So, what exactly is Surface Pattern Design?
And how did I end up here?
For most of my life I have painted – mostly for fun and my own enjoyment. A few years ago however, I started to think beyond my painting pad and wonder what more I could do with a skill I love to use?
Enter: surface pattern design. SPD is literally exactly what it sounds like. It is the design of patterns for use on any surface. Literally. Any. Surface. Fabric, shoes, wallpaper, water bottles, packaging, pool rings - if it’s a surface, it can have a pattern design printed on it! Patterns are literally all around us, all day, every day - since my entry into the field, all I do is notice patterns - they’re everywhere!
The trigger for my interest in SPD really comes back to something entirely unrelated. Many years ago, I fell in love with the Byron Bay clothing brand, Spell & the Gypsy and their exquisite patterns and dresses. But, being a new teacher at the time, I couldn’t afford nor justify the cost of their clothes. Much to my own horror now, my thinking was along the lines of ‘well, I’m creative! I can sew! I’ll see if I can get my own designs printed onto fabric and make beautiful dresses that no one else has! And it won’t cost me nearly $400!’… *face palm*
January 2020
In January of 2020, in the midst of my maternity leave for my first born, and right before COVID sent the world into its curtail spin, I decided to try and create my own patterns and have them printed. In my search for custom printing onto fabric, I stumbled across Spoonflower, uploaded two basic designs (one wasn’t even my own, it was of a turtle my younger sister had painted for my daughter!) and printed the samples. I had no idea what was meant by a repeat, or how to scale, or how to make a pattern appear seamless. Well… it’s fair to say they were low quality and not what I had imagined!
Here's some images (taken from my design uploads on www.spoonflower.com).
You can clearly see where the repeat is occurring. There’s a big gap between edges. The artwork itself was painted with poor-quality materials and uploaded by taking a photo on my phone rather than using a scanner. I guess it’s not a shocking first attempt. Regardless, I was incredibly disappointed in myself and I’m ashamed to say, completely gave up on the idea altogether. It was all just a bit too hard. This is really unlike me, to give up so easily – I guess I didn’t though – because three years later, here I am, doing it properly!
Funnily enough, what did happen while using Spoonflower in those early days was that I stumbled across a pattern that had been uploaded by none other than Cass Deller herself! I loved the pattern and the artwork and decided to see if she was on Instagram. I was stoked when I found her, very easily, and that she was a full-time artist (and graphic designer, at that point). I followed her and enjoyed having her artwork in my feed. I could see that Cass was turning her own paintings into repeat designs and these repeats were on products. I had even unknowingly purchased a number of baby products for my first baby with her designs on them (Bare & Boho cloth nappies and a Luxe & Co playmat)! Look at this process! From painting to repeat pattern to product - incredible!
That year, Cass started offering her 10-week Surface Pattern Design course. I wanted in, right away. Despite my first two failed repeat surface pattern designs with Spoonflower, I knew I was a good painter and I knew I had something to offer and I wanted to step into that part of myself more actively. But, we were at the end of adding a big extension to our home and I was on maternity leave – my husband and I agreed it was not the right time, financially. So, sadly, I put it on the backburner, returned to work in 2021 and promised myself one day.
January 2023
Fast-forward three years! The doors were once again open for Cass’s Surface Pattern Design for Creative Entrepreneurs. I was now in the last few months of my second maternity leave – I knew I would be returning to work again in the coming months and with an active bub and an even more active toddler and the economy on the decline, it was now or probably not ever.
It was a lot of money to invest in me without the guarantee that it would work out well. I had a load of questions! Likeeee,
Should I really put this much money into something I’ve never done before?
What does the course involve?
Will it cater for complete beginners or be more suited to those already in the industry?
Will it answer all of my questions about surface pattern design?
What is art licencing anyway, is that even applicable to me?
I know I am good, but am I good enough?
Will Cass teach me not just the technical skills but also how to set up a website?
I knew what doors Surface Pattern Design could open, I had seen the types of products that Cass’s artwork appeared on - I wanted the creative outlet and I had the determination and drive to want to turn it into a passive income stream - but I still kept balking at the price tag…
That is… until I saw the units of work that were included in Cass’s Surface Pattern Design for Creative Entrepreneur's…
And I realised - Cass would literally answer ALL of my questions and teach me ALL of the things I needed to know in order to work in the Surface Pattern Design field successfully and to do it well! I could not contain my excitement!
So, what did my internal voice say to convince me to take the plunge?
A few things happened to me after having two children during COVID-19 and all of its lockdowns and restrictions. I had done a great deal of soul searching - some of it had hurt, some of it felt good, some of it left me heartbroken and most of it left me grounded. But one thing was certain - it left me wanting the absolute MOST from life. My realisations were something I had always known, but now it was like a fire had been lit beneath me.
The first realisation, was that after having two babies and having my body and soul at the beck and call of everyone else for so long, with many years to go, I needed something to fill my cup. I needed an outlet, I could feel the edges of my soul yearning for creativity and I could see how much of a better Mum and wife I was when I let that creativity flow.
I realised I want to spend as much of my time with my children as humanly possible, and that if I can make this work, not only would it mean that I get to spend more time with them and at home, I also get to do something I absolutely love, every day.
The most important lesson was that life is so fleeting and so beautiful. If we don’t spend our hours and time and life doing the things that we love - than what is the point? I found myself yearning, deeply, for my children to have a charmed, happy life. I wanted them to always, ALWAYS do the things that they love to do. I wanted them to grab life by the collar and shake it and say ‘I will make this the best damn life ever!’ because I didn’t bring them into this world to do anything but this. And that made me realise - I really should be applying that same desire to myself and my own life too. Right?
With beating heart - I enrolled. I chose a 12 month payment plan. I was nervous, excited, thrilled, worried and so happy - I knew that I was taking an important first step towards something more.
And I am SO glad that I did - because the course was absolutely incredible. From mindset, to the technical side of Illustrator and Photoshop, to Art Licencing, to setting up the website and with the inclusion of incredible industry leaders and expert guests… not to mention the super supportive group you get inducted into as a Cass Deller course alumni! I loved every second of it. And the fact that I could go back and forth and take my time with the content, given I have a busy family life, made it that much more accessible to me. I don’t regret a cent spent.
Since completing the course at the start of June, 2023 (so, in less than 3 months), I have:
Handpainted and created over 40 surface pattern designs, priced and listed them
Proudly launched this website and my Instagram page
Shared my face and my artwork on my Instagram page, even when it’s not perfect or ready
Set up my creative studio
Pitched my portfolio to an online, Australian fabric store
Been working on artwork and a portfolio pitch to an Australian wallpaper company
Created a goal to have over 100 surface pattern designs listed for licencing on my website by the end of 2023
Started to paint canvases with the goal of selling originals and limited prints in the near future
Delved further into my website copy and listened to hours of creative podcasts episodes
Grown my confidence more than I could have ever imagined
Come SO FAR since those first two patterns I uploaded to Spoonflower.
If you’ve been considering the course or are looking for a course in Surface Pattern Design, I cannot recommend Cass’s course enough, it is honestly worth every single penny - you won’t regret it!
In light of being completely transparent, I do receive a commission for anyone who signs up to the Cass Deller Surface Pattern Design for Creative Entrepreneurs course using the links I’ve provided. I consider myself a blunt and honest person and I absolutely would not recommend this course if I didn’t think it was absolutely worth it. And if you do use the links - THANK YOU! You are supporting me, my business and my family.
And the best bit of information! If you use my unique code RENAE at checkout, you’ll receive 10% off the price of the course!