Thursday, January 10, 2013

Be free, fly high... dream a little too!

Hello and welcome to Nice and Fancy. You are in the middle of the great New Year's Let's fly! - Bloghop where over 50 surface pattern designers are showcasing their work. We hope you will find the whole thing fun and inspiring. After visiting Nicky Ovitt's lovely blog in California, U.S.A. I hope you will now enjoy my post.

My name is Dawn Clarkson and I am a graphic designer 'turned' surface pattern designer. With
more than 20 years of design experience I am now pursuing my dream of becoming a full-time surface designer. 
My style can be considered bold and audace, I experiment with different techniques and materials, and use both hand drawn and computer styles. Often inspired by nature my patterns are colourful and generally contain complicated repeats.
I have designed three patterns especially for the Let's fly! - Bloghop. The theme 'Let's fly!' inspired me to think of KITES, the freedom they represent and the bright and happy atmosphere they evoke. I have created two seamless patterns and a placement print complete with a few inspirational words 'Be free, fly high', which could be used as a greetings card. My colour palette is governed by Pantone's colour of the year Emerald -  Pantone17-5641. 
Emerald Kites

Ditsy Kites
Whilst creating these designs it made me think closely about how I work and I have realised that I consider hard work and professionalism as a natural part of my work process. At this point I decided my everyday routine is missing a bit of freedom, a few dreams, the ability to fly, the hunger to achieve. I need to inject a large dose of these qualities into my work so I have decided that my motto for 2013 will be 'Be free, fly high!'
Greetings card design
I have many plans for 2013 and wish to realise as many of these goals as possible. Although I have enjoyed years of success in my graphic design career I now want to feel the satisfaction of creating patterns that will enrich the lives of the people who own them. I cannot hide the fact that I would love to see my designs on different home products and on warm and tactile fabrics.

Here's hoping I have inspired you to return and visit my blog again and maybe become a regular follower? All of my news and plans for 2013 I will share here on this blog so please make a note and come back soon. Now it is time for you to continue your journey on the great
Let's fly! - Bloghop, I wish you a super day and I hope we all entertain and inspire you. We have all worked hard to complete today's achievement, it has involved a lot of teamwork. Please continue the Let's fly! - Bloghop by joining Julianne Hall of jookiku who is based in Australia.

23 comments:

  1. Excellent work dawn as always i love the flying kites, x

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  2. I swooned a bit over your greeting card design. Always love your work! Julie

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  3. I started with showing off your goegeous banner: on my pin collection of banners. Adorable work and love your style!

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  4. Beautiful work Dawn, may all your textile dreams come true!

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  5. What a great motto on your last image. Yours designs are so graceful here. Good luck getting to where you want to.

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  6. these would be fantastic on paper & fabric! best wishes for more success in 2013!

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  7. Dawn these designs are fabulous, wishing you great success in 2013!

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  8. Awesome kites and good luck with living my your new motto, sounds like 2013 will be a great year

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  9. Dawn, every year in Villa de Leyva (a colonial town 4h away from Bogota), there is a famous Kite Festival. Thousands of kites fly in the air filling the sky with color and freshness. That 's what your beautiful patterns passed on to me... that and a huge sense of freedom! Gorgeous work :)

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  10. I am on the blog hop NOW!!!! and trying to leave a comment for everyone! Thanks to all of you who have left me a sweet message. Dawn x

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  11. I simply love the kites! your pattern has so much energy and freedom!

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  12. Beautiful Kites Dawn! Lovely work
    Wish you a fantastic 2013!!
    Thanks for participating in the bloghop and thanks for the credit. I really appreciate it!
    Believe! and of course Be free fly high!
    RosieX

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  13. Loving your patterns and the oriental feel of the designs! Your emerald kites has such a nice flow and so does your card, the composition is beautiful... Here's wishing you a fab 2013! :)

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  14. Beautiful designs Dawn! They definitely evoke a feeling of celebration and freedom. Wishing you much success in 2013!

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  15. Gorgeous kites Dawn! Really love your colour combinations!

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  16. Lovely collection. So fun to see the kite in many design in the hop! Happy 2013!

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  17. Wonderful kites, great collection!

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  18. Loving your Kites and bright colour scheme Dawn. Good luck with all your plans for 2013!

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  19. Pretty kites and colors. Great work! Best wishes to you for 2013!

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  20. Lovely designs Dawn! I can see the middle one on children's clothes...:-)

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