Bringing Art to Life: Tilla Crowne’s Mushroom Illustration on an Umbrella
Imagine carrying a piece of contemporary art with you, rain or shine. That’s exactly what we achieved by taking a profound illustration by London-based artist Tilla Crowne and meticulously printing it onto an umbrella.
Tilla Crowne’s work is deeply conceptual, often exploring themes of identity and memory through intricate drawings and installations. She uniquely incorporates biological materials like broken eggshells, plants, and even fungi, blurring the lines between art, nature, and the ephemeral. Her detailed and thought-provoking style presented a fascinating challenge: how to translate the delicate nuances of her mushroom illustration onto the functional, everyday canvas of an umbrella.
This wasn’t about simply adding a logo; it was about ensuring absolute high-fidelity reproduction. Every subtle colour gradation, delicate line, and complex texture from Tilla’s original artwork needed to be captured with precision, ensuring no artistic integrity was lost in the transition from paper to fabric. We knew the material suitability and printing technique were paramount to preserving the illustration’s vibrancy and durability, even when exposed to the elements.
The goal was to create a piece of functional art that also perfectly aligned with Tilla Crowne’s premium, thought-provoking brand. It needed to withstand heavy rain while still showcasing the beauty and detail of her artist’s illustration printed on the umbrella. Furthermore, as an artist deeply connected to natural materials, ethical production was a non-negotiable requirement.
This project was a true test of balancing technical printing capabilities with an appreciation for artistic detail. The result is an umbrella that transcends its utility, becoming a portable, wearable piece of Tilla Crowne’s evocative art, allowing her audience to engage with her unique vision in a new and intimate way.
