Art Licensing Information: Artist Spotlight

Tell us a bit about yourself: Did you go to school for art? Are you self taught?
I am a Textile/ Surface pattern designer based in Sydney, Australia. I grew up in Pakistan and hold a Masters Degree in Textile Design from the University of Punjab. I am currently doing my second Masters degree in Design from University of New South Wales ( Australia). I have been freelancing for almost 6 years now and after my Masters degree I did an in-house job for one year. I moved to Australia after that and had to start all over again in a new market which was completely new to me with no contacts.

I started finding work online and eventually got a few projects from Australian companies and have been working with the same companies even after 3 years. I work as a freelancer for Specialty Fashion Group, Homebodii and Mrs. Darcy in Australia. I am also a part of Laura Campion design studio(UK) , which I joined 6 months ago.

Do you work in just one medium? Several?
I experiment with all sorts of mediums including watercolours, inks, photography, gouache & digital design. Photoshop has been my companion for many years and I am a newbie when it comes to Illustrator but its growing on me now. Although I love making designs digitally and would love to buy a Wacom Cintiq someday but nothing can beat the feeling while drawing on a fresh piece of paper on your sketchbook, it feels so natural and has a flow to it that I really enjoy. After staring at the screen for several hours a day I like to step away from the computer and just draw!

What inspires you / where do you get inspiration from?
I have always been drawn to bold and bright colours, textures and detail. I think the beauty of the design lies in the detail and shows the commitment of the artist to that piece of art or pattern. Florals are my fav subject matter and nature gives me all the inspiration that I need.

Lately I have been drawn to fun and cute characters and have started taking interest in kids wear and pattern design for kids and and I owe that to my 18 month old daughter.

What are you working on now?
I am currently doing an online course called Ultimate portfolio builder by Art of business and surface pattern design and trying to get a good body of work together to target towards the fabric/apparel industry. I am aiming to get licensing deals in the near future and exhibit at a show like Surtex or Printsource.

Besides this, I am doing a #100dayproject on Instagram these days. I upload a new pattern each day and will continue to do it for 100 consecutive days and it has not only helped me with my creative block but has exposed me to different opportunities. A Uk based company Flying Vinyl spotted me via Instagram and approached me to design the pattern for the Record sleeve for their company.
I also recently got the opportunity to be part of a new studio called Collective 12, which will feature the work of 12 artists working together and bringing their own unique style to the table and creating commercial surface designs for application on fashion, homewares, stationery and architecture. It's amazing that I was also discovered through Instagram for this project and was the 12th artist to join the team. This project will be launching in late July/August and I am very excited about it. This is why I love working as a freelancer because i am not limited to any space or city/country.

Anything else you would like to share with us?
I am grateful for all the opportunities that I have been getting lately. I have worked as a freelancer for many years now and always wanted to work on my own with no creative restraints. It's always rewarding to work as a solo artist and get recognised by your own unique signature style and that's what I am aiming for.

Are you an early riser? or night owl?
I am a night owl and have been that way since my uni days. I enjoy the utter silence after my baby goes to sleep and I get time to myself to paint or draw or simply relax.

What is your favorite food?
I am a complete foodie and I LOVEEE pasta. I can eat pasta for breakfast, lunch and dinner provided I don’t have to deal with the calories later ;P