Owls :: Repeat Pattern

Surface pattern designs © Kim Buchheit; licensing or purchasing option available.
With fall upon us it seemed the perfect time to bring Ollie Owlie to print. Here he is, along with a few feathered friends, in a half-drop repeat and two colorways. (Owl fans: Get your very own handmade felted tiny here!)

Koi with Lotus :: Repeat Pattern II

Surface pattern designs © Kim Buchheit; licensing or purchasing option available.
I've combined two patterns to create a more complex and rich design. The tone-on-tone flower background is subtle; click to zoom/view.

Koi with Lotus :: Pattern Collection

Surface pattern designs © Kim Buchheit; licensing or purchasing option available.

I love the Buddhist symbolism behind the lotus (padma): like the beautiful lotus which rises from the mud to bloom, so is our own nature to rise from samsara, or suffering, to reach clarity and enlightenment. In Japan, koi are symbols of love and friendship. For these reasons and more, I think this print would make for lovely silk pajamas! 

Turquoise & Coral :: Pattern Collection

Surface pattern designs © Kim Buchheit; licensing or purchasing option available.

I pulled some stone-like (or seed-podish) elements from a painting I completed yesterday, and developed this pattern series. Living in the Southwest, one cannot help but be inspired by the silver-cradled turquoise and coral found in the trading posts' jewelry cabinets. The colors are also reminiscent of Morning Glory Pool in Yellowstone National Park.

Dandelions :: Print Collection

Illustrations and surface designs © Kim Buchheit

Planning our summer vacation brings thoughts of blowing bubbles, dandelions, and gentle breezes. 

Birthday Elly on Unicycle :: Repeat Pattern

Surface design © Kim Buchheit

This one is for my sweet, joyful, elephant-loving, twinnie: Happy Birthday, Twin!

Chocolate Bunnies :: Print Collection

Illustrations and surface designs © Kim Buchheit

Chocolate Bunnies!!! 

Easter Patterns :: Print Collection

Illustrations and surface design © Kim Buchheit

Pastels, bunnies, dyed eggs, and baskets full of chocolate on the brain these days...

Lilly of the Valley :: Print Collection

Illustration and surface designs © Kim Buchheit
After spending too much time in Photoshop creating my diagonal polka dots for the polka fish pattern, I searched for an easier way using Illustrator. Elaine Polvinen came to my rescue with a fabulous tutorial... thank you, Elaine!

Polka Fish :: Repeat Patterns

Surface design © Kim Buchheit

Put your right fin in, put your right fin out... hokey pokey polka fish! Two designs to choose from.

Paisley :: Repeat Patterns

Surface design repeat pattern © Kim Buchheit

Have men's ties on the brain... so, I combined two traditional patterns — paisleys and diagonal  stripes — to create this handsome hybrid in two colorways.

Collage Painting

24"x48" Collage Painting (Recycled fabric, jute, and acrylic on canvas) © Kim Buchheit

This is one of a series of acrylic paintings (or, collages) that I've been developing which inspired some of my recent geometric repeat patterns (below).

Geometric Alternatives :: Repeat Patterns

Designs © Kim Buchheit

I played around with colorizing the geometric pattern that I created this morning... am loving the additional complexity and depth which came from simply changing the hue, knocking out some shapes, and adding some strokes! This design could be rendered in myriad ways... would love to spend more time playing with colorways, but my inbox is calling :)

Valentines

Illustrations © Kim Buchheit

It's never too early to make Valentines :) I worked on these yesterday; they have the same look-and-feel as last year's cards. I think the nieces and nephews will like the doughnut one best :)