Print and pattern designer Elizabeth Olwen makes illustrated patterns that are floral or nature-based – a celebration of the strange and beautiful world we live in. Born in Canada and based in Portugal, she is constantly inspired by the natural world around her, from the beautiful forests of Ontario to the pastel colors and tiles of Lisbon to her cherished and plentiful travels abroad.
Her patterns and illustrations (assembled piece by piece) adorn all sorts of different products, anything from bedding, rugs, and pillows to aprons, floor tiles, and stationery. “That’s one of the things I love most about what I do,” she told Ballpit Magazine. “I never know what new kind of product collaboration is around the corner.”
Describing her wors as “fresh, whimsical, organic yet graphic, graceful and modern, with a nod to days gone by”, she adds that: “Sometimes my work is incredibly minimal and simple, other times, quite complex. I like to bury little hidden treasures in my work, little details that you only notice when you’ve taken time to really look at them.”
But whatever the level of detail, the finished product is always delightfully pleasing. “Art has the potential to really move people, and therefore, I find art is full of hope,” says Olwen. “And on a far more superficial level, art just brings beauty to the everyday… and I feel we need that now more than ever.” PREACH!
