Flower Photographs

I went back to taking more photographs of flowers to inspire me. Since looking at Charles Rennie Mackintosh's work I was inspired to look at some frail and dying flowers, as they had more structure and crinkly textures to them. These rough and ragged textures could be incorporated into my Illustrator designs to add more detail and lines, as I want to achieve a botanical, earthy and abstract theme for my wallpaper and bag designs. I think next I need to enlarge the scale of these images as I've mainly been working quite small.

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Charles Rennie Mackintosh's work has a lovely rustic and botanical theme to his floral drawings. Looking at the colours from the above images, browns, greens, ochres; I think I need to change my colour palette in my Illustrator designs if I am to meet a botanical and earthy theme for my Aveda work.

The lines of the flowers are very fine which makes the flowers appear frail and delicate, also like the use of overlaying some of the petals (in the first image) which suggests transparency and depth. Something I have also concentrated on in my Illustrator work.

Aveda Brief

I'm currently working on a brief which requires me to design a motif/pattern to be used on both wrapping paper and a carrier bag for Aveda; who manufacture high end cosmetics and body care products using natural ingredients  Having researched this company I have found that they go for natural, earthy, soft colour palettes to represent their passion for naturally sourced ingredients.

I have used some of my summer sketchbook work, (where I took photographs of flowers) as these florals will represent a botanical and organic theme.

I have experimented with Illustrator to come up with some sample motifs and patterns. Being inspired by Gary Hume I like the idea of layering and line, shape and texture. The florals are layered on top of one another to appear delicate and translucent. I've kept some of the heavy outlines of the floral shapes to emphasize the flowing and structured shape of the lines

Gary Hume

Thought it appropriate to look at Gary Hume's figurative work for his delicate, intertwining line structures. I've been focusing on figures and drawing basic, simple outlines of different statures and poses to overlay ontop of floral photographs/drawings; to suggest floral prints in garments.

Hume's simplistic approach to figurative drawing creates frenetic and busy trails of lines and adds character to the subject. I especially like Water Painting, where the various outlines of figures have overlapped and enforced quite a striking compostition.