20 ways to doodle- mini book review

During my course I was very lucky to win a copy of 20 ways to draw a doodle.  Well last week it arrive in the post, attractively packaged in one of  Rachaels gift wrap designs.

  Rachael has chosen 45 themes as a launch point  to doodling.  You could ask why would you need a book to teach you how to doodle but then your missing the point.  It a beautiful reference guide to many different styles of doodling. I know that when I'm just doodling I always fall into similar themes and styles.

The book also encourages the use of different media to get different effects and most importantly to keep your work and refer back to it for inspiration.  I have found it useful to flick through until something catches my eye and then use this as a place to start. Thank you Rachael for the book I know I will be referring to this a lot in my designing.

I love pattern

Wow what a week last week was.  I have just finished week one of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design (ABSPD) Module 1 Designing your way, and have loved every minute.  The course is 5 weeks long and is all online.   It is run by surface pattern designer, Rachael Taylor.  The first week is all about inspiration.

I began with some photography which helped to start seeing things differently.
 Here are a few of my photos of rectangles and circles.  I won't put them all up - dont worry.

These photos were then used to make sketches to create abstract motifs.  A big challenge for me was to have confidence in my sketching.  After some initial doubts I came up with these motifs and hope to use these some time in a pattern.

tyres and air bricks are inspirational - who knew?

I also did some sketches of some flowers based around hydrangeas and then made a very simple pattern on the computer. This pattern was also submitted to the most recent Tigerprint competition all but in a black and white version (the theme was Black and White).  Wish me luck.

Really loving the blue

Another part of this week was deconstructing patterns.  This opened my eyes to which sort of patterns I am drawn to and this will definitely help me with my own style.
After week one I am really pleased that I have taken this course.  The facebook group community are really supportive and encouraging and I look forward to seeing not only my own designs develop and grow but also those of my fellow students.  I also like that we are all working on the same initial idea but the way we interpret it is soo different.   I need to love using Photoshop as much as I love Illustrator.  Thank you Beth Kempton and Rachael Taylor for creating such a wonderful course - enjoying every minute and a little sad that week one is over.