2024-03-04 03:32
I’m beyond excited that my surface pattern design ‘Shelley Beach’ has been licensed by the wonderful Tribe Tropical for a range of sunsafe swimwear. Tribe Tropical founder… Read More
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Girl And The Deep Blue Sea – I'd Rather Be Under Blog
annamarkulaphotography.wordpress.com
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pink patterns
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incognito art
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tribe tropical swimwear
creative resources
mermaid vibes
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I'd rather be under the sea
2023-10-23 03:47
It’s no surprise that I love bold colour, and I’m absolutely loving the pet portraits I have been creating that are all about colour! I was listening to an artist talk a few mont… Read More
2023-09-08 01:00
Channel your inner mermaid with these shell-inspired pattern designs! I just LOVE seashells and can draw them endlessly – so it’s no surprise that they feature in many of my patt… Read More
2023-08-24 01:11
Last year I donated three artworks to the Incognito Art Show – I loved the experience so much that I decided to do it again this year! Some background – the Incognito Art Show se… Read More
2023-08-10 01:19
Come on Barbie let’s go party – this is one trend I’m totally jumping on, probably because 99% of my pattern designs have some sort of pink in them! I do love my pink patte… Read More
2023-07-28 06:07
In this blog post I’m going to give you a sneak peak into how I design for a client brief. My client asked for a pattern design that was hand-painted with watercolours, including fish… Read More
2023-07-17 06:08
I have been thinking a lot lately about my art style and have started an almost daily sketchbook practice (I call it art play) where I can do whatever I like in a little A5 watercolour sketc… Read More
2023-07-06 02:13
It is the winter school holidays here in Queensland and we were lucky to spend a few days at Lennox Head in northern New South Wales last week. Winter is my FAVOURITE time of year to be at t… Read More
2023-06-16 01:41
I’ve just added a new page to my website called ‘My Creative Resources‘. I decided to list pretty much everything I could think of that I use in my business as a surface pa… Read More
2023-06-05 01:56
As I have been learning about pattern design and running a business, there was one activity I did that really helped me focus my art creation, marketing, and clients to approach. That activi… Read More
2023-05-19 02:06
Welcome to the story of how I got over my technophobia of using the iPad to draw and why I now love doing pattern design using Procreate. I’m one of those people that struggle with tec… Read More
2023-05-04 01:40
I often like to reflect on my art style and my source of inspiration for pattern design. Most of the time this inspiration is nature – especially anything to do with the beach and ocea… Read More
2023-04-21 00:22
For me, becoming a business owner is intertwined with having a child – I was the person who thought I’d take six months maternity leave then be straight back to my important &&hell…Read More
2023-03-24 01:08
One day I had the sudden urge to draw flamingos. Not entirely sure why, probably because I had been reading about where to see flamingos in the wild. I have been lucky enough to see them in… Read More
2023-03-03 02:44
Welcome to my 2023 business goals! I am writing this much more cautiously than I did last year, if you have read my 2022 business review you will see that I didn’t really achieve my ma… Read More
2023-02-16 02:57
Welcome to my 2022 business review! Unlike last year I am actually getting to write my business review close to the start of the year woo! Business reviews usually start with reflecting on y… Read More
2022-11-04 20:57
There are so many great resources available to help you run a surface pattern design business. I have compiled a list of my absolute favourite FREE business resources that I use almost every… Read More
2022-10-21 01:08
There are many ways of finding potential clients for your surface pattern design. You need a marketing strategy and most importantly you need to allocate time to it – I block out two d… Read More
2022-10-07 01:18
Marketing your surface pattern design work is what you will probably spend at least half, if not more, of your time on. You may have beautiful artwork but you need people to see it, and not… Read More
2022-09-02 08:54
Now that you have decided you want to be a surface pattern designer, and you have learnt the basics of pattern creation, what is next? Ideally you want to sell your pattern designs to client… Read More
2022-08-20 06:26
This is the second post in a series I am writing all about surface pattern design and running your own business. If you haven’t already, go back and read the first post about why I cho… Read More
2022-08-05 06:15
This is the first post in a series I am going to write all about surface pattern design and running your own business! I didn’t even know the term ‘surface pattern design’… Read More
2022-07-22 04:13
Dot’s Spots is one of my most-loved repeat pattern designs that I created last year – this is the pattern design story! It is inspired by one of my favourite underwater creatures… Read More
2022-06-30 23:52
The Incognito Art Show is an amazing concept where artists submit 3 A5-size artworks but only sign the back of the artwork. Artworks then go on sale anonymously for $100 each – with al… Read More
2022-06-17 01:32
I now have some of my favourite pattern designs available on fabrics with Cloth Cuts. Cloth Cuts are a Brisbane-based company that print on a range of fabric bases and have a fantastic print… Read More
2022-06-03 04:09
Minjerribah (also known as North Stradbroke Island) is one of my favourite holiday destinations ever – it is so close to Brisbane city and I just love spending time on this magical isl… Read More
2022-05-19 03:58
This is probably my favourite blog post to write all year as it is always full of optimism for the year ahead! So if you haven’t already, go back and read my 2021 business review so yo… Read More
2022-03-02 01:46
I’ve decided to make this a yearly habit, completing a business review of the previous year and then writing a second blog post about what I’m going to do differently this year… Read More
2021-09-21 03:56
An escape to tropical North Queensland was just what we needed after what felt like a very long and cold winter here in Brisbane. I have been to North Queensland a few times, but this was th… Read More
2021-08-24 01:09
This is a story of how some sleep-deprived creative work turned into my dream to see my art on eco-friendly swim leggings! A few months ago I was desperate for some creative ‘me time&r&hell…Read More
2021-08-13 04:38
One of my newest pattern designs is a fun little tropical number called Calypso. This tropical pattern design features a few of my botanical illustrations. I drew all of the elements either… Read More
2021-07-30 21:28
I have just added a whole lot of new fabric designs to my Spoonflower shop, 42 in fact! Some of the fabric designs available are completely new, and some of them are new colourways of existi… Read More
2021-06-17 23:47
Let me tell you a story of how I attempted to create a pattern collection… Now pattern collections are basically a set of designs with a common theme, and one main (complex) design, w… Read More
2021-06-05 11:09
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to create a colouring page for art agency Jehane, after a request for submissions for a special underwater-themed colouring book. Jehane received over… Read More
2021-05-21 00:53
Exciting news! I’m very happy to be supporting Coolum & North Shore Coast Care by donating 10% of Girl and the Deep Blue Sea yearly profits! Coolum & North Shore Coast Care are… Read More
2021-03-26 05:06
So in case you haven’t noticed, I LOVE colour – the brighter the better! One of the skills you learn as a pattern designer (or any artist for that matter) is to select colours th… Read More
2021-03-12 10:37
Say hello to my new pattern design – Pizazz! This pattern design came about when I was putting together an application for the Uppercase Surface Pattern Design Guide (side note –… Read More
2021-03-05 09:58
Living in the Sunshine State (aka Queensland, Australia) I am always wearing sun protection when in the water – both rash shirts and swim leggings. My ocean rash shirt had seen better… Read More
2021-02-26 11:23
After completing my 2020 business review I can see that while I achieved a few things, I was also not completely focussed and easily distracted, and often felt overwhelmed by what I thought… Read More
2021-02-19 20:08
So early last year I wrote a mega blog post about my first year as a surface pattern designer. I thought it would be a good idea to do this as a yearly activity, as it’s great to refle… Read More
2020-12-15 04:01
I would like to introduce you to ‘Tropico’, a puzzle design that I have created using my own photographs. I was inspired after reading Sir David Attenborough’s recent book… Read More
2020-11-28 04:03
I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want…. yes it is that crazy time of year when most of us are frantically trying to think of what to get for the special people in… Read More
2020-11-21 01:32
The Sunshine Coast which is where I first started to get passionate about beach photography. It is about 1.5 hours drive north of Brisbane, and all my family live there so I visit quite ofte… Read More
2020-11-12 04:00
Hi everyone – I have just launched a new shop on Society6 full of tropical gifts! There a number of fun and eco-friendly products now available including: art prints furniture mugs and… Read More
2020-10-09 03:23
Recently I was very lucky to be part of Reverse Garbage’s Rescue-A-Barrel Project. Reverse Garbage is a not-for-profit worker run co-operative that promotes environmental sustainabilit… Read More
2020-09-04 11:03
As part of my collaboration with Digital Fabrics, I was invited to write a blog post about my design process and the inspiration behind the designs featured in the ‘Summer Nights&rsquo&hell…Read More
2020-08-21 03:15
Bird of Paradiso is one of my designs in the ‘Summer Nights’ collection now available on a variety of fabrics through Digital Fabrics. This is the story behind the Bird of Paradi… Read More
2020-08-16 10:44
One of my pattern designs that is now available through Digital Fabrics is Blue Lagoon. This is a detailed and bold pattern in tones of Pantone’s Classic Blue, featuring tropical photo… Read More
2020-08-07 21:36
I’m REALLY excited to announce I am part of Digital Fabrics Designer Project, with my collection ‘Summer Nights‘. Digital Fabrics are a Sydney-based digital textile print h… Read More
2020-07-24 03:25
Hi everyone – I have a wonderful new selection of mugs and notebooks now available in my Redbubble shop. These designs are available on mugs (two styles: classic shape and tall mugs)… Read More
2020-07-17 02:43
Exciting news – I now have eight fun new fabric designs available in my Spoonflower shop! They are all bright, vibrant, and with a tropical vibe. I was really inspired by some of the a… Read More
2020-07-10 23:59
This is the second set of photos of a beautiful morning’s sunrise at Mudjimba Beach on the Sunshine Coast. You can check out the first set of photos here. On this particular morning th… Read More
2020-06-19 10:48
I am slowly slowly going through a set of sunrise photos I took at Mudjimba Beach back in February. This was the last beach weekend I had before travel restrictions came in (happily I finall… Read More
2020-06-11 10:28
Australian fashion label Gorman sent artists and designers everywhere into a spin with the recent announcement of their first ever Artist Search Competition. Gorman is known for its playful… Read More
2020-06-04 23:36
Abstract photography is something I really enjoy and lately I have been experimenting with different ideas. Photography is one of the ways I have been staying creative while looking after my… Read More
2020-05-29 02:27
Or more accurately, how to do anything fun with a full time toddler! Hi everyone! Sorry it has been ages since my last post. Quite a lot has happened in the world since then – I hope y… Read More
2020-05-29 02:27
Or more accurately, how to do anything fun with a full time toddler! Hi everyone! Sorry it has been ages since my last post. Quite a lot has happened in the world since then – I hope y… Read More
2020-03-27 22:46
So one of the things I realised late last year was that I was spending way too much time on social media/marketing, and not nearly enough time creating art. So in the spirit of a new year, I… Read More
2020-03-12 23:40
Just a short ferry ride from Brisbane, you can be transported to an island paradise complete with white sand, swaying palm trees, and lots of wildlife. Tangalooma is a resort on Moreton Isla… Read More
2020-02-28 01:31
My newest design is called ‘The Reef’ This design was inspired by the view of coral reefs from the air – a myriad of turquoise shades and abstract shapes. I’ve been l… Read More
2020-02-21 00:44
This is my third instalment of Norfolk Island-themed blog posts – I recently spent a week on this amazing island – you can read my top five reasons for visiting here, and check o… Read More
2020-02-13 19:00
2020-02-07 03:29
When I used to hear the words ‘Norfolk Island’ my mind conjured up images of lots of old people playing golf surrounded by pine trees! After recently spending a week there… Read More
2020-01-27 07:36
I got quite interested in surface pattern design a couple of years ago and recently decided to turn Girl and the Deep Blue Sea into a business for surface pattern design and ocean imagery. T… Read More
2019-11-01 02:12
I’m excited to announce you can now buy mugs and notebooks with my designs from Redbubble! Here are just some of the products available: I have personally ordered and tested the mugs a… Read More
2019-10-25 04:23
As I’ve just joined Spoonflower as a designer, I’m now able to enter their design challenges. There is a different theme each week and a recent theme that stood out to me was &ls&hell…Read More
2019-10-11 03:34
I recently took part in the Make it in Design Summer School 2019, which is a pattern design challenge with briefs that are based on upcoming trends – one of the briefs I completed was… Read More
2019-09-27 00:27
Hello everyone! I have some exciting news – I am creating a newsletter that will be sent out every month or so! You can sign up HERE 🙂 I’m going to write about what I&rsq&hell…Read More
2019-09-12 22:52
More images from my early morning wanderings at Peregian Beach – you can see Part 1 here 🙂 Read More
2019-09-05 19:45
I was lucky to spend just over a week in an old beach house at Peregian Beach earlier this year (my international in-laws were visiting and I wanted to show them how beautiful the Sunshine C… Read More
2019-08-29 23:53
Noosa National Park is such a stunning place to visit – there are amazing ocean vistas and interesting natural features like the coastal vegetation. I always jump at the chance for a w… Read More
2019-08-22 23:19
Hi everyone! I have updated my photography portfolio – the categories are Abstract, Beachscapes, Tropico, Waves, and Wildlife – I’d love you to have a look and let me know… Read More
2019-08-16 01:04
Exciting news… I have now added my first set of prints to the website! Check out my prints portfolio – I would LOVE to know what you think!! Do you have a favourite? Read More
2019-08-09 00:36
2019-08-02 00:27
Apart from ‘why won’t my baby nap’, ‘how to find time to be creative when you have a baby’ was probably one of my most googled topics in the first few months af… Read More
2019-07-26 03:01
2019-06-14 04:40
I’m a traveller- my idea of a five year plan involves new destinations and fun experiences, not things like career goals or mortgages! Since having a baby that hasn’t changed, an… Read More
2019-06-06 23:24
2019-05-24 02:47
I had a lot of fun creating these images – they have colour, texture and movement making them so nice to look at! Light and water creating magic…. the images are of the rising s… Read More
2019-05-17 00:12
2019-05-10 01:32
‘Can your cholesterol go up if you eat too much French cheese?’ The doctor gave me a quizzical look. ‘How much cheese are we talking?’ ‘Err maybe two blocks a d… Read More
2019-05-02 23:05
2019-04-25 23:13
One of the unexpected perks about travelling with a baby is that long road trips need to be broken down into smaller journeys, which means more places to visit! On a family trip to Italy las… Read More
2019-04-19 04:12
When I was pregnant, I lost count of the number of times I was told my days of travelling were now over (people love to make you feel optimistic about the future when you are pregnant!). Jus… Read More
2019-04-11 21:14
There is nothing better than waking up really early in summer, and getting to the beach before sunrise – the air and sea are warm, the sky is either still and clear or full of amazing… Read More
2019-04-05 00:45
2019-03-29 00:38
If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you may have noticed the odd drawing or pattern pop up on my feed, a bit different from my beach photos! Welcome to the world of surface patte… Read More
2019-03-22 01:46
I LOVE using film and I especially love trying out new films! I recently discovered Psychedelic Blues 400 Colour Negative film #2 and decided to try it out while on a weekend break to North… Read More
2019-03-14 21:00
2019-03-07 18:28
As some of my blog readers know (hi mum!) a little while ago I had a baby – and so I thought I’d start to write some blog posts about how you can actually still do fun stuff like… Read More
2019-02-28 16:45
Hi everyone! I’ve been learning how to create moodboards, so thought I would put some together inspired by the colours of Girl and the Deep Blue Sea! Blue, turquoise, pink and white! F… Read More
2019-02-21 19:00
2019-02-14 19:00
As someone from subtropical Brisbane, who loves summer and hates being cold, I have a weird thing where I also like to experience extremes, such as going to ICEland in the middle of winter… Read More
2018-09-29 07:39
2018-08-30 01:44
Whenever I thought of the Galápagos Islands, I always put them in the holiday category of ‘once-in-a-lifetime’, ‘remote’, and ‘very expensive’. Esp… Read More
2018-07-14 21:35
Yes it’s currently winter in Australia, and while those of you from actual cold places might laugh at the number of people in Brisbane wearing scarves on a 20 degree day, the last thin… Read More
2018-06-28 08:52
Like surrealism, creating abstract images is my second main photographic goal, which I have to say is much easier for me to achieve. One definition that explains this well is ‘Relating… Read More
2017-12-12 02:48
I’m always really fascinated by what influences artists/photographers, and I love reading about the stories behind the images as they offer an insight into the creative process for tha… Read More
2017-11-11 00:14
After a much too long five year hiatus, I finally got to revisit one of the most wonderful places- Lady Elliot Island. My previous trip was in spring, this time I experienced the island in a… Read More
2017-07-16 08:23
Often maligned due to their stinging tentacles, I find bluebottles somewhat amazing- did you know they are not actually ‘one’ animal but a colony made up of various parts all fun… Read More
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