For the past couple months, between working on my illustration assignment projects, I’ve also been diligently working on a series of preliminary rug designs… an indulgent side bar project compared to my usual array of assignments. I have a good friend who works for one of the most well known, respected high end rug design producers in the world. She has invited me to some of their NYC showroom event openings here in Manhattan displaying their latest collections, and I’m always very impressed by the elegant, striking design of their rugs and their incredible quality. And of course I also instantly envision how I would create my own rug designs…
So one day when talking with my friend I told her of my desire to try my hand at creating some preliminary rug designs… as a self-imposed speculative project, clearly just for the fun of it, but done in all seriousness. Because once I was done with my series of speculative rug design images I‘d show them to her. And then, if she felt so inclined, possibly she might show them up the ladder within her company. Posted here are just a handful of the 16 rug designs I created in all, a loose, eclectic visual collection consisting of nature and city inspired imagery, even with a dinosaur and some eggs thrown in, too!
glimmer rug design by Steven Salerno 2019
teeming rug design by Steven Salerno 2019
walk the dino rug design by Steven Salerno 2019
forest floor 1 rug design by Steven Salerno 2019
empire dawn rug design by Steven Salerno 2019
leaves rug design by Steven Salerno 2019
more eggs rug design by Steven Salerno 2019
city feel rug design by Steven Salerno 2019
All of the drawings in the series of 16 images were created digitally combined with painted gouache textures.
It is refreshing to work on speculative side projects like this, where I’m free to simply create whatever I want without any client input or set perimeters. Yet, I’m still indeed keeping in mind that such a project might lead to a new arena to showcase my artistic vision. So when creating these rug designs I did work within my own concept of what imagery realistically could be embraced by potential clients looking to decorate their own homes of office spaces with fun, flair and elegance.
Visit stevensalerno.com to view all my illustration samples for advertising, packaging, magazines, picture books for kids, etc…