ABOUT
Studio Colorys - History & Process
Hello!
I am Louise Lamirande, the designer behind Studio Colorys, located in my home in the Montreal area, Quebec.
I specialize in creating abstract patterns in which curves and geometry are omnipresent. Whether for textiles, wallpaper, interior accessories or other surfaces, I put my passion at the service of designing collections of patterns with distinctive character.
Each of my designs is for me an opportunity to transform everyday objects by giving them life. I like that my designs allow people to express their tastes and their differences, that they arouse emotions, mark the memory of those around them and participate in the creation of their memories.
This is why, my goal is to:
Make The Ordinary Extraordinary, One design at A Time.
Louise Lamirande
Artist and Designer
History & Influences
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Childhood & Teenage Years 70's
I was raised in a universe of patterns. There was streaked wallpaper in intense colours in the living room, while a checkerboard adorned the kitchen walls. Typical of the 70s!
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It was my mother who taught me to sew and introduced me to textiles and patterns.
She used to do a lot of sewing: clothes, curtains, placemats, etc. For her dresses, she almost always used fabric with patterns. Scraps of fabric were transformed into quilts or woven rugs.
Louise Lamirande in the living room - 1970
The kitchen wallpaper - 1970
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Studies & Decorative Arts (80's)
It was during my college studies in visual arts and scenography, in the 80s, that I discovered my fascination for decorative arts and ornamentation through the history of painting, costume, furniture, architecture and books like "The Grammar of Ornament" by Owen Jones.
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When I lived in Montreal, the museum that fascinated me the most was the «Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Montréal».
Unfortunately, this museum no longer exists, but it is still possible to delve into the history of Montreal by visiting the Château Dufresne. The photo shows one of the room of this historical monument. I love it!
« The Grammar of Ornament » et « The Grammar of Chinese Ornament ».
Vue de l’intérieur du Château Dufresne de Montréal.
Photo : chateaudufresne.com
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L’italie et Paris (fin 80)
Motivated by the history courses taken during my professional training, I wanted to see with my own eyes some of the masterpieces of art, architecture and decorative arts. My solo trips to Italy and Paris were significant moments in my personal and creative life.
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In museums, I realize it today, I was often more attracted by the details of the architecture of the place I was visiting, its ornamentation, the wallpaper on the walls, the patterns of the parquet floor or the legs of the armchairs than the paintings or sculptures I was supposed to admire.
Photo : Herr Bohn / Unspash.com
Photo : Chen Te / Pexels.com
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Well-Being (90's & 2000's)
The theatre community has not been kind to me. That is why I muted my creativity for many years.
During more than 20 years, I listened, advised, and guided a varied clientele towards their well-being, in natural product stores, in private consultations and then, through to a blog focused on personal growth.
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It’s amazing how it is possible to help others while forgetting oneself. This is what I did for too long, but over the years, my inner need to create became so strong that I had no choice but to stop denying this need for my own well-being.
Image: congerdesign/Pixabay.com
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Back to Arts (2010-2020)
My return to artistic creation was gradually made over two years before I pushed my practice further as a professional.
During these years, I had the opportunity to explore a wide variety of mediums including watercolor, inks, gouache, oil and digital. And all according to an approach that balances the intuitive and the rational.
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It’s been a beautiful time of my life during which I exposed my abstract and semi-abstract artworks both locally and internationally, and partagd my discoveries and experience through a prolific blog including more than 300 posts!
The photos were taken during my exploratory period with oil and cold wax on polyester which resulted in a solo exhibition_of which I am proud.
« De l’autre côté de la clôture ». Oil and Cold Wax on Polyester, 2016. ©️ Louise Lamirande
Cleaning of the palette ©️ Louise Lamirande
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Hardship & Reorientation (2020-2021)
In 2020, a major turning point in my life came in the form of a breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments.
This difficult time inspired me to redefine my priorities and ultimately honor my long-held love of the decorative arts by directing my creative impulse toward surface pattern design.
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On the images, you can see a sketch and a mockup giving an overview of one of my first collections entitled «Dear Mom» created in tribute to my mother who played an important role in the emergence of my passion for prints.
First draft for the pattern "Housewife" from the collection: "Dear Mom". ©️ Studio Colorys – Louise Lamirande.
Overview of the collection « Chère maman ». ©️ Studio Colorys – Louise Lamirande.
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Studio Colorys (2022-Today)
The name Studio Colorys was created in 2022 to distinguish my work creating surface patterns from the one I used to do in visual arts.
Tandis que le mot « Studio » désigne simplement le lieu dans lequel je travaille, « Colorys », quant à lui, est une adaptation du mot français « coloris ».
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In my current creations, I infuse all the knowledge and experiences, both personal and professional, that I have accumulated throughout my history.
Overview of my workplace. ©️ Studio Colorys – Louise Lamirande.
Creative Process
From the idea to the final product
Most of my collections are born from one or more hand-made sketches, which are taken from one of my little notebooks used to explore ideas, concepts, techniques or simply to draw intuitively according to the inspiration of the moment.
These sketches serve as a starting point and generator of ideas. They are rarely elements that I will use as such in creating a pattern.
As for patterns based on complex geometry or mirror effects, I prefer to draw directly on the computer.
When it comes to color palettes, they are the result of in-depth research on upcoming trends and my personal preferences.

Step 1. The Sketch
The photo shows the sketch used as a starting point for the creation of the “The Guardian” pattern from the collection of the same name.
©️ Studio Colorys – Louise Lamirande

Step 2. Exploration On the PC
The sketch is reproduced on PC with the help of Affinity Designer.
I explore various options, correct the design and add some elements.
At this stage, my focus is on lines, shapes and the dynamics of the repeat.
©️ Studio Colorys – Louise Lamirande

Step 3. Vector Lines
I move on to an in-depth examination of the lines, shapes, and the space between them.
At this point, I start adding color to better see the shapes and lines. The colors are not definitive.
©️ Studio Colorys – Louise Lamirande

Step 4. Colorways
This is the time to apply the colors of the previously developed palette before starting the creation process.
It is at this stage that I create the different colorways of the same pattern.
©️ Studio Colorys – Louise Lamirande

Step 5. Final Step
The pattern is subjected to a final examination in order to identify possible problems in the design or coloring that I might have missed during creation.
Files are cleaned and layers organized, if not already done.
Mockup Image by rawpixel.com / Pattern: ©️ Studio Colorys – Louise Lamirande
See The Collections
Discover all of the surface patterns created by the artist and designer Louise Lamirande for Studio Colorys by clicking here.
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