top down view of a laptop with gridlines on the screen and a hand holding smart pen on a pen tablet

Behind the Scenes: Prepping My Next Ocean-Inspired Release

Something new is on the horizon—and I’m bringing you along for the ride. Right now, I’m in the prep stage: pulling together inspiration, sorting through colors, and imagining how it will all come together. It’s that exciting mix of ideas and “what ifs” before the first brushstroke (or, in my case, the first digital layer) takes shape.

 

Day 1: Brainstorming and Preparing

 

top down view of a laptop with gridlines on the screen and a hand holding smart pen on a pen tablet

 

As always, there’s plenty of research—photos, sketches, and reference pieces scattered across my workspace (and more than a few open tabs). I’m exploring lots of possibilities, seeing what sticks.

 

 

Maybe a jellyfish pattern… stripes or no stripes? Not sure yet. That’s the beauty of this stage—nothing’s set in stone, and the design could still drift in a completely new direction. Since it’s digital, every element lives on its own layer, so I can turn things on and off, move them around, or let them disappear altogether as I decide what stays and what goes.

 

 

Day 2: Which Jellyfish? - Lots of Testing Combinations

 

For this design, I tested quite a few different jellyfish styles and shpaes—some more delicate, others more bold—and played with color combinations to see what felt right.



Pattern trial with turquoise jellyfish and pink coral on light background
Color variation test of jellyfish in turquoise, gold, and peach gradient rows


Patterns were another layer of experimentation. I tested solid white backgrounds, stripes of all shapes and colors, and a variety of patterns. 




Digital mockup with jellyfish, stingray, and coral on blue and green striped background
Playful gingham pattern with navy jellyfish, pink coral, and light blue checks

None of the above made the final cut. But here is a sneak peak of what did make it all the way to the production line.  Stay tuned for more details next week!

Final jellyfish and coral design wrapped around product mockup with blue stripes

NEVER MIND - SCRATCH THAT! 

I went back later and decided that I wanted some changes to the design. I ended up spending almost an entire day reworking the entire design.  
pattern with lavender jellyfish and aqua seashells and grasses
And I can say with certainty that THIS is the final design. I leaned into the aqua and lavender wit the jellyfish and I love it!  It will be available on 4 different products starting Wednesday 8/27!

 

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Meet the Beach-Loving Artist

Drawing inspiration from countless summers on the Gulf Coast and beaches from Maine to Southern California, Cherie creates coastal artwork and designs that capture the peace and joy of the ocean.

Cherie combines her digital art mastery with a deep understanding of what makes the beach so restorative—the way it strips away everyday stress and fills you with calm. Every piece is created with the intention to bring that same coastal serenity into your daily life, helping you take a relaxing mental stride on the beach wherever you are.

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