With the exciting new launch of outdoor home decor, many people are getting ready to decorate their backyards, tabletops, and homes with fun pops of color and unique designs to kick off their summer celebrations. Whether it be for commemorating someone’s graduation, birthday, or engagement party, we have all the outdoor home decor styles to suit your personality, taste, and to celebrate the proper occasion. Between outdoor pillows, cloth napkins, door mats, serving platters, and picnic blankets, you can rest assured there is something in our catalog made just for you and your celebration needs. With the creative economy on the rise, Shutterfly.com features over 4,000 designs by 175+ artists around the globe. Inspired by an array of color palettes, themes, wildlife, and by following trends throughout their lives, many of these artists were able to proudly create patterns and digital art pieces that spoke to who they are and others whom they shared their designs with. To explore ideas on how you can decorate your outdoor living space with their unique designs, shop our selection of outdoor tabletop & outdoor decor to find a design that speaks to you.
We recently interviewed with four talented Spoonflower Independent Artists, Danika Herrick, Janine Lecour, Virginia O., and Jessica Prout to learn more about the genius behind their artistry. If you’re intrigued as to how their unique designs came into fruition, continue reading or click here to get to know how they came to be, where they each found their inspiration, and how art has impacted other areas throughout the course of their lives in the way they create and express themselves as individuals. To learn more about the creative Spoonflower community, click here.
Meet Danika Herrick:
Q: Who are you and what do you do?
Hi, I’m Danika Herrick. I am a Surface Pattern Designer and Interior Designer from Boston, MA.
Q: What is your background and how does it inform your art?
My career evolved throughout the years and has had many tangents in the design world to get me to where I am now. After studying Art in college I began my career as a Decorative Artist, painting murals, floors and furniture. I quickly fell in love with interiors and wanted to do more, so I went back to school to study Interior Design. After two decades of working as an Interior Designer, running a design blog, and creating a fretwork company called O’verlays, I decided to go back to my painting roots and translate all the patterns in my head onto fabric and wallpaper.
Q: Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere! True story, I once created a design based off the pressed plastic pattern in the fluorescent light fixture I had to stare at while lying in the chair in the dentist office. I also like to take note of striking color combinations I see in everyday life that I can incorporate into future designs.
“Small Scale Green-Watercolor Fronds” – Door Mat
Q: How do you develop your art skills?
I am constantly learning and relearning digital art programs. When I was in college Photoshop was brand new, and oh how its changed! My big resource for learning is Skillshare. Even though I have been using digital tools for decades, I am constantly learning new shortcuts and hacks I never knew about.
Q: How has your style changed over time?
When I was younger I was all about the trends, and my color sense was loud. It was more is more all the time. As I’ve gotten older I try to create patterns that are more timeless and the same goes for colors. Don’t get me wrong, I still love to create a loud and bright pattern and am still a maximalist, but I’ve learned to edit and tone down areas.
Q: What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?
90% of the time my designs begin by hand the old fashioned way. As much as I love the ease of digital art, I have a hard time starting there. My favorite medium is watercolor, followed by block printing. Both are so relaxing and meditative for me. Once I create a tangible piece of art, I then scan it into Photoshop where I finish laying out the design’s repeat and adjusting the colors.
Explore Outdoor Tabletop Styles
Whether you grew up loving loud colors like Danika or colors that are more subdued, you can rely on beautiful outdoor decor with various styles to match the beauty of the season. If you’re hosting a barbecue and serving food like ribs or chicken wings that are bound to make a mess, choose from our selection of serving platters, cloth napkins, and select a design that reflects your personality. Whether you’re aiming for farmhouse fresh, botanical, or boho is entirely up to you and your taste. Your guests can keep clean and refresh themselves with a cool beverage using our outdoor pint glasses when they’re parched from the height of the summer heat all while enjoying the fun design. Or, when your friends and family get tired from playing outdoor games together, choose one of Spoonflower’s Independent Artist made designs on a collection of outdoor pillows for them to sit back and relax on. Regardless of the design you choose, you can create an outdoor oasis with unique designs to capture the ultimate summer feel right in your backyard.
“Lotti Blue & White” – Outdoor Pillow
Meet Janine Lecour:
Q: Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Janine Lecour, and I’m a digital artist based in Atlanta, GA.
Q: What is your background and how does it inform your art?
I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with a concentration in Fashion Design. Once I graduated, I planned to work in the industry’s technical drawing/fashion illustration side but decided to go in another direction after discovering that I really enjoyed pattern designing. My background in design and fashion has helped me a lot when designing repeat patterns, especially for apparel.
Q: Where do you find inspiration?
Colors are a big inspiration for me when creating artwork. I spend a lot of time putting together color palettes for future use. A color palette can inspire a theme or look of the design.
“Electric Paradise” – Outdoor Pint Glass
Q: How do you develop your art skills?
Even though I went to a design college, I wasn’t very familiar with the Adobe programs after graduating. So I worked on learning those programs and developing my style. It didn’t happen overnight. But since I had a good foundation in design and color, I was to take those skills and put them into this art form.
Q: What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?
I create my patterns digitally using Adobe Illustrator. I love it because it allows me to have a lot of freedom when designing. I can experiment with various colors and placements until I find the right ones for the design. I like to use Illustrator as kind of a sketchbook. I design directly in the program.
Q: Are there specific subjects or themes you return to regularly in your art? If so, what are they and why?
I create a lot of tropical-themed patterns and geometric prints regularly. They are usually some of the most popular ones that I do. I think because these themes work best with vibrant color palettes.
Decorate Your Yard With Summer Colors & Themes
One of the best ways to decorate for your outdoor celebration is with summer colors, themes, and designs that speak especially to you. If you love going to the beach, choose one of Janine’s tropical themed patterns to highlight your love for the islands. Whether you choose dinner plates, a table runner, or picnic blankets, you can rest assured you will be able to capture the ultimate getaway feel right in your own backyard all while your guests enjoy admiring the details of the decorations and summery atmosphere.
“Bird of Paradise” – Dinner Plate
Meet Virginia O.
Q: Who are you and what do you do?
Hello! I’m Virginia O. and I’m a mom, a grandma of two, and a freelance surface designer who loves wearing many hats.
Q: What is your background and how does it inform your art?
I used to be a kid, then I was an adult who worked a corporate job, and then had babies who grew up and the entire time I crafted; learned many skills including teaching myself design.
Q: Where do you find inspiration?
Often I find inspiration in color combos or very granular: in the details of an object. I love flowy lines and curves that suggest form.
“Chick, Chick, Chickens” – Serving Platter
Q: How do you define success as an artist?
Seeing my work out in the wild. Someone finding joy using my designs in their homes as decor, on their bodies as clothing or as gifts to others. It’s a great thing to see the joy expressed by others. Seeing their creativity using my designs is super thrilling.
Q: How do you develop your art skills?
I play by trying new things in whatever medium I’m wanting to play with. I love the undo button in Creative Cloud and wish for that same function if I am playing in watercolors!
Q: What is your creative process?
Figure out a theme or feeling I want to convey. Try out colors that support the idea. Start drawing. Undo, Draw more, change colors, change line weights, undo. Hide that layer and start over with a new direction. In other words, just keep playing until it’s done.
Give the Gift of Home Decor with Independent Artist Designs
Not only does home decor make for a beautiful way to spruce up your backyard, but for gift giving as well. If you enjoy bringing out the joy in others like Virginia, or know someone who recently moved into a new house, surprise them with home decor gifts to make their house feel like a home. If they’re hosting a housewarming party, give gifts like salad plates, outdoor pillows, fleece blankets, and even a door mat to welcome guests into their new home. Take any of these products of your choosing, select your favorite design from one of Spoonflower’s Independent Artists, and watch their expression light up with joy when you give a gift with a one-of-a-kind pattern.
“Papercutting Floral and Hummingbirds” & “Abstract Blue Period” – Pillows
Meet Jessica Prout
Q: Who are you and what do you do?
Hi! I am Jessica Prout and I am a designer.
Q: How do you develop your art skills?
Trial and error. Trying new things, new techniques, new styles and seeing how they turn out.
Q: What is your creative process?
I love to start with a color palette and design simple interesting patterns that I would use in my own home.
“Mustard Mudcloth – Arrow Cross Dot – Mudcloth Home Decor Tribal” – Table Runner
Q: Which trends inspire your current work?
I love the earthy natural colors that are being used in interior design right now. Creamy whites, browns, greens and blues. I try to incorporate these natural tones into my work as much as possible.
Q: What process, materials, techniques, etc., do you use to create your artwork?
Almost all of my work is created digitally. I will occasionally use watercolors or hand draw using the Wacom tablet.
Q: Are there specific subjects or themes you return to regularly in your art? If so, what are they and why?
Simplicity. I try to create interesting art while keeping it minimalistic.
“Sunshine – Block Print Boho Sun Print – Golden – Lad20” – Outdoor Pillow
Decorate With Designs by Independent Artists
After learning more about the talented Spoonflower Independent Artists who have put their hearts and souls into their artwork, we hope to have inspired you to bring one of their designs that reflect your personality to life in one of your favorite home decor products. Whether you’re redecorating your outdoor living space, hosting a celebration, or looking to buy a one-of-a-kind gift for a friend or family member, shop at Shutterfly for all your future home decor needs with these incredible designs made by independent artists to show your support.
