Simplistic Beauty Through Floral Patterns

For me, the path to becoming a surface pattern designer is inextricably woven with childhood memories of nature's beauty blossoming alongside the nurturing love and labor of family. I have the lineage of women around me to thank for my love of nature, a reverence for the delicate intricacies of flowers and the power of tending to the earth.

One of my most treasured memories is the annual ritual of planting a geranium border around our family farmhouse's veranda - a task requiring the collective efforts of my mother, grandmother, aunts and me (all of whom attended garden club meetings). Together, we would toil in the thick Ohio heat, knowing our hard work would soon bring vivid color and joy to our home's façade. This labor of love created endless beauty for the rest of the summer and is an example of how hard work and the importance of natural beauty were instilled in me at a young age.

For my family, the love of plants transcended mere aesthetics; it was rooted in the economics of cultivation, where memories were created through propagation. Boxwood clippings from my grandmother's front walkway followed us across moves, their roots establishing living reminders of our lineage with each relocation. Peony bushes once thriving in Ohio are now well established in gardens throughout the Carolinas, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming - their blooms shared as passalong plants with friends and family.

It is this belief in plants' perpetual, generational legacy (and beauty!) that has germinated my own passion as an artist. Through realistic botanical illustrations, I strive to honor and preserve the timeless, transcendent beauty of flowers on paper - paying homage their divine golden ratio. Each illustration is an act of reverence towards the breathtaking perfection and intelligent design of the natural world.

My patterns frequently exalt floral subjects for that very reason - they serve as reminders of the world’s natural beauty. I often aim to capture fleeting blooms in lasting designs. Whether rendering the delicate furl of peony petals or the vibrant bursts of silver lupine, each flower holds a story to those who enjoy my work.

In an age of chaos and Artificial Intelligence, I believe art that grounds us and reminds us of our humanity is essential. The timeless, honest, authenticity of flowers provides a centering, grounding reminder of nature's intelligence; its enduring power to awe and inspire.

As I continue drawing inspiration from the gardens of my lineage, I am humbly reminded of their profound, formative impact in shaping both my artistic journey and identity. My love of the simple and authentic. How effortlessly natural beauty should be.

It is my hope that through my work, I can convey the same sense of authentic beauty and a reverence for our natural world that first blossomed within me as a child helping my mother plant around the house.

Symbolic Tapestry: Patterns in Wild Rags

Within the realm of Western fashion, the wild rag stands as a timeless accessory that transcends mere utility, embodying a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and personal expression. While these rugged yet elegant scarves serve practical purposes, it is the motifs adorning them that elevate their significance.

The designs on these versatile garments are more than mere decorative elements; they are conduits that carry the stories of the landscapes and communities that birthed them. Be it the geometries inspired by Native American artistry or the rustic charm of frontier life, each pattern holds a tale of life out West. As a proud resident of Wyoming, deeply connected to the land, livestock, and hardworking ethos of cowboy culture, my affinity for wild rags is imbued with a profound sense of nostalgia and reverence for the timeless traditions of the area.

Emma Brereton Designs “ Western Florals”

Cowgirl Kathleen Hudson, a member of the Junior Riding and Roping Club of Tulsa Mounted Troops, rounding up Herefords on the Oklahoma range in 1948.

Floral motifs, such as sagebrush, prickly pear cactus, or mountain wildflowers, have played a historically important role in Western decor…It has been a joy incorporating these flowers into my work. This love for flowers was instilled in me from a young age by my mother, who possesses an incredible knowledge of plants and fostered my appreciation for nature's delicate beauty. As an artist with a penchant for realistic sketching, I have found happiness translating these botanical wonders onto paper, allowing me to share the profound connection between man and land. In Wyoming's primarily arid climate, the bright blooms of wildflowers are a welcome blessing, with the aptly named "Cowboy's Delight" being one of my personal favorites. By incorporating these floral patterns into my wild rags, I not only evoke the breathtaking beauty of the state's landscapes but these visuals also serve as a reminder of the resilience and tenacity required to thrive in such unforgiving environments.

“Ladies in Chaps”, c.1920.

Moreover, patterns in wild rags serve as a powerful medium for self-expression, allowing individuals to communicate their unique personalities, beliefs, and aspirations through a subtle yet impactful visual language. Whether one opts for bold geometric prints or delicate floral arrangements, the choice of pattern becomes an unspoken statement, inviting the wearer to embrace their individuality and stand apart from the masses.

Functionality, too, plays a pivotal role in the significance of patterns in these cherished accessories.

In essence, the patterns that adorn wild rags lie at the heart of what makes these garments so beloved. They are not merely decorative elements but rather symbolic tapestries that weave together strands of culture, identity, and functionality into a single, harmonious piece. Whether worn as a nod to venerated traditions, a statement of individuality, or simply as a practical accessory, the patterns on these scarves transcend mere adornment, embodying the very essence of Western heritage and personal expression. So the next time you reach for one of these rugged yet elegant scarves, pause to truly appreciate the intricate artistry of its patterns – for they are more than just designs, but a vibrant means of carrying the past into the present.

2023 Cold Cactus Boutique featuring Emma Brereton Design

Patterns in Politics

In 2018 my friend and design mentor at the time introduced me to surface pattern design. She had a robust and flourishing business with her illustration and hand drawn patterns that she printed through Spoonflower Inc., a local NC company. Her offerings can be found here. While intimidated and pretty certain I had nothing to offer the pattern design community, I reluctantly took her up on the offer to teach me pattern-maker in .ai and I entered into my first competition on Spoonflower’s site shortly thereafter.

At that time, if you would have told me that patterns would be a foundational aspect of my design career, I’d likely have laughed in your face.

While my submission (above) to the Spoonflower competition didn’t win any awards, the experience itself was awesome, and I was hooked. What’s not to like about painting whimsical things that you love and having others purchase them online? It was from there that surface pattern design became a totally fulfilling side hobby for me; it blended my love of painting with the innate “wow” factor of seeing your work repeated an infinite number of times. Printing these patterns on physical items such as wallpaper and fabric was truly the cherry on top of an already robust passion project that had no other purpose except that it truly excited me. As it turns out, that was the reason I was hired at the RNC.

Fast forward a few months, and I’m working at a small desk in the basement of a building on Capitol Hill with a long list of projects in my queue with hot deadlines. Something no one tells you about being a designer in a fast paced environment: the flow of creativity is truly key to your success. In these moments, I surprisingly found myself falling back on my pattern-making ability and integrating it into my finished product. Not only did this allow me to hit tight deadlines, but also create content that was unusual in the market.

From custom painted “MAGA” hats in a Father’s Day pattern, or a low opacity background on a GOTV ad to elevate the finished product, my patterns became sprinkled throughout the RNC’s social channels and creative. For political requests, I even found myself hand-drawing state specific monuments or “isms” to better drive consumer’s interaction with the creative. Not only personally fulfilling, my patterns were performing well and our clients liked them too.

Three years later, I’ve had the opportunity to stress the importance of learning custom pattern work to all of our designers through presentations and feedback. Patterns can add remarkable depth to a piece of creative, quickly moving something stagnant to multidimensional. It takes an eye to strike the balance between busy and finished, but through patterns, this skill in itself can be better honed. As the office “pattern queen,” I have passed on this knowledge in the same way I learned it; hands-on and driven by the simple joy pattern-making brings. The incredible team of designers I’ve worked with at the RNC now understand the value of patterns.

From a passion project to my saving grace, and ultimately the best skill I’ve ever learned - surface pattern design is still my secret weapon. I just completed a hand-drawn DC pattern featured on the RNC’s merchandise page. It soon will be accessed here.