“Sing!”
I took this picture last April. This little guy was making a ruckus outside my office window when I worked for Dux D’Lux Advertising and I was able to get a few shots. At the time, I wrote about him in this post over at EyeJunkie.com. My favorite part about this view is the fluffy feathers all mussed in his mid-song flutter. I guess sometimes that happens when you Sing!
I’ve been focused on color palettes recently. I’m working on several logo development and advertising projects where I am choosing colors to create a brand, reflect a brand, expand a brand… You get the idea. Color inspiration can come from all kinds of places. I love to look at books, magazines, wallpaper and fabric patterns, paint collections, fashion photography, and even crazy things like game boards or my children’s drawings. Sometimes, I even step outdoors for the color inspiration nature provides.
With the month of October upon us (I can’t believe it either), I was looking through a collection of autumn photographs a few days ago. It reminded me, with delight, of the unique color palette found in Autumn in Mississippi. I was especially inspired by the yellows. It’s such a vibrant color among the neutrals that often present themselves this time of year. And, wherever yellow appears, the eye just seems to gravitate. A low sun and long shadows sometimes make colors like yellow literally shine when hit by the light. Also, because our winters are milder and many evergreens grown natively, our Fall season usually carries many shades of green along with the typical warmer autumn hues. That counterpoint of warmer color brilliance paired with one slightly cooler shade or a neutral is one of my favorite approaches to choosing colors in design work. The play of warm against cool can make for a very dynamic look.
Since October is only just beginning, we haven’t seen much of the real leaf-turning yet. That process won’t come in Mississippi for a few more weeks. But, I found these photos taken from late October of last year and thought I would share them. I hope it “colors” your view of the changing season.
I’m always so intrigued by the ways designers derive inspiration from nature. The natural world provides a wealth of examples for pattern, texture and color combinations. These examples are often immediately pleasing to our eyes, and we can easily recognize them as “well-designed” because we see them “naturally” in the environment all around us.
In marketing and image development, natural forms like plants or leaves can be used even in unrelated industries and business types to provide a more organic presence for disciplines that might otherwise be less people-friendly. Using imagery, patterns and textures from nature often provides immediate positive associations for the audience when used in promotional or marketing pieces.
The repeating patterns of leaves have always been a great source of design inspiration for me. And, I’m not alone. This week, I’m inspired by FERNS, in particular, and by these great designers who’ve used them to produce some outstanding and well-designed products.
Palace Papers: You may have already read of my love of the Palace Papers line of wallpaper and fabric patterns. I think “herringbone” is my favorite pattern of all time. I love menswear styles anyway, and the added serendipity of seeing the fern fronds forming the texture just knocked my socks off from the moment I saw it.
Flock Home: I love this shop filled with hand-printed linens including pillows, cocktail napkins, cloth napkins and this fabulous fern-inspired tea towel. The simplicity of Gina’s custom designs showcase the very essence of the flora and fauna inspiring her.
Honeybee: Amy Moore describes her jewelry line as “wearable sculpture inspired by the natural world,” and it’s an apt phrase. Her sterling silver creations are simply outstanding. Just look at how delicate the fern fronds in this ring design are! The textures she’s created in her designs are subtle, but stunning.
Appetite: The bags, wallets and scarfs created by Erin Albin are made with her custom-designed and hand silk-screened materials. Screen printing is near and dear to my heart, so I love products that are well-designed and use this time-honored technique. The gentle curl of this hobo bag fern pattern give it a nice delicacy that contrasts with the canvas fabric.
[Pond Notes: Etsy.com is one of my favorite places to find inspiring design work. Sometimes I type in a random word or object in the search feature to start the process of discovery. Give it try! You are sure to be inspired as well.]
My first exposure to Casey Gunschel’s stunning textile designs was through an article earlier this year in House Beautiful. It highlighted her Palace Papers herringbone pattern created from the delicate textures of fern fronds. I was absolutely inspired by the subtle surprise of the fern leaves awaiting a closer look at the traditional menswear texture.
When I was choosing the “grey” wall color for my office, I looked again at the Palace Papers line for inspiration. Ms. Gunschel’s intricate depictions of ravens and fish (sea and sky) in the “Nevermore” and “Coy” patterns took my breath away. I couldn’t resist the sophisticated neutrals and aquas as well as the vibrant rhythm of the shapes. It’s easy to see the inspiration Ms. Gunschel took from her Cape Cod roots. Enjoy!
Hello & welcome! I’m Haley Montgomery, and I’m the designer and owner of Small Pond Graphics. I sometimes fancy myself a frog kisser— a documentarian coaxing poignant moments from unexpected places. This blog has evolved from those moments.
The small Pond FIELD GUIDE is part diary, part sketchbook, and part wish list – an archive of ordinary wonders. For years, this space has housed my stories – creative ideas, vintage inspiration, our forays into curious places, and the simple artifacts of quiet of conscious living. Through watercolor, photography, and illustrated tales, these pages uncover the blessing of ordinary days and the wonder found in authentic places and pursuits.
I invite you to open the boxes.
Peek into the drawers.
Rustle through the pages.
I’m honored to have you here.
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