Isolation Diary Day 10. My fascination and failure in drawing 'perfect' birds, and how I found success!

Today I’m talking about birds! I’ve always loved drawing them — inspired by their colours, shapes, wings, and movements, the whole shebang. It’s no surprise that many of my designs include a bird in some form.

I wouldn’t describe my drawing style as particularly intricate or realistic; instead, I feel most comfortable with pattern making. The more abstract the shapes, the better. Looking through books and online archives for inspiration, I often come across the most ornate illustrations, especially John Audubon’s Birds of America series. They excite me, though I know my work will never be quite that “real” — and that’s okay.

My interest lies in stencils and cut‑outs, influenced by the later work of Matisse. For the new interiors range, I focused on creating silhouettes of bird shapes. Using tracing paper, I began layering patterns over the cut‑outs, experimenting with plumage and decorative effects on wings and tails. The result? Two birds with two different designs, expressed in a spectrum of colours — each shape becoming unique and full of character.

Birds have long fascinated artists and designers, and they continue to appear in interior fabrics and prints. Perhaps it’s their symbolism of freedom, beauty, and movement that makes them so enduring. For me, they are a joyful motif that connects nature with design.

✨ The drawing stages move from paper cut‑out silhouettes to painting areas on tracing paper, before adding detail — a process that transforms simple shapes into patterned artworks.