Elizabeth Olwen is a Canadian surface designer with a love for the romantic. Gathering inspiration from folklore, vintage wallpaper and strange forest plants, she shapes them through muted pastel palettes and clean shapes to produce playful and endearing designs.

And although she states she cannot be forced to choose a favourite colour, there are gorgeous turquoises and corals a-plenty. This suits me just fine! They are definitely some of my favourite hues.

 

 

 

Elizabeth’s obsession with pattern started early. Growing up in the early 80s, she vividly remembers her mother’s wild orange floral drapes in the kitchen and the mix-and-matching orange floral wallpaper. “It was pattern on pattern on pattern. And I loved it. I would get lost looking into those patterns, trying to find where the pattern began and how all the elements fit together so perfectly.”

“I’m really inspired by nature and all of its beautiful and bizarre shapes. It’s a constant source of amazement for me. Although I love to sketch by hand, I find that I’m becoming a more ‘digital’ designer – I just bought an ipad and a stylus pen and, both sadly and extremely conveniently, it’s quickly replacing my tool of choice for my drawings. I’m also inspired by surface designers Leah Duncan, Emily Isabella, William Morris and above all, Henri Matisse – whose art is a beautiful and simple celebration of life.”

 

 

 

Self-taught in surface design for many years, she recently undertook the online course, The Art & Business of Surface Design taught by Beth Nicholls and designer Rachael Taylor in the UK. Elizabeth said it was immensely helpful with the business side of licensing artwork. “I’ve learned an absolute ton about the industry and it’s really propelled my work forward too. The course is amazing and so incredibly inspiring —I recommend it to anyone who thinks they might be interested in surface design as a career.”

After designing patterns for more than 10 years, Elizabeth only officially started her surface design business in March 2012. She says, “It’s been an amazing year!” She is very excited about her very first licensing arrangement – with Te Neues no less! “As a newcomer to the industry, I wasn’t expecting to land a licensing so quickly. When I found out about the deal, I jumped up and down and ran back and forth in my apartment, I was just soooo excited! And I still am.” Te Neues will be producing a series of cards with a selection of her floral patterns, which will be available online and in shops from January 2013.

 

 

 

The biggest challenge so far has been the need to switch gears. “Graphic design had been my focus until I decided to pursue surface design — and I find the two to be different tasks in many ways. If I’ve been working on graphic design for a client, I find it hard to just hop right back into designing patterns and vice versa — I’m still trying to find a way to balance the two.”

Her best piece of advice?
“Be true to yourself — because what makes your work special is your unique perspective on things.”

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Elizabeth’s work has been featured on Print & Pattern, DesignWorkLife, and elsewhere. You can find more of her portfolio on her website www.elizabetholwen.com.

With thanks to Elizabeth for sharing her words and patterns here.