Turn Your Artwork Into Textile Designs That Sell - a Quick Guide

Turn Your Artwork into Textile Designs that Sell - a quick guide

Textile designers create artwork and patterns that are ultimately printed on fabric and used by the fashion, quilting and home decor industries. We are inspired by observing the patterns all around us in nature, fashion and everyday life.

Textile design is rooted in one of the oldest forms of artistic expression known to man - printing, drawing or painting on fabric.

As artists, many of us dream of earning a living creating the artwork we love. I’m Michelle Fifis, creator of Pattern Observer and the Textile Design Lab, and I want to help you transform your artwork into textile designs and make a living doing work you love.

Step One - Evaluating Your Artwork

Getting started in textile design means looking at your artwork from a slightly different perspective. A textile design is a work of art created for fabric rather than paper, clay or canvas. This means evaluating your work by how it will look as a part of a dress or home accessory. It means having a vision for your work printed on hundreds of yards of fabric.

Think about the art you create. Are you ready for your work to be a part of the supporting cast rather than the star of the artistic show? People will notice and comment on the beauty of a dress or a home accessory rather than the quality of your design...and in world of textile design that’s ok. In fact, that’s our goal.

www.patternobserver.com Becoming a textile designer means moving beyond your passion for a single sketch or image to developing a love for the way your work translates to fabric. It means understanding the production process and the purpose of your work. It means manipulating your original artwork until it prints as beautifully on fabric as it does on paper.

Are you ready for the challenge? What patterns can you observe in your original artwork? Can you picture these images on fabric?

Step Two - Transforming Your Art into Textile Design

You’ve invested countless hours creating the perfect sketch, painting or pattern. Selling your artwork as a textile design means understanding how beautiful pattern layouts are created and preparing your original artwork for printing.

How can you create a repeating pattern? Start by changing your original artwork as little as possible. Use it as a foundation and build from it, adding elements and motifs to compliment the work and create a beautiful pattern layout. Here are three tips to help you get started.

Create multiple motifs. D oes your work contain irregular or hand-drawn motifs? Consider drawing more than one version to give the print variety. Creating a second or third flower with a similar look and feel but slightly unique motifs, for example, will give your print a more detailed look and professional feel.

Flip and rotate motifs. Y ou can create a repeat by flipping, rotating, and scaling the main motifs of your print as you duplicate it

www.patternobserver.com within your layout. This type of repeat also helps you avoid any unintentional directionality in your print.

Think bigger. It can be tempting to create a 4” square of artwork and then use a software like Illustrator’s pattern tool to create the repeat. Instead, take the time to create a larger pattern layout. I recommend at least 32cm (12.5”) of artwork as a base for your pattern. This extra investment will increase the quality of your textile design.

Step Three - Preparing a Pattern Collection

A pattern collection is simply a set of three to seven patterns with a consistent color palette, artistic style and trend focus. The patterns work together and support one another aesthetically and are often sold as a group.

Why should you create one or more pattern collections? They simplify the decision making process for buyers, making it easier for them to purchase your work. Apparel and home decor manufacturers, for example, use collections to help them merchandise their products. Consumers are looking for a duvet cover, sheet set and bed skirt that coordinate but aren’t identical. That’s the idea behind a collection.

A pattern collection usually has a main print, often referred to as a “focus print” which is often the boldest in the collection. This print draws buyers to your work. The supporting patterns in the collection are known as the “coordinates.” Their artistic style and color usage matches the focus print and together they tell a consistent story.

www.patternobserver.com How can you prepare a pattern collection? Select one of your original drawings, paintings or designs and turn it into an exciting focus print that expresses your style and creativity. Now challenge yourself to create several complimenting patterns as coordinates for your original design. Remember, the coordinates should draw from the focus print but not overpower it.

This approach will not only amp up your creativity and allow you to practice your textile design skills, you’ll end up with a pattern collection you can use to market your work.

I’m excited about textile design. So...now what?

No wonder you’re excited. The textile design industry is full of creative opportunity for artists and designers. Your work can be used to create fabric for quilting or home decor. Clothing manufacturers and retailers are looking for creative designs that interpret the latest fashion trends in a unique way.

I hope you’ve caught the vision of clothing, home decor or quilt fabric featuring your designs and artwork. I hope you’ve recognized the potential financial benefits of a career in textile design. So, now it’s time to take the next steps.

● Market your work. I’ve created a five part course to help you get started in the textile design industry. H ow to Sell Your Artwork w ill walk you through your marketing options and give you the strategy you need to start making money selling textile designs. Click here to learn more.

● Build your business. Where can you go to improve your textile design skills, connect with other designers, and learn from

www.patternobserver.com experienced designers with the inside scoop on the industry? T extile Design Lab, of course ! Learn more.

● Be inspired. I created P attern Observer to share inspiration and industry information with the textile design community. My vision is now one of the top blogs serving our industry. Visit us at w ww.patternobserver.com.