a focused self-paced course
Floral Patterns in Gouache: Sketchbook Practice & Illustration
Transform your hand painted florals into stunning, repeatable patterns, from sketchbook to seamless design.
does this sound like you?
Love to Paint, but not sure what to do with it?
Maybe you fill your sketchbook with gouache florals purely for the joy of it, but have no idea how to turn that into something usable.
Maybe you've never digitised a hand painted piece before, and the idea of turning it into a seamless repeat pattern feels like a mystery.
If either of those sounds familiar, this class bridges that exact gap.
what you'll achieve
From sketchbook to seamless repeat
Confident Gouache Technique
Learn colour theory, the properties of gouache, and different ways to apply it for vibrant, expressive florals.
A Sketchbook Practice You'll Actually Keep Up
Build a simple process for finding inspiration and sketching, so painting patterns becomes a regular creative outlet, not a rare event.
A Real, Usable Pattern
Scan, clean up, and compose your painting into a seamless repeat in Photoshop, ready for fabric, wallpaper, or print on demand.
what's inside
11 Lessons, under an hour
welcome
lesson 1 — Materials
lesson 2 — colour theory
lesson 3 — Gouache properties
lesson 4 — finding inspiration
lesson 5 — sketching
lesson 6 — base colour
lesson 7 — adding details
lesson 8 — digitising in Photoshop
lesson 9 — composing a pattern
lesson 9 — where to now
includes:
The 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge, a PDF to help you keep the habit going long after the class ends.
Lifetime access to the course material
in their words
Students that have filled their sketchbooks
A few honest reflections from students who've been through the course, in their own words.
“
This was such a wonderful class! I especially loved the way Mel broke down the differences between the different types of gouache. I'm mainly a watercolour girl, but this has inspired me to branch out to trying gouache and starting a pattern sketchbook. Many thanks :)
- Jocelyn Bateson
I loved this class, I love how Mel gives step by step guidance to accomplish the pattern. It was my first time using gouache, first time using photoshop and i loved how easy it was. Thank you Mel for this class, it was exactly what I was looking for.
- Carolina Saavedra
your teacher, coach & mentor
Hey there, I'm Mel
I'm an illustrator and surface pattern designer based in Wellington, New Zealand. My work has been licensed by companies including Cloud9 Fabrics, Hallmark, Wentworth Puzzles, and Auzou and I've illustrated more than fifteen children's books.
Before any of that, I spent years as a software engineer, freelancing and contracting to large companies, and feeling completely burnt out by it. Surface pattern design gave me a second creative career, one I get to build on my own terms.
I've spent over a decade in this industry now, and I've made most of the mistakes so you don't have to. I built this course to share what actually worked, not just the theory, so you can build a career that feels like yours too.
12+ years working as a professional surface pattern designer and illustrator
Licensed work with brands including Cloud9 Fabrics, Hallmark, Wentworth Puzzles, Indie Boho Australia, Loomwell & Phoebe Fabrics
Illustrated more than 15 published children's books with publishers such as Scholastic & Harper Collins
Skillshare Top Teacher, one of the platform's top instructor tiers
Contributing author to the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, the industry's standard pricing and ethics reference
join us
One Payment. Lifetime access
11 bite-sized video lessons (about an hour of learning)
100% self-paced
Free 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge PDF
No subscription fees
Lifetime access
$27 USD*
* Prices shown in USD and do not include any applicable taxes (VAT, etc).
before you join
You may be asking
Do I need any experience with gouache or Photoshop?
No prior experience needed. I'll walk you through the properties of gouache from the basics, and guide you step by step through digitising and building your pattern in Photoshop.
What materials do I need?
A sketchbook, gouache paints and brushes, a pencil, paper, and eraser, access to a scanner, and Adobe Photoshop (a free trial works fine).
How long do I have access to the class?
Lifetime access, entirely self-paced. Come back to it whenever you need, on your own schedule.
What is the refund policy?
Due to the digital nature of this course, refunds aren't available.
What if I have a question that isn't listed here?
Send me an email, [email protected], I'd love to help.
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