Imagine taking your artwork and popping onto templates and getting your own licensed home decor line! We’re talking rugs, canvas art, aprons, dishes, vases, little sculptures, and more. Did you know there are secrets to make your pitch catch the eye of an art director? We’re chatting about it all this week and sharing a peek at some of the finishing techniques showcased in our upcoming class ‘MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor’, and giving you daily prompts to get your creative juices flowing. Next up is FABRIC…
Fabric can take so many forms. It can be printed, stitched, pieced, cut and sewn into so many things. It’s a great vehicle to show your artwork. It is very satisfying to see artwork come to life on fabric – anything from a tea towel to a sofa. It feels so important and so REAL when you see your artwork actually printed on fabric! There is a great range of popular products that are made from fabric. Pillows are ageless, tea towels are fun and can be used or even framed, small upholstered things like footstools, curtains, table top such as cloths are napkins, bedding, up to full scale furniture.
So now we’re going to share one of the finishing techniques we detail in class. Here’s what so cool about finishing techniques. With this knowledge, you’ll create more than just your basic templated product. You can add these techniques to your artwork that will both inspire you and your client. You’ll stand out.
The finishing technique we want to share today is… Applique & Embellishments
Applique and embellishments are other things you can add to your design:
- When you appliqué on to something, you are adding on another piece or layer of fabric that is then sewn down
- An embellishment is also something that is added, but it’s something that is more like a button or bead
Below we see an embroidered running stitch and simple applique:
Sukan Art
Below, see how this gorgeous piece is appliqued and embroidered:
Nancy Nicholson
Below is applique. It’s stunning as white-on-white. This could be cool over a printed background!
Crate & Barrel
Crazy embellished! (below)
Pam Garrison
Pattern enhanced by beading:
Taigan.com
Added stitching and applique:
Mika Hirasa
Embellished with yarn and pom poms:
Anthropologie
Your #homedecsecrets creative exercise today is:
Either:
(1) Go out and about and find examples of this finishing technique all around you
(2) Gather bits and bobs from around your house – buttons, ribbons, thread – and have a play around with them on paper. Can you embellish an existing piece of art? This is a good time to get out your sewing machine and stitch up a storm. Alternatively you can draw with marks that look like stitches, to show your ideas.
Share your discoveries on Instagram using #homedecsecrets (and make sure you’re following us @makeartthatsells )
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Want a piece of the $60 Billion Home Decor industry?
What is home décor? It’s all the gorgeous and/or functional items in your house. It’s a booming market that needs tons of art, with over $60 billion in annual sales. Its massive growth is due in part to the popularity of home design TV shows, Pinterest, and Instagram, and stylish online retailers like One Kings Lane and Dot&Bo.
Art directors NEED your great art!
Our next live e-course, Make Art That Sells: Creating Collections for Home Décor starts on Monday, 7th August and teaches you everything you need to know to create killer presentations with your art. Registration is open and we look forward to seeing your gorgeous designs.
This will be the last time we will be offering this course this year! Don’t miss out, sign up here.
