in Arkansas, and she loves to explore and go hiking just enjoying the world around her and the peace it brings. She had reminded me of a place I had gone with my family a long time ago... Petit Jean mountain is absolutely gorgeous and serene...there is even an amazing 95 foot waterfall called Cedar Falls that you can climb down to the bottom of and stand behind. It is am amazing experience to stand behind such a powerful force of nature that water can be as it slowly carves it way through our planet.The vast scenery from the the mountain is just without words as you look down onto the winding Arkansas river and the fresh breeze whispers of a coming spring. Then there is a very large cave called "Rock House Cave" with gorgeous Native American Pictographs inside...so much history. Sorry to go on and on!

"Petit Jean" is actually the name of the beautiful Mountain and State Park in Arkansas. Legend has it that it is so named after a young petite French girl who disguised herself as a cabin boy and stowed away on a ship...She did this so that she could follow her love on his exploration of America. Everyone takes her for a young man and pays her no mind until she becomes ill and passes away; however, in my version of her story she does not become ill and die on the mountain... but rather she reveals who she really is to her love, and lives out her days with him building a home and life together in the beautiful mountains in Arkansas. She enjoys growing lush rose gardens and adding even more beauty to the rugged environment around her that she has fallen in with.

My Sketches:

Oh my goodness! How much I have missed sketching! I have so many more ideas of sketches I want to do, but alas I need more time, lol! I am used to drawing with charcoal or india ink; however, this time I just used a regular #2 pencil since I know the most time will be spent in Illustrator. I dream of one day getting a Cintiq to draw on...Here are a few that I have had a chance to work on...I have to apologize because I sketch very lightly with pencil, so they may be hard to see. I will try and brighten up the pages as well as darken my pencil marks through contrast/levels before bringing them into Illustrator to draw from...Hopefully, you can see them right now. I'm sure I will add more sketches as the module progresses! It is such fun!

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 28 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 29 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 30 - student project

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 31 - student project

So, today is the first day I've been able to work in Illustrator tracing my sketches. I still have many more to trace and I want to spend as much time as I can on them...especially the flowers.Here is one page of sketches I completed, and I will add the rest as I have time to finish them :)

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 32 - student project

So, I haven't had much time to work on the rest of my tracings of my sketches (too many doctor's appointments for my toddler). I was able to finish this group of roses from my sketch and add color...They look very bright on the screen, lol!...I will add more as I am able to finish them though...

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 33 - student project

I got a little sidetracked playing with the heart that I had sketched, lol...Here is what I had fun making:

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 34 - student project

I know I was supposed to be tracing more of my sketches the last few hours, but I've been having so much fun playing and wanted to share this little card I made for today from a few elements I have traced so far.

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 35 - student project

I have been able to trace a few more of my flowers today...yeah! Now all I have left to trace is the apple tree branch. :)

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 36 - student project

I am still working on my repeats, but I did finish this one today :)

Master 5 Complex Pattern Techniques in 2 Weeks - image 37 - student project

Nancy Spaulding

Surface Pattern Designer & Illustrator

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