The Inspiration Behind My Design: Catherine

My latest design ‘Catherine’ is a heartfelt tribute to my late mum, drawing inspiration from her vibrant personality, her love for colour, her deep connection to her ethnic culture, and her passion for living her life to the fullest.

A Picture Can Paint a Thousand Words

A design, a photo, an illustration can evoke many different meanings and emotion to us all.
This is Catherine (Bloom)

‘Catherine’ and the variations of the design prominently features a rich and diverse colour palette. This reflects my mum’s penchant for wearing colourful attire and for infusing her living spaces with a lively and vibrant atmosphere whilst I was growing up. The colours I have ultimately chosen are carefully curated to evoke the same warmth and positivity that my mum exuded.

My design places a strong emphasis on greenery and flora, mirroring my mum’s love for plants. When I was a young child I vividly remember the fabulous vegetable patch that my mum had meticulously nurtured, and this went with all her indoor plants too.

Even now I cannot drive past a field of corn on the cob without thinking of my mum and the wonderful produce that she lovingly grew for us all to consume.

Bloom

My mum on the left, proudly displaying part of her vegetable patch. This photo was taken in the mid to late seventies when my grandmother (on the right) came to visit, and it was her first visit to the UK from Singapore.

The colourful, flowing florals in the Catherine design symbolise a joyful presence, and the birds represent a sense of freedom, grace and bravery (birds used in art form are often used to symbolise goodwill and positivity). I wanted to encompass all of these positive and uplifting feelings within this design, along with the warmth and hospitality that my mother always extended to others, adding a feeling of celebrating life, the way that my beautiful mum did.

For the Design

All of my designs start as paintings, and hand drawn or collaged motifs. These are then digitally modified in photoshop.

Catherine (variations)

Catherine, and Catherine (Midnight)

In summary, my latest design is a heartfelt homage to my late mum, capturing her love for colour, her connection to her ethnic culture, her passion for plants, love for life, and her vibrant personality. It's a design that not only reflects her spirit but also serves as a lasting tribute to the woman who inspired it.