Retro thermoses + lunch boxes for Spoonflower!

'Retro thermoses + lunch boxes!' ©2014 Patty Rybolt Designs. 

The challenge for this week… thermoses! 

     I decided to go with the old school thermos and lunchbox combo and did my research mostly on Pinterest. Many of the Pinterest images have copyrighted icons on them I just used the shapes as reference and added my own icons of old cars, planes and camping themes. The Polar Bear was added just because he makes me happy!

Voting starts on Thursday, November 18, 2014 , and continues until until December 3rd, 2014. Please Vote! 

Ink for Spoonflower and Uppercase Magazine!

'Ink'  ©2014 Patty Rybolt Designs. 

The challenge for this week… Calligraphy and Ink! 

Spoonflower  partnered with UPPERCASE, magazine for a special Design Challenge. Designers have the chance to be profiled in an upcoming issue of UPPERCASE by creating the winning calligraphy-themed print. Designers had to create a monochromatic pattern using varying shades of black, white or grey. "Go graphic with calligraphic messages and flourishes or be illustrative with pens, inkwells and other tools of the craft."

I raided my ink drawer (yes I have one), and drew as many of the items as I could with as much detail as possible. I drew the line art on my iPad in the Adobe Ideas App (with my finger), and then imported it into Photoshop where I built my 'icons'. Next came the placement of the icons keeping in mind that I would use a 1/2 drop pattern with this layout. When I was pleased with the composition I added ink drops to fill in the open spots (which I scanned in), and last came the ink dot pattern behind the completed design! I mistakenly thought that this assignment might be a bit easier because it was 'monochromatic', but it was pretty challenging!
Voting started on Thursday, November 13, 2014 and continues until Thursday November 20th, 2014. Please Vote!

'A Retro Christmas' gift wrap design in the Top 10 at Spoonflower!

©2014 Patty Rybolt Designs. Photo from Spoonflower on Flicker.

My 'A Retro Christmas' gift wrap design made the top 10 at Spoonflower !!

Thanks to all of my friends, fellow MATSies and family for the votes!!!

A Retro Christmas!

Ornament Gift Wrap for Spoonflower!

A Retro Christmas! ©2014 Patty Rybolt Designs. All Rights Reserved.

I love this theme because Christmas ornaments come in so many shapes, styles and traditions. I chose to illustrate some of my favorites from the ornaments that my family and I have collected over the years!

I started by just drawing as many ornament shapes as possible on my iPad with the Adobe Ideas App. (I love this app, I can take my iPad anywhere and draw without being tethered to my desk.) The next step was to add the details... I drew stars and dots and swirls and spots and hooks and pine branches a hundred different ways. All of the illustrations are just outlines and in black only until I open the PDF in Photoshop. When I get to this stage I make decisions on how many colors (in this case 5 + b&w), and come up with a strategy on the overall look. I decided to make the ornaments white because I wanted the details to be the focus and limited my colors to unify the shapes. Tried to keep it simple!

Voting starts on Thursday, November 6th, 2014. Please Vote!!