I’m really proud, and happy, that I followed through on my goal to start creating surface designs. I designed the first one in January, and decided to commit to “1 Surface Design a Month.” That goal, and the end of the month deadline, really pushed me to put in the work.
12 Surface Designs
January – Art Supplies
February – Valentine’s Day
March – Gardening
April – Dahlias
May – Sandcastles
June – Echinacea
November – Nutcrackers
December – Toy Soldiers
I’m always asking you, “What’s your favorite?” And I would love to hear, but I’ll also tell you my favorites.
I really liked when I started using the technique of creating the ink lines and watercolor backgrounds separately and then merging them in Photoshop. I started this with the shell pattern. I think the watercolor really adds a depth that you can’t get with Photoshop brushes. I started this technique with the shells, and continued it with the leaves – which is my favorite design in this style.
My other technique is drawing the elements in my sketchbook and adding color in Photoshop. My favorite design, using this technique, is the Toy Soldiers. They are just so cute!
Will I be continuing with surface design in 2016? Absolutely! As you know, I’ve made the Nutcracker and Toy Soldier patterns available on Spoonflower, where you can have them printed as fabric or gift wrap. It is really interesting to see the designs printed and to think about how it will be used. It makes you think about the design, and what works and doesn’t. It’s a different perspective than just seeing it flat on the computer screen.
In the new year, I’ll be adding a few of the other “12 designs” onto Spoonflower. And I plan to continue designing one new one a month!
mycreativeresolution.com 
The sandcastles and the shells are so sweet – definitively my fav!
Thanks Ana! 🙂
I like all your designs! The ones I really like are the Sandcastle, shells and leaves because I like nature. I need to look into Spoonflower for some of my art. How do you like it?
I have no complaints 🙂
The shells leap out at me! I love the gardening one also. They’re all eye-catching and cool, Eileen!
Thank’s so much Laura!
Congratulations! It’s an inspiring challenge. I like the lines on the Dahlias and the way the flowers overlap. And then of course I like the shells because of the watercolors. Your technique of creating the watercolor backgrounds and lines separately sounds really cool. I think I’ll try it when I have a chance. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks so much Marion! It’s great to hear I have inspired you. 🙂
Wow! What a great challenge and an incredible result! I love them all! Fantastic work, Eileen!! ❤️😃
Thanks Charlie! 🙂
It’s hard to pick a favorite Eileen, I’m partial to the feathers. But, I like them all. A fabulous collection.
Thank you Sharon, I appreciate your comment so much!
I like the garden and the feathers best. Congratulations! I always admire those with follow through! (K)
Thank you! The gardening one is one of my earlier favorites too.
Aahh, I now know when it was I started Following you…the ice cream cones! 😀
That’s so funny! Now I’ve given you a complete history. ha ha
I like March the gardening one, though I do like the watercolour technique in the other designs. Great to see them all together. Karen
Thanks Karen! The gardening one is one of my favorites too.
These are great! I really love the shells! 🙂
Thanks so much Anita!
Good for you for following through your own commitment! a year is a long time to stick with something. My fav is the feathers followed by the leaves.
thanks Rachel! 😀
I love all of them! I think my favorites are Gardening, Sand castles and Echinacea. 🙂
Thank you, I like the gardening one too! 🙂
Welcome! They are all very lovely and I am looking forward to 2016 ones! 🙂