Welcome!

I’m Kerry, the surface designer behind Kerry Boan Creative.

When I’m not working on new patterns or collections, I tend to the native perennial and pollinator garden I planted, which is an endless source of inspiration for my designs.

When I’m not in my studio or garden—or out hunting for treasures at thrift and antique shops—you’ll usually find me refinishing furniture, working on DIY home decor and craft projects, reading period fiction and fantasy novels, or cooking up something in the kitchen.

Whether through hand-drawn sketches or digital illustrations, I love elevating small moments from nature and every day life into something that can add casual elegance to your life and home.

My Signature Style

Inspired by nature, my garden and historical patterns
Known for creating detailed, intricate and lush designs
Elevating small moments from nature into intriguing stories and casual elegance
My process starts with hand-drawn sketches and digital illustrations, resulting in high-quality vector art

A Little About Me

My most used design tools… I mainly work digitally on my Mac using Adobe Illustrator. I use a Wacom tablet to draw and paint, and a basic scanner to digitize hand-drawn work. For non-digital tools, I love Japanese pen brushes, dip pens, and markers, as well as gouache and collage.

What inspires me… I’ve planted my inspiration in my small urban pollinator garden, filled with mostly native plants. Nature sparks my curiosity, from the life of a bee or bird to the changing of the seasons. I’m drawn to the imperfect – broken shells over pristine ones, and being in in-between places like a shoreline, or a patio that’s both indoors and out at the same time. I am obsessed with color, adore texture, and in love with historical patterns.

The soundtrack to my design sessions… My taste in music is pretty eclectic, but I often listen to mellow acoustic singer-songwriters, “modern classical” music and movie scores, and electronic flow tracks — especially when I need extra focus for my ADHD.

What’s on my bookshelf… I mostly read period fiction and fantasy, and I love collecting vintage children’s books. My shelves are also packed with cookbooks, along with print and pattern books for inspiration, both modern and historical.

Other things I like to collect… I have a big collection of crystals and stones, from large pieces to small tumbled ones. I also like to collect tarot cards. Additionally, I collect antique brown transferware dishes, grungy silver serving pieces, and vintage photos, books, and ephemera from thrift stores, estate sales, and Etsy.

Something unusual about me that most people don’t know… I secretly fantasize about living in tiny houses and could easily settle into a tree house if needed. Despite appearances, I have a deep love for adventure and the unusual. Even a trip to the local junk shop feels like an exciting treasure hunt. I once traveled solo around the country in a small trailer for six months and dream of doing it again—maybe for just a couple of weeks at a time.

My home decor style… If I could say “all of them,” I would! But to narrow it down, it’s a mix of maximalism and cottage style with a touch of mid-century modern.

My go-to ADHD hack… I’ve tried countless planners and organization systems, but nothing works 100% of the time. I focus best when my tasks are physical and visible. I write each task on a small piece of paper and pin them by project on a tall bulletin board in my studio. This way, I have to stand up and move to update my list, which helps keep me engaged. For things like my pattern inventory, I store them digitally since it’s easier to sort and filter the data.

Let's Work Together!

I’m open to new opportunities for art licensing, and am accepting new design clients for freelance projects or long-term collaborations. Let’s create something special together.

Welcome!

My Signature Style

A Little About Me

Let's Work Together!

Copyright Info