When it comes to Jacqueline Colley’s illustrations, color is the driving force, after which come patterns. “I actually regularly pin or photograph things just for the color combination,” she told Yes I’m a Designer. “Sometimes I want to work with a color combination so bad I will design a screen print specifically for it so that I can play with it.”
According to Colley, her go-to is combining shades of green with shades of pink. The result is often playful: a crammed composition of knick-knacks, plants, and other delights. Like most of her contemporaries, Colley relies on both traditional and digital techniques.
“I work by hand a lot with felt tip pens but everything ends up in photoshop which I love as you can do so much in that one application,” she says. According to Colley, working digitally allows her to construct patterns, change colors, re-draw certain elements and touch up the photos she uploads to her online shop.
Having studied Visual Communication at Chelsea Art College, Colley first worked in print design for 6 years, before transitioning into illustration (an early passion of hers). Now working as a freelance illustrator and pattern designer almost exclusively, she shares her work on her Instagram page, where she has attracted a substantial following.
Here are some highlights from her page:
