In this blog post, I will show you my process for creating a pattern from a print taking one of my latest and favorites pattern as an example:
from this print > > > to this pattern
![](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=1024x2048:format=jpg/path/s5763cee29ccd50e4/image/ia2a824d11ac9600b/version/1604398524/image.jpg)
![](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=1024x2048:format=jpg/path/s5763cee29ccd50e4/image/i865c8d6de700c614/version/1604398524/image.jpg)
sketches
![](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=1024x2048:format=jpg/path/s5763cee29ccd50e4/image/ifff0d85495406705/version/1604398685/image.jpg)
![](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=1024x2048:format=jpg/path/s5763cee29ccd50e4/image/i8fcf4720b647149e/version/1604398685/image.jpg)
finished artwork
step by step
![](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=360x1024:format=jpg/path/s5763cee29ccd50e4/image/ief74d03d1b93b540/version/1604503595/image.jpg)
So, after deciding which woodland creatures I wanted to have in the pattern, I drew some silhouettes. For this particular pattern, I was going for a rather simple shape and no details like eyes, fur, mouth, etc. Once I had the blank silhouettes, I arranged them for a half-drop repeat, to add a bit of movement to the pattern.
![](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=355x1024:format=jpg/path/s5763cee29ccd50e4/image/i527570fc2520a693/version/1604503595/image.jpg)
My original idea was to fill every animal with different drawings of stars, planets and moons, but I soon decided to make a simpler pattern inside a pattern.
![](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=355x1024:format=jpg/path/s5763cee29ccd50e4/image/if580ee2b0de4e4ff/version/1604503595/image.jpg)
Then, I added the leaves that I had drawn by hand in my sketchbook "tangled" at each animal. After that, I had to re-arrange some elements to avoid too much negative space or "alleys" in the repeat.
![](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=355x1024:format=jpg/path/s5763cee29ccd50e4/image/i3e0989fd1f0b5e07/version/1604503596/image.jpg)
This next step took me really long. My original idea was to fill the background with stars, moons, dots, sparkles and so on... Instead, I drew some extra leaves, buds, branches and fill the background with them. Still, something was missing...
![](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=355x1024:format=jpg/path/s5763cee29ccd50e4/image/i414f3fdf60b3a83a/version/1604503596/image.jpg)
Finally, the little golden stars gave the pattern some extra magic and contrast.
et voilà!
![](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=515x10000:format=jpg/path/s5763cee29ccd50e4/image/i93e15fb536676e84/version/1604397556/image.jpg)
Write a comment
Rumana (Monday, 16 November 2020 17:57)
I really love the way or process you work. Thanks for step by step and visual explanation.
Lucia from DEINKI (Tuesday, 17 November 2020 09:45)
Thanks a lot Rumana!! :)
Joanna Williams (Tuesday, 15 November 2022 09:50)
Really beautiful pattern �