A little bit about me
Hi! I’m Regina Kareev, a surface pattern designer, artist, and illustrator based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I work from my home studio in Campbell.
My designs are inspired by memories, mundane objects, and, of course, nature. I love color and pay particular attention to color combinations in my surface pattern designs, as well as watercolor paintings. I enjoy creating artwork for bolt fabric, kitchen textiles, and home décor products.
If you’re interested in licensing my artwork or commissioning something custom for your project, feel free to email me
at regina@reginakareev.com
My Story
Being a professional artist has always seemed a desirable but not viable career path. I started my career as an art journalist while completing a degree in mass communications. After graduating, I worked as a copywriter and content manager in a corporate setting and found myself renovating my studio apartment as a creative outlet.
I loved working with textiles and wallpaper so much that I went back to school for a postgraduate degree in interior design. It led me to work as a project manager at an interior door retail company that was working with major brands, where I learned more about trade shows, trends, and the business side of things.
Since that time I started taking small design and illustration commissions from startups and private clients as a side hustle. And it took me 5 more years to go solo as a freelance surface designer.
Education
Courses
2021 - Surface Design Immersion
2019 - Make Art That Sells: Creating Collections For Home Décor, Editorial Illustration, MBA
2019 - Make It In Design: The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design
Professional Development
2020 - University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martins: Drawing and Painting for Textile Design
Degrees
2008-2011 – Postgraduate degree in Interior Design from NSUADA
2002-2007 – Specialist degree in Modern Mass Communications (Journalism) from NSU
Press
Abstract Seascapes - UPPERCASE magazine, issue #45
Poetic Self-Portrait - UPPERCASE magazine, issue #47
My Creative Why
I started painting at an early age and became drawn to textiles and couture as a teenager. I was sewing and even designing some of my clothes in high school. Textiles have always been a significant part of my life and memories. Like the color and texture of a woven blanket, I had on my bed. The crinkled fabric drapes with blue flowers on them that I held onto while looking out the window. Green floral upholstery fabric covering the sofa in the living room. They made me feel grounded and gave a sense of home, safety, and belonging. So, when I realized that designing patterns for fabric can be a career path, it wasn't even a question for me.
Pursuing surface design allows me to combine these two passions and see my artwork come alive on products.
I hope that products with my designs can create the same sense of home for other people too.