Watercolor to Tableware: My Collaboration with Anthropologie
One of the greatest joys of being an illustrator is seeing artwork come to life beyond the paper. I’m thrilled to share a recent project that made this possible: my collaboration with Anthropologie, where my hand-painted botanical illustrations were transformed into a set of Harvest Dessert Plates.
As a botanical artist, I’ve spent over a decade painting plants and flowers in watercolor, often exploring how nature can be translated into both fine art and functional design. When Anthropologie approached me about creating botanical designs for their homeware line, it felt like the perfect fit.
Bringing Watercolor Botanicals to Ceramics
The Harvest Dessert Plates feature delicate botanical motifs that I painted in watercolor, inspired by the textures, colors, and gifts of nature in the fall. Some of these designs were taken directly from my botanical sketchbooks, which I’ve been filling over the years with studies of seasonal flowers and leaves, gathered on autumn walks. Translating those pages into a ceramic surface gave the artwork a new dimension—one that connects the quiet practice of sketching in nature with the shared experience of gathering around a table.
What excites me most about this collaboration is how it allows artwork to live in everyday spaces. A plate is both functional and decorative: it serves a practical purpose, yet it can also carry a story, a memory, or a mood. By bringing watercolor illustration into this context, there’s an opportunity to spark a small moment of beauty in someone’s daily routine—serving dessert at a family gathering or simply enjoying a quiet cup of tea.
For me, this project represents the bridge between fine art and design. The soft fluidity of watercolor, layered with the richness of fall botanicals, finds a permanent place on a surface that people use and enjoy every day. It’s a reminder that illustration has the power to be both artful and approachable, elevating the objects we live with.
Why This Project Matters
For me, this collaboration is more than just a collection of plates—it’s a celebration of what illustration can do. Watercolor painting isn’t limited to prints or books; it can extend into surface design, packaging, and products that people interact with every day and appreciate.
Working with Anthropologie was also a reminder of the value that hand-painted artwork brings to commercial design. In a digital-first world, traditional mediums like watercolor offer a tactile warmth and authenticity that clients and customers deeply connect with.
Let’s Work Together
If you’re looking to bring original watercolor artwork into your next project—whether it’s for a book, product packaging, fabric, or homeware collection—I’d love to collaborate. My process combines traditional botanical illustration with an eye for how artwork translates into commercial applications, creating designs that are both timeless and versatile.
Contact me to discuss licensing, commissions, or new collaborations.