Fabric Design - a new venture

Dawn's Early Light 48" x 36" Oil... inspiration for a fabric collection!

I'm stepping into fabric design this year. I'm thrilled to introduce my first collection, just announced for January 2026, Dawn's Early Light.

AND the collection made the "Look Book" for Studio E Fabrics, a division of Jaftex Corporation. On pages 32 - 39 you'll see how my artwork meets fabric design...

There has been a lot of work to get to this point. So first I want to thank Jaftex Corporation and the folks there that I'm working with. Jaftex celebrated their 95th anniversary last year. Scott Fortunoff, fourth generation, leads the company that his great-grandfather began. Shout out to Stephanie, the liaison that has worked magic for me. :-) They definitely have the skills to transform my art into right sized repeating patterns to become yards of fabric... and such nice people to work with!

It started with Dawn's Early Light (above). The oil painting I created for Jaftex to use as the main panel. Other coordinating fabrics play off this color palette to round out the collection highlighting deer and nature. I created more paintings of deer vignettes, close up tree textures, etc. which were repeated to become fabric. Some of the fabric design ideas arose out of the abstract textures and colors within the large main painting.

This is a new endeavor for me and seeing it officially announced is certainly gratifying. The culmination of all the 'behind the scenes' work that has taken place coming to fruition... ahhhhhh.

Doe and fawn vignette

Now, it gets even better as I will start to see what others create using my painting as an inspiration. I love adding to that circle of creativity, since creativity - in all it's forms! - I highly value.

As I learn the cycles of the fabric world, I'm currently painting for the next collection launching in April 2026. The April collection will be built around a bison herd motif, including new calves, fields and mountains. Then like magic, the wonderful people at Jaftex will transform it all into fabric - and the creative cycle continues...

Fawn sleeping sketch