Hello and welcome to the Let’s Fly Blog Hop!
You may have just joined me from the Life and Times blog of the talented Claire Smillie. Claire was the “hostess” of the last blog hop that I participated in and she’s based in South Western England.
The theme for this hop is FLYING (also in reference to our careers) and we were encouraged to use a palette based on Emerald (Pantone’s 2013 color of the year.)
Being from New Mexico where the International Balloon Fiesta is held every year, hot air balloons felt like the natural choice for my main print. During my childhood I spent years watching the balloons silently drift aloft the mesa horizon, landing in parks and open fields, and observing the hardcore balloon culture that rises at the crack of crazy cold/dark to witness a mass ascension. The ornate balloons of early flight have the frivolity I wanted to capture and the two coordinating prints reflect my life now. My Cumulus pattern is a nod to Tibetan Thangka cloud drawing style, textured with fine tatting work. And the third pattern, Terra illustrates what an aerial ride over my adopted hometown in Sonoma County would look like. The winter rains have soaked the lush grasses and fertile farmland, revealing every possible shade of green.
I’ve often thought that I’d like to get an soaring overview of my future path in illustrated design but 2012 brought many new and exciting opportunities— many of which I would never have expected. So, although a lift in the flag waving balloon amongst delicate clouds sounds lovely, I’m content to take the surprising ride of the unknown!
I enjoy a thriving freelance career providing private label and retail clients with graphics and illustrated patterns and prints for a range of products. Spring 2013 will be the debut of some exciting work I’ve been creating for a major swim retailer. Click here to see my pen and ink illustration for surfaces, editorial and advertising. One of my 2013 goals is to license my own inky pattern collections, with a special focus on the sewing fabric market. If you have inquiries about my work or collaborations, please contact me.
Next, head on out to Turin, Italy to see Dawn Clarkson’s version of FLYING. Dawn’s fresh style is a real treat.
This has been another fun project. If you’d like to start of the beginning of this round the world flight, hop over to Gill Eggleston’s blog from France. Lastly, a big huge thanks to Rosie Martinez-Dekker of the Netherland’s Believe Creative Studio for curating this event!
Balloon facts:
+ On the 19th September 1783 Pilatre De Rozier, a scientist, launched the first hot air balloon called ‘Aerostat Reveillon’. The passengers were a sheep, a duck and a rooster and the balloon stayed in the air for a grand total of 15 minutes.
+ The Three Little Bees are some of the most popular balloons at the International Balloon Fiesta Special Shapes Rodeo.
+ I was obsessed with last Fall’s monumental sky jump from more than 24 miles above earth.
those fields are really sweet.
Love your hot air balloons! I will drop by again later- I would love to see your pen and ink illustrations. great work Nicky. Julie
So glad to see you have chosen hot air balloons too, and they are gorgeous! Love the clouds too! And your text is charming and very personal in a nice way.
Tina
Lovely designs Nicky! so delicately drawn and I love your last piece with the fields and the patterns you’ve used in it. Lovely!
Gorgeous and such a fantastic landscape, one of those patterns that stick in memory for good. Each time ‘am flying I will look down and see Nicky’s pattern.Love!
I love that fields pattern!
Exciting take on the brief! Love your fields and hot air balloons!
Nicky – love the designs. I had first thought of balloons, as me & the wee one’s (mostly me) worked on a puzzle of balloons over the xmas holidays. They all look lovely!
I am bucking the trend and really loving the cloudscape. Very lovely designs but in particular that one does it for me.
Beautiful designs Nicky, each one unique and the balloons are over the top fabulous with all the tails fluttering in the wind.
Thanks for all your help on mine … the screen shots, comment and link testing, all of it very much appreciated. See you soon and great balloon stories too.
Ellie
Hi Nicky! I love all the designs…cannot pick a favorite here. Each one has such nice unique details. fab work! excited to hear & see all your big news this year. XX
Absolutely adore these designs Nicky. Well done x
Hi Nicky! Your balloons are incredible! As I mentioned on Facebook, I would love to make something using your design, so hoping you will have fabric printed. You are definitely one of the top stars of this show! Keep up the great work. So excited about your future!
Love the whimsy!
i really enjoyed this post nicky! your research and designs are fantastic and i love how you described ‘Terra’….which I think is my absolute favorite you have shown! I really love this design, the compostition and colors sit wonderfully together.
Gorgeous work, particularly love the balloons and clouds and the story behind your subject matter
this is a great collection nicky! i think the cloud design is my favorite though. and yes, you were obsessed with the sky jump – you were stressing me out even more with your twitter commentary!! :p
Impressive collection, Nicky. In love with Terra! Congrats!
Nicky…. LOVE LOVE LOVE your designs, especially the clouds one
Fabulous designs, delicious textures!!! I love “Terra”! I used to have a freelance client in Albuquerque, but sadly, I never went to the balloon festival there…
This is one of my favourite postd so far. I love ALL of the designs, the colours and the theme! Thanks for being so nice about ME! Dawn x
Beautiful Nicky! Love the ballons but my fav is definetely Cumulus!
Wish you a fantastic 2013!!
Thanks for participating in the bloghop and thanks for the credit. I really appreciate it!
Believe!
RosieX
A wonderful collection, Nicky! I am big fan of your drawing style! All three of your patterns are fab, the clouds are my fave. So pretty! Now I’ll have to google these Tibetan cloud drawings …
Love the balloon theme! I so enjoyed you pen and ink illustrations! You have it going on!!! Great work!! Have a happy and creative 2013!
All such gorgeous designs, Nicky. I LOVE Cumulus.. your cloud motifs are mesmerizing.. and Terra is so sweet! Wishing you another Fab year ahead!
Beautiful! Your balloons are just lovely!
Absolutely gorgeous designs! Those balloons are super cute… But that bottom one is AMAZING!
Amazing collection, all 3 designs are stunning! loove the balloons. All the best for 2013!
I love the delicate details in your designs Nicky. Very pretty.
These are so fabulous! I love every element… really great colors, motifs, theme, etc. Simply wonderful! Best wishes to you for 2013 to be an amazing year!
Stunning designs. Kx