Learn the art of tasteful interior design from Home Decor specialist Ellie Cashman
Ellie Cashman's vibrant floral paintings, bursting with realistic details, have gained her recognition and a strong following in the world of art and design. Her work graces walls and textiles, serving as optimistic visual narratives and celebrations of beauty. Check out her website to give a unique and bold touch to your living or working space. You may have seen her work here before – we've featured her before! We're delighted to have Ellie as a guest expert in the Textile Design Lab on June 23rd at 1pm EST to talk about cultivating a daily creative habit that amplifies your unique point of view, designing for home decor products, starting a design business, and more!
Her captivating style didn't just materialize out of thin air – there's a fascinating story behind it. As a graduate with degrees in Painting, she aimed for an academic career. But a whirlwind year of marriage, a move to Europe, and becoming a mother turned her life upside down. Living in Amsterdam, she found herself in a tiny apartment with a newborn, lacking a dedicated workspace. Given the circumstances, she had to switch to digital tools for safety, space efficiency, and convenience.
Despite these changes, she continued to identify as a painter. Her home was a stone's throw from the Rijksmuseum, where the Great Master paintings of the Dutch Golden Age lay waiting to inspire her. As she explored her new digital tools, these artistic masterpieces served as a muse, sparking ideas and guiding her creations.
Wallpaper emerged as the perfect canvas for Ellie. It offers the charm of a painting without the limitations of hanging on a wall. She had always adored patterns and incorporated them into her paintings, so transitioning into being a surface designer felt like a natural progression. She honed her skills by taking online courses, such as Michelle's Sellable Sketch and Ultimate Guide to Repeats, and set up her own website to sell her designs directly to customers.
One question that often comes up is whether Ellie still spends six to twelve months completing a print, as she once did. Thankfully, that's no longer the case! She has learned to manage her perfectionism better, and she is back to working with oils as much as possible. Interestingly, returning to traditional painting methods has helped her improve her speed and efficiency – the opposite of what she might have expected.
When it comes to AI in design, Ellie is open-minded but cautious. She believes we must be intentional about how we use AI, as it's bound to advance and become more capable soon. AI-generated designs may flood the market, making it increasingly difficult for human designers to stand out. However, Ellie suggests that the key lies in sharing the thoughts, concepts, personal histories, and artistic processes behind each design, allowing people to connect with the work on a deeper level – a connection that AI-generated designs may struggle to replicate.
Ellie has not attended any trade shows as an exhibitor, but she has visited some to observe the scene. She has found customers organically and keeps in touch with them through Instagram and blog features. With the rise of e-commerce and social media, she questions the necessity and value of attending trade shows for smaller businesses.
Staying ahead in the home decor market excites Ellie and challenges her simultaneously. She sees the market becoming more inclusive of smaller brands and appreciates the variety they bring. However, with this growth comes increased competition, requiring designers to differentiate themselves and stay relevant. Ellie's advice is to focus on developing a unique style and voice rather than trying to be a generic, jack-of-all-trades.
Over the years, Ellie's decision to venture out on her own rather than work with an agent has had the most significant impact on her design business. Her collaboration with her husband has been rewarding but not without challenges. Most recently, she pursued another Master's Degree at RISD and took exceptional painting classes, which empowered her to return to working with oils.
Marketing in the right way drives the most customers to make purchases. For Ellie, word of mouth and organic social media posts or blog features have proven to be the most successful methods. According to her, an investment in creating a great product, building relationships with designers and collaborators, and avoiding excessive reliance on algorithms is more effective than traditional marketing methods.
In the Textile Design Lab training, Ellie will discuss her personal experience, show her design process, answer questions, and provide a printable sketchbook/journal to help you discover your unique style and voice. She encourages open, productive discussions with other designers too. Find out more about the TDL here.
- Ellie Cashman's unique point of view and style in fashion-and-beauty, such as her vibrant floral paintings, can provide a distinctive and bold touch to home-and-garden décor through wallpapers, as she transitioned from painting to surface design.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, Ellie honed her skills in surface design by taking online courses like Michelle's Sellable Sketch and Ultimate Guide to Repeats, turning her work into a career, and setting up her own website.
- While AI technology is expected to advance in the field of design, Ellie Cashman emphasizes the importance of human designers embracing their unique backgrounds and artistic processes, allowing them to build deeper connections with their audience, thereby setting themselves apart from AI-generated designs.
