A conversation with Vermont-based graphic artist, Tara Clayton, designer of Bee’s Wrap’s newest print, Mushroom Magic

 

A conversation with Vermont-based graphic artist, Tara Clayton,
designer of Bee’s Wrap’s newest print, Mushroom Magic

images provided by Tara Clayton

 

Tara Clayton is a Vermont-based graphic designer who has collaborated with Bee’s Wrap for many years, using her talent to create nature-inspired designs. Her playful approach to color and composition has brought some of our most popular prints to life—including our newest spring print, Mushroom Magic.

In our conversation with Clayton, she shared insights into her design process, what inspires her, her favorite Bee’s Wrap print, and what she’d be doing if she weren’t an artist.

 

 

Hi Tara! We’d love to know more about your background. When did you start your design business? What drove you to do it, and what motivates you to keep going?

Although I’ve been designing freelance on the side for clients for over a decade, I took the leap and started my full time business in 2020. I love it so much I have never looked back!

I had worked for various design agencies & firms throughout the years with specialties in everything from toy packaging to global alcohol, fashion, and healthcare brands but the goal has always been to branch off and do my own thing with the breadth of knowledge I learned from each path. I find myself constantly motivated by the wide range of types of work I am lucky enough to have come my way, the challenges they present that keep me on my toes and more so all of the endlessly talented, caring, and fascinating individuals/teams I get to collaborate with.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Quite literally anything and everything sparks my creativity, I know that sounds like SUCH a cookie cutter answer but it's just the truth. To give a few specifics, I'm forever inspired by vintage movie reels, food packaging, and all things fashion. I love finding bright unexpected color palettes in everyday situations and working them into my art or incorporating any random personal interests of the moment like snails or artichokes or a funky typestyle. I’m also forever inspired by the work of fellow artists, designers and illustrators, currently; Bernardo Henning, Olivia Herrick, & Jasmine Dowling.

 

 

How would you describe your design style?

Bright, whimsical & personable are definitely my own personal go-to’s for design but I do love a challenge in making things moody or in the case of Bee's Wrap a bit more natural feeling in terms of color and tone.

Can you walk us through your design process?

There’s a lot in the upfront over here. I’d say most of my time is spent exploring inspiration through color, style and subject imagery. Once I have a sense of the directions I may want to go in, I create a few swatches and layouts with some reference images to give the Bee's Wrap team an idea of the final look and feel. I try to get a wide variety of concepts out of my head, these are usually rough sketches or created directly in illustrator, depending on how excited I am about the direction. After some tweaks, I finalize the full pattern as well as style, combining hand-drawn illustrations that I vectorize to ensure the best printing results.

What was your inspiration behind the Mushroom Magic print?

When thinking about Vermont in the Spring my mind gravitates more towards a dewy ferns/fiddleheads and fungi vibe vs vibrant florals and I wanted to represent that unexpected quirky side of new life and growth.

Favorite part about working with Bee’s Wrap?

The team offers SUCH a wide range to play in when it comes to creativity and design style while still staying true to their own personal brand values & interests. It's such a nice collaborative effort by all which can sometimes be hard to come by and I truly feel so lucky to be a small part of this magic.

Out of all the prints you’ve designed for Bee’s Wrap, which is your personal favorite?

I have a LOT of love for Splendid Spring (again I’m a sucker for bright colors) but also there was a behind the scenes concept that got left in the ideation phase around fermentation that I kind of wanna manifest moving forward with... maybe one day.

 

Favorite part of your job as a graphic designer, hand-letterer, and illustrator?

Hands-down it’s getting to meet new people, understand their story and vision and hopefully exceed their expectations for what they want to create through design.

Do you prefer podcasts, music, or silence while you work?

My trend is mostly music in the Spring/Summer and then Podcasts in the Fall/Winter. Always on the hunt for both if anyone has great suggestions!

What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?

Hiking & getting outdoors, spending time with my family (they are my number one cup fillers) and finding new good eats around town!

And finally, If you weren’t a graphic designer, what do you think you’d be doing
professionally?

I fully envision another version of myself to be an event content creator or something else randomly upbeat and surrounded by fun strangers like a DJ.

Learn more about Tara Clayton at www.taralynnclayton.com