In clear focus: Sue Gibbins
Welcome to the next installment of the blog series “In Clear Focus”.Through this series you will learn more about an artist as they share one of their favorite pieces of artwork.
Today I'm interviewing Sue Gibbins, a talented surface designer who uses her beautiful illustrations and a keen sense of color to bring her repeats to life. Sue is a really lovely person who just this past year started teaching classes on Adobe Illustrator.I just know you will like learning more about her. Enjoy!
Meet Sue!
Back in college I enjoyed taking both art and science classes, but was eventually forced to focus on just one of them. I settled on science, ending-up with a degree in molecular cell biology. During that time, as I started a career in biotech, I learned how to use web and design software. I enjoyed it so much that it eventually led me to freelance as a graphic designer.
At the end of 2006 I took a sabbatical, spending four months surveying coral reefs in the Philippines. This allowed me to pursue an interest in marine biology and scuba diving. Little did I know I would end-up becoming a divemaster, then an instructor, and ultimately a course director. I spent almost a decade in Southeast Asia managing diver training and designing promotional materials for the dive resort!
The business I was working with eventually changed hands, and in 2016 I made the decision to make the UK my home base again. This allowed me to spend more time with family and focus on the design aspects of my career. Around that time I discovered surface pattern design, and fell in love with it. I soon signed up for Make It In Design’s amazing e-course, The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design. I have now completed all of the modules, graduating from Ultimate Portfolio Builder in November. My portfolio is now bursting with new designs and I’m excited to show them to art directors in the coming months.
Artwork title: Lemon Tree
Why is this artwork your favorite?
Lemon Tree is one of those pieces that just flowed so easily and joyfully into creation, and I love the result of that.
What techniques did you use to create it?
I started by drawing the elements in isolation using a black brush pen, then digitized them and converted them to vector art in Illustrator. That’s where I removed outlines, applied colour, used shading/custom brushes, and built up layers of motifs to create depth.
What was your inspiration for the piece?
Miniature citrus trees are a popular gift in our family. They are so beautiful with tiny fruits and fragrant flowers. And the colour combination is wonderful! The lemon has been a really popular icon in pattern design recently, which brought those citrus trees into my mind again. I’d wanted to create my version of the lemon tree for a while, so the vision was already quite clear when I began drawing.
How does the work represent your style and approach to your work?
I think of my style as hand-drawn meets graphic. Vector software is a key element in the look of my work, but I want the original drawing to still be evident. I especially love to make these free-flowing patterns that appear quite organic.
How does this piece of art compare to your other work?
A large proportion of my work is inspired by nature. I love to draw animals and plants, and enjoy making quite complex patterns. So Lemon Tree is quite typical of that. Lately I have been doing placement illustrations as well as patterns, and bringing in characters and typography to some of my designs. I also enjoy creating simpler yet inventive coordinating designs that round out collections for homewares, fabrics, stationery and more.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your creative journey and where it’s going?
Teaching has always been part of what I do, and I want it to continue being a part of my creative journey. With 15 years experience using Adobe Illustrator, I feel I have a lot to offer on that particular subject. So in August of this year I launched my first class on Skillshare. The class teaches students how to create vector motifs in Illustrator. My second class, which is about to be filmed as we speak, will cover how to create botanical brushes and use them to make layered plant patterns.
Other examples of Sue's work:
Sue Gibbins Artwork
Want to learn more about Sue?