Stephanie Webb is a freelance pattern/textile designer specialising in silk screen printing, surface pattern, hand embroidery and paper cut illustration. Her illustrations are wonderfully quirky and inviting and you can read more about Stephanie in the mini interview below.
Name: Stephanie Webb
University/ College: Edinburgh College of Art Graduate 09
Course: Textiles
Current Occupation: Freelance designer
Blog/ website link: www.stephanie-says.com
What three to five words would you use to describe your work?
Colourful, lighthearted, eclectic, nostalgic.
What inspires you?
Music, art, fashion, literature, photography, all art forms really. I love texture and fabric, that’s why I chose textiles over something like illustration or graphics, although the two interchange a fair bit. I love contrasting materials and making something that feels comforting and good quality but also new and fresh. I’m definitely a colour lover; it can make or break your design so I like to keep it in mind from the start, a fresh colour palette is always good inspiration.
What mediums do you work with?
I mainly draw in mechanical pencil or fine liner – the thinner the better! I love ink, gouache and water colour for drawings and digital prints, but for screen printing I stick to black pens or paper cut stencils. I also ‘draw’ with hand embroidery – I don’t use patterns or anything proper, I like to have an idea in my head and see how things evolve.
What was your first job? when/how did you know you wanted a career in art?
My first job was in a florist when I was about 14. I had a paper round before that, but I suppose that doesn’t count! I always knew I wanted to do something creative, but I wasn’t sure what. I think once I realised the difference between art and design, it all made sense. I discovered screen printing at school and I loved it, and the whole idea of drawing something specifically as an embellishment or decorative pattern, it really appeals to me.
Design books/blogs you can’t live without
I read a lot of blogs, so many that it probably hinders my work rather than helps at some times! One book I always refer to is Kate Fletcher’s Fashion and Textiles Design Journeys, it really inspired me to push my own sustainability within my work. I read fashion and interiors blogs to keep up to date but I get a lot of inspiration from photography blogs/websites like Hilda Grahnat or archives like Shorpy.com and Boston.com
What’s next?
My plans at the minute involve pushing my freelance work. I make custom paper cuts and sell cards and screen printed things on Etsy, and when I’m not working on commissions the majority of my time is spent promoting myself, looking for suppliers, etc. My long term plan is to find somewhere reliable to screen print, I’d love to find somewhere good for textiles printing with dye baths, good print beds and a heat press etc, I might even set up my own some day!
