Featured Artist Interview: Anne Marie Jackson
As 2013 comes to a close, The Patternbase has reflected on all the exciting things that have come to fruition this year. We are excited to end the year, but also to announce some thrilling news as 2014 begins. Please stay tuned for that!
Enjoy our last interview of the year and of our series before our monthly featured artists. Designer Anne Marie Jackson’s prints are fresh and clean, and a perfect reflection for how we are feeling today. With her expertise and experience in the textile and surface design industry, we hope that this interview is as fulfilling as it was for us!
Anne Marie Jackson is a British textile and surface designer based out of Seattle. She has received the Royal Society of Arts Lucienne Day Award and has worked for several companies such as Chloe, Roberto Cavalli, Jason Wu, Marks and Spencer, H&M, Nordstrom, Samsung and Zune. Anne Marie’s drawing skills are lovely, and we are especially in love with her florals.
PB: You’ve been in the industry for a good amount of time! Please explain your background in the industry.
AMJ: That’s correct. I’ve worked within the industry for about 12 years now. I started my career working for 3 print houses in London, creating 25 original prints every fortnight which sold to companies such as Etro, Roberto Cavalli, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Chloe, and more mainstream labels such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, and Gap. In 2006, Nordstrom relocated me from London to Seattle to head up their print and trend for their BP department. This was a super fun opportunity and I learned loads about producing production ready commercial textile designs. For the last 5 years I’ve had my own company, and work with a huge variety of clients to create brand appropriate trends and surface designs. I love to make new connections, learn about their brands, and give them original custom production ready prints.
PB: What is your design aesthetic like?
AMJ: This is a really hard question for me because I feel that I am a bit of a shape shifter when it comes to print and pattern. If there is a new trend, I get really excited about exploring it in a commercial way.
PB: What are some of your favorite products you’ve been printed on?
AMJ: I adore bedding and I was really proud to produce many prints for Nordstrom’s Home department. Their fabrications are gorgeous, and such products have more longevity than many fashion products. I have also produced some surface designs for local Seattle businesses like Lazerwood. I love doing local projects, its so important to support your local design community to grow the design industry in a traditionally tech based city.
PB: How do you support yourself as an artist and designer?
AMJ: I work for many large corporations and produce original art that provides me with security. These are exciting times because I feel more corporate businesses are redefining the way they work with creatives.
PB: What does a day in your studio look like?
AMJ: First thing in the morning I usually catch up on my email and update my blog - www.annemariejackson/patternoccuring.com. For the rest of my day I work on trends, drawing, painting, and I create commissioned prints while I drink vast amounts of tea and listen to Ben Howard.
PB: How have the trends in the industry changed over the years? How do you see the future of it?
AMJ: Everything is super quick these days, there used to be a time when you had to wait three months after runway shows to purchase Collezione Magazine to know what was going on. Now you can watch shows as they happen online. Also lots of people are doing trend for free i.e. young people blogging about trend which makes it more accessible.
PB: What is your favorite medium and material to work with?
AMJ: To find a good black ink pen is essential for producing prints and I’m always on the hunt for new ones to experiment with.
PB: What inspires your work and who are some artists and designers you’re inspired by?
AMJ: I am inspired indirectly by books that I read and music. I love to crank some tunes and get into the flow.
Antoni and Alison, Eley Kishimoto, Karen Walker and always Liberty are designers I am inspired by.
PB: One focus of The Patternbase is the mix of genres in design. How has this been in the past, and where do you think it will be in the future?
AMJ: The innovation of digital printing has opened up the possibilities for art to be translated onto fabric. Such limitations as traditional repeat sizes and color are no longer obstacles. Companies like SpoonFlower are able to produce small runs of fabric for artists and new designers for a relatively low cost.
PB: What is some advice you’d give to beginning and aspiring designers?
AMJ: Draw draw draw draw.. ! Oh and stretch and then draw some more.
PB: Anything exciting you have planned for your work in the future?
AMJ: To develop my studio and blog Pattern Occurring. I’m always on the lookout for great talent for my studio as I love to mentor and develop great designers. I work with more clients in the field of trend, which is critical to provide better quality products to their customers. So much can get lost in translation from the inspiration to the product. I just adore making an entire story and concept for a client. I have too many aspirations and the big one is to have a busy studio space here in the heart of Seattle to start checking things off the list. Watch my space for a Pattern Occurring invasion.
