SPCD week 6 challenge winner: Kim Bliss
Today I'm excited to share with you an interview I did with Kim Bliss, winner of the week 6 Surface Pattern Design Community Facebook challenge! For the challenge Kim created a pattern inspired by one of my favorite types of castles...sand castles! (Although I do admit I've never been good at building them.)
Read below to learn a bit about Kim and her journey as a surface pattern designer. Enjoy!
Hi Kim! Please tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into surface pattern design.
My first career as an architectural drafter gave me a strong sense of perfection and detail. From there, I moved on to working for non-profits, first as an administrative assistant and then as an event coordinator, until I decided to go back to school to pursue my dream career. In 2012 I graduated with a bachelor’s in graphic design. I was 52. After several interviews I couldn’t get hired. L.A. is a youth-driven town so I guess I just didn’t fit in. However, I did acquire a client for freelance work and he kept me very busy for awhile.
A few years ago, I evaluated my career and decided to “do my own thing” to further develop my dream career. At first this entailed designing for POD sites (which still brings in loose change), and hand-illustrated/lettered greeting cards. The latter didn’t really take off because right around that time I discovered surface pattern design. It was Elizabeth Olwen and Bonnie Christine’s SPD classes on Skillshare that got me hooked, and it’s been full steam ahead ever since!
I continue to take classes, grow my portfolio and learn as much as I can about surface pattern design.
How would you describe your style? What makes your work unique?
Ha! This is a good question! My go-to answer is usually “eclectic.” I’ve always enjoyed creating a variety of styles using different techniques. Trying to pin it down to just one has been quite a challenge. I believe that being good at 2-4 styles is probably a good thing. I feel it makes a designer versatile, hence more marketable. I do love Elizabeth Olwen’s style, as well as those of Jocelyn Proust, Bonnie Christine and Wendy Kendall, among others. They have a singular, recognizable style, which I sometimes wish I had. Perhaps one day I will have it.
With all that said, if I were to choose one style today, I would have to say it’s fun, light-hearted hand-drawn digital and/or watercolor illustrations. I don’t think I could focus on just one … I so love creating them both.
Kim Bliss Artwork
How did you approach the Castles design challenge?
Honestly, the first thing I thought about was the sandcastle I illustrated for my “Summer at the Beach” clip art collection that I sell on Etsy, Creative Market and HungryJPEG. I also had other elements, like the sand pail and shovel and the shells that I put together in a pattern specifically for the challenge.
What are your goals for the future?
I continue to learn, practice and expand my portfolio in order to have a vast array of strong pattern collections to show prospective clients. My focus is on printed patterns within the stationery, home goods and perhaps the children’s apparel markets. I’ve thought about going with an agent, but I need to research the possibilities, opportunities and advantages first.
What would you like your colleagues and the design world to know about you and your work?
I love what I do and I take great pride in my work. I won’t put anything in my portfolio that I myself am not pleased with and that I don’t think works well. Though I consider myself a perfectionist, I am trying to tone it down a bit … it can be frustrating and time-consuming. Because of the various work experiences I’ve had, I have a high level of professionalism and easy, candid communication.
Kim Bliss Artwork
Can you tell us a few fun facts about you?
Even though I’m about to turn 60, I am young at heart and have a youthful spirit. I love learning and if I could be a professional student, I would. I first studied Interior Design in college, but halfway through realized I enjoyed graphic design more. I still love to design and decorate living spaces.I also love to travel and I’m my own travel agent. I planned and coordinated my 3-week European honeymoon in 2014 and everything went as smooth as silk.
