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Jackie Hurd

Illustrator & Designer
  • Surface Design
  • Graphic Design
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Before the Pattern: From Pen to Print

November 23, 2024
Western Reverie Rolls.jpg
Western Reverie 1.jpg

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Creating a pattern is as much about the tools as it is the vision, so I thought it would be fun to show you what goes into my process and the tools I use before the digital magic begins. This desert-inspired design started as a collection of simple sketches and evolved into a complete, whimsical repeat pattern. Let’s break it down.

The Canvas: Canson Mixed Media Pad

For my drawings, my preferred medium is the Canson Mixed Media 9x12 pad. It’s a great size—large enough to work on multiple illustrations on one page without worrying about the final drawings being too small. The paper itself has just the right amount of texture (or “tooth”) to keep the pencil flowing but not so much that it interferes with fine details. It’s a reliable starting point for any design.

Sketching Tools: Tombow Mono Graph Pencil

The Tombow Mono Graph pencil is a favorite in my toolkit. Its unique shake-to-advance lead mechanism adds a layer of efficiency to my process. No clicking or twisting to interrupt the flow—just sketch and shake. Simple, satisfying, and endlessly practical.

Inking the Details: Derwent Line Marker

When it comes to inking, I believe the tools you choose define the mood of your final design. For this pattern, I skipped my usual India Ink and nibs (great for bold lines and a little unpredictability) and instead opted for the Derwent Line Marker (0.1). Its finer linework added a softer, more rustic quality that perfectly suited the Western Americana theme I was going for.

Precision Erasing: KUM Eraser

Mistakes happen—it’s part of the process. That’s where the KUM eraser shines. It was the eraser I never knew I needed until I received one as a gift a few years ago. Its pencil-like shape makes it easy to handle, offering precision for minor tweaks as I work.

Large Kneadable Eraser

For final cleanups, a large kneadable eraser is a must. It clears away any leftover marks without leaving residue, giving me a clean, polished page to scan. It’s also great for fidgeting!

From Sketchbook to Screen

Once the illustrations were complete, I scanned them into my computer and moved to Adobe Illustrator for the final steps. It’s here that my raw sketches were transformed into a cohesive repeat pattern. Illustrator allowed me to refine the shapes, adjust colors, and ensure every element fit seamlessly into the final design. I’ll share more about that process in another post!

Creating patterns is a mix of tactile and digital work, and I love seeing how each stage of the process builds on the last.

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Big Changes for Spoonflower for Artists

November 16, 2023

Spoonflower recently announced a few big changes that will have a significant impact on artists who contribute to their platform. Here are my thoughts on the upcoming changes.

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In Spoonflower Tags surface pattern design
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Check out the rest of this collection in my Spoonflower shop!

Autumn Inspired-The Ghostly Garden' Collection

October 4, 2023

Read about my Ghostly Garden collection and find out where you can purchase these designs for your next project!

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In Spoonflower, Pattern Tags surface pattern design, Halloween, autumn
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Pattern Revival- Rockabilly Birds

January 11, 2023

New year, new colors for my old “Rockabilly Birds” design.

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In Spoonflower Tags Spoonflower Challenge
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Laboratorio La Gufa cutting Spoonflower fabric designed by Jackie Hurd.

Collaboration! Laboratorio La Gufa

January 10, 2023

“Olive and Honey”, a fabric collection born from a collaboration with Laboratorio La Gufa.

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In Spoonflower Tags collaboration
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Floral No. 2232

March 10, 2022

Introducing Floral No. 2232, a fresh floral collection just in time for spring- or summer. I created two bolder, punchier color options of the main designs for the warmer months that can be used with the coordinates.

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In Spoonflower Tags Pattern Design, surface pattern design, flower illustrations
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Home on the Saguaro, 17th Place!

May 3, 2021

This design placed 17th in Spoonflower’s “Home on the Range” challenge. Here’s the story behind this design and where you can find it on fabric and other products.

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In Spoonflower Tags Saguaro Cactus, Spoonflower Challenge, pattern, Pattern Design
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Jalapeño Business

April 19, 2021

Beer label illustration for Dirtbag Ales’ Jalapeño Business. Here’s a summery of my thoughts and process on this one.

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In Illustration, Beer Labels Tags pineapple, jalapeño, beer label design
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Humming Bird Charm

April 2, 2021

I created the main pattern for my Hummingbird Charm collection in September as an entry to Spoonflower's 500th design challenge, the prompt was Artistic Voice.

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In Spoonflower Tags hummingbird fabric, nature, fabric collection
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Produce Illustrations for Freshlist

April 1, 2021

Fruits and vegetables are at the top of my “favorite things to draw list”. I was very happy when a project in the form of fruits and vegetables came my way back in August when I got an illustration request from a Charlotte, NC based food delivery company called Freshlist.

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In Completed projects, Illustration Tags produce illustration, community, vegetables, fruits, charlotte, freshlist
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