PAINTING A PICTURE Katarina Roccella talks to us about how she turns her illustrations and paintings into designs for fabric
How would you describe your illustration style and what has influenced it? I spent many years in art school - from high school until university - learning and studying different kinds of art subjects and developing my style. So I would say that years of doodling, practising and creating artwork definitely influenced my style that I like to call ‘perfectly imperfect’! G ar m en t
vision and mood of the collection in the best possible way. It’s very rare for me to get illustrator’s block, as I have the autonomy to create what I love the most! We know you also love to sew. Does this help you design a fabric collection as you have ideas on what the fabric will suit? Yes, I do! I think it can contribute a lot in creating the harmonious and balance to the collection, with options for quilters but also for garment and other type of sewers.
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designs side by side and to see how the prints work together. However, the best thing about creating patterns for fabric is seeing projects other people create with my fabrics!
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c What is the creative process behind creating surface designs for fabric and what’s the best thing about it? It all starts with gathering inspiration. Then I start doodling, drawing, painting and scanning. This is the most creative part of creating surface designs and the part I cherish the most. Once I have my motifs, elements and textures, I begin with composition and colour arrangement in Photoshop. In Adobe Bridge, it’s easy to place
Where do you find inspiration for your designs and how do you decide what colours to use? Do you ever get illustrator’s block? I like to challenge myself with different themes and colour palettes, and I try not to be repetitive in what I design. I am always devoted to my aesthetic and style. After choosing the theme, my goal is to find the harmonious mix between the main prints and the coordinates/blenders, and the colour palette that would be most appropriate for the theme and designs. These combined express my
Do you have any advice for sewers on choosing the right pattern scale for a garment? It may depend on what type of garment you’re making. For example, if sewing for babies and toddlers – smaller scale prints would generally work better, while for adults and also accessory items, I prefer largescale patterns.
