Illustrator and Surface Pattern Designer Melissa Donne has collaborated with wallpaper studio Otto Studio on a collection of bold statement wallpapers. Otto Studio and Melissa share a passion for designs that bring colour and brightness to any room. Melissa specialises in creating digital artwork for a range of commissions and licensing projects, and also produces art prints and greetings cards for sale under her small business, Melissa Donne Studio. “Colour underpins all of my creative practice and inspires most of what I do as an artist,” says Melissa. She continues; “I love to create vibrant and often clashing colour palettes that make a bold statement and to take everyday themes such as botanicals and food, but give them an abstract interpretation. This might be through an unexpected colour palette or intricate textures and details, taking conventional floral shapes for example, but giving them something a little different.”
Melissa discovered Otto Studio via Instagram and was immediately drawn to their vibrant and playful aesthetic, and their championing of artists through their artist collaborations. She gave them a follow, and they quickly followed her back. Melissa tells us; “They then contacted me to tell me they loved my unique take on florals and fruit, which they could envisage making a fun and bold collection. I said yes immediately since I have always wanted to see my work in a larger scale. It was really good timing also as I had just thrown myself into the world of surface pattern design, and was actively learning the craft. So everything aligned at the right time!”
The result is a capsule collection that is both emphatic and welcoming, natural and abstract, calming yet energising. Melissa envisaged a dreamy and pastel vibe to which she added in a few darker and bolder colour palettes, with a general mood that is delicate and ethereal. Designs include playful fruit, floral shapes, and touches of the unexpected, “such as blue leaves on lemons”.
As the process of creating repeat patters was still fairly new to Melissa, she learnt a lot from the collaboration; “I learnt quickly that designing a seamless repeat is a whole skill in itself and takes a lot of practice and good grasp of the technical aspects of this particular craft. I had already been learning some skills but it made me throw myself into the world of pattern design wholeheartedly!” Melissa spent a lot of time honing her skills, exploring different repeat types, and researching what patterns worked best on a large scale. She states; “It was definitely a challenge but so rewarding to see how I could transform my illustrations into repeat patterns that could decorate a whole room. I’m so proud of the outcome as my first foray into pattern design and the overall cohesiveness of the collection. The colour palettes we chose are vibrant and make a strong statement but are not overpowering. It is such a joyful collection and that is exactly the kind of message I wanted to transmit.”
Looking to the future, Melissa is keen to work more within the home decor industry – especially home textiles. “I just love how patterns can transform simple, everyday objects into something exceptional,” comments the illustrator. Currently, she is working on an exciting collaboration which will see her designs on another everyday product, with the idea of transforming it into wearable art, so watch this space!
Shop the collection here.
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