Welcome to my creative journey!
In this post, I’ll take you behind the scenes and share how one of my favorite original watercolor paintings, a delicate black-eyed susan, was transformed into a stunning graphic art pattern that now graces various products in my Print-on-Demand (POD) collection. Not only was this a special art piece for me, it was an exciting experience to share my faith with others through a Tuesday Encouragement Series called, Black Eyed Susan: More Than A Flower.
Table of Content
The Inspiration Behind the Black-Eyed Susan
The Inspiration Behind the Black-Eyed Susan
The black-eyed susan watercolor painting was inspired by an original photograph taken when my now-husband and I were taking our engagement photos. The photographer was taking creative photos of my engagement ring and one of the photos happened to have my ring nestled in a field of black-eyed susans. I didn’t know it then, but this photo would inspire me to create a watercolor painting that would touch the hearts of many.
Black-eyed Susan's have a delicate elegance to them, don’t you think? They are quite simple, just only comprised of a few colors. A black-eyed Susan on it’s own honestly isn’t all that significant. But, when you see it amoungst a field full of black-eyed Susans, it’s breathtaking. It makes me think of when I’m paired with my husband, he brings out and encourages me to be fully vibrant. He leads me to look up to our Father, our Creator who will shine His face on me and gives me life. Black-Eyed Susan’s also attain the qualities that remind me of Praise, Resilience, and Encouragement. These are qualities that I wrote a series about and would love for you to check them out and be encouraged. In the meantime, let me share more about this design process with you.
From Watercolor to Digital Design
Taking a traditional watercolor piece and transforming it into a graphic design for POD products is no small feat. After completing the original watercolor painting in my small watercolor notebook, I scanned the artwork and used digital tools to refine and enhance it. The goal was to preserve the organic feel of the watercolor while adapting it into a design that could be applied to a variety of products—from my original greeting cards and art prints to clothing and accessories to home decor.
Here’s a step-by-step look at the process:
- Scanning the Artwork: I carefully scanned my watercolor piece at a high resolution to ensure the details would remain sharp and vibrant.
- Refining the Original Design: Using design software, I cleaned up the image and adjusted the colors to make the black-eyed susan’s golden yellow petals pop against the dark center.
- Creating POD Design: Studying the original artwork, I created a new design for a digital art piece in my same editing software. This gave me multiple patterns to play with for a POD design.
- Creating Patterns: To make the design suitable for different products, I created a repeating pattern from the original painting. This step allowed me to adapt the artwork to everything from tote bags to pillows.
- Testing the Design: Before finalizing the pattern, I tested how it looked on various products to ensure it translated well across different materials and sizes.
Further Readings
Integrating Faith into My Art
For me, art is more than just a creative outlet; it’s a way to express my faith. In fact, this whole journey was a huge step of faith. I know that I have shared this before. But I don’t paint and write to you because I want to, It’s because I have to. This work is genuinely life-giving and I pray with every stroke, whether on my keyboard or paintbrush, brings our Father in Heaven glory and praise. When I look at my black-eyed susan design, I see more than just a beautiful flower. It’s a reminder of my desire to bring the Lord Praise, The Resilience of our Father gifts us, and the Encouragement that he provides me with.
Each product I create, from mugs to t-shirts, serves as a way to share a piece of my faith and art with the world. It’s my hope that when someone uses or wears one of my pieces, they are reminded of how much they are incredibly loved by the True Creator.
Black-Eyed Susan Collection
Why I Chose Print-on-Demand
Turning my artwork into a POD collection has allowed me to share my designs with the world without the burden of inventory management. With POD services, each item is made to order, meaning there’s less waste and a smaller environmental footprint—a win-win. Plus, I can continue to focus on what I love: more family time and creating art.
Print-on-demand has also given me the flexibility to offer a variety of products to my customers, including clothing, home decor, accessories, and more. Whether someone is looking for a beautiful new tote bag or a cozy pillow for their home, they can find something that features my black-eyed susan design, bringing nature’s elegance into their daily life. Coming from solely offering in-house greeting cards and art prints, partnering with responsible manufacturers allows me to reach a wider customer base and create more products to satisfy the loyal Bungalow House Studio Customers.
Explore the Black-Eyed Susan Collection
If you're as captivated with this simple flower as I am, I invite you to explore the full collection featuring my black-eyed susan design. Whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for a thoughtful gift, these products make perfect additions to any home or wardrobe.
Be On the Lookout For Sales
The beauty of partnering with multiple manufacturers is that there are sales going on oftentimes at different points. So if you see a similar design on my website as you do on RedBubble or Spoonflower then chances are one of the sites may be holding a sale! I’ve created competition for you in this way to ensure that my customers are always being taken care of and can access their favorite brands and patterns at a favorable price! You also have the opportunity to a wider selection of applications with my partnerships. Don’t see an apron on my website, RedBubble is a great way to go. You get the idea.
Final Thoughts
Turning my black-eyed susan watercolor painting into a versatile POD design has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only has it allowed me to share my art in new ways, but it has also allowed me to reflect on the original inspiration behind the flower. I’m so grateful to be able to share this journey with you, and I hope these products bring as much joy and inspiration to you as they’ve brought to me.
Thank you for supporting my art business!
Call to Action
Would you like to learn more about the process of turning traditional art into digital designs? Or perhaps you’d like to get your hands on a beautiful print or product featuring my black-eyed susan pattern? Visit my shop today and join me in celebrating the delicate elegance of this beloved flower!
From the Bungalow,
Emma
The Author: Emma Maxwell
Emma Maxwell is a dedicated wife and mother who has the desire to live life with more intention. After living on a constant schedule, she founded Bungalow House Studio to help others share acts of tangible kindness through intentional living.
Products Featured In This Blog
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