From sketch to pattern

Artist Ieva Rudzite of Nordic Duck hand painting botanical artwork in watercolor, creating original motifs for surface pattern, wallpaper and textile design.

My process is intuitive and spontaneous, shaped by everything that catches my attention — art, nature, animals, history, old objects, and the landscape around me.

I rarely begin with a detailed plan or preliminary sketches. Instead I start drawing and let the work suggest its own direction. One motif often leads naturally to another; a single drawing can quietly unfold into an entire pattern collection.

I work mainly with ink and watercolor, along with digitally drawn pieces. As a self-taught artist, I approach both drawing and color instinctively rather than by strict rules. Color emerges as part of the process—through experimentation, response, and the search for combinations that feel right together.

A seamless pattern featuring illustrated animals and nests, including a pink giraffe, a brown lion, a white sheep, and a brown hedgehog, each surrounded by decorative foliage on a light background.
Artistic design on paper with watercolor painting of a blue vase with flowers, surrounded by intricate orange patterns, with paintbrushes resting on it.

I especially value the imperfections that come from hand drawing. Uneven lines, small variations, and unexpected marks give the work its character and keep the hand of the artist visible.

Creating for me is about flow. I enjoy allowing an idea to evolve without knowing exactly where it will end, following one drawing into the next until a collection finds its own rhythm and identity.

Surface pattern designer Ieva Rudzite of Nordic Duck painting original botanical and floral motifs by hand, inspired by nature, folk art and heritage design.
Surface pattern designer Ieva Rudzite of Nordic Duck painting original botanical and floral motifs by hand, inspired by nature, folk art and heritage design.