Girl and the Deep Blue Sea

unique pattern design and nature illustration – dive in and join the party!

surface pattern design ~ nature illustration

Australian surface pattern designer

photo of Anna Markula - Australian surface pattern design and nature illustration

I love creating unique patterns and illustrations inspired by tropical nature and the ocean.

My work has been featured on swimwear, fashion, and art projects.

I’m so happy to bring fun and beauty to the world through my art!

women wearing a bright surface pattern design holding a phone

surface pattern designer Anna Markula looking at mood board

SEE MY PORTFOLIO

SHOP FUN FABRICS

JOIN MY NEWSLETTER

Australian surface pattern designer

Australian surface pattern designer

girlandthedeepbluesea

☀️my forever inspiration 🌊✨ #summervibe

☀️my forever inspiration 🌊✨

#summervibesonly #beachvibesonly #tropicalstateofmind #coastalvibes #ecofriendlyfashion #oceaninspiredart #naturepatterndesign #tropicalvibes #oceanconservation #sustainablefashiondesign #ethicaldesign #oceanartwork #natureinspiredfashion #surflifestyle #madeofocean #seascapephotography #seaandsky #wavephotography #oceanart #ilovetheocean #oceantherapy #waveart #oceanvibes
#Olympusinspired #olympusphotography #sustainableswimwear #sustainableswim #surfwear #australianswimwear #ethicalswimwear

💖 pack a pet portrait with me 💖 what I use:

I had a great job working as an ecologist and didn

I had a great job working as an ecologist and didn’t realise until I was on maternity leave that maybe my job was a bit too stressful - which I figured out when I was suddenly at home with a newborn (and premature) baby and felt like I was on a relaxing holiday!

I realised that a break from work gave me an opportunity to try something different - so I took the plunge and handed in my resignation to focus on @girlandthedeepbluesea

It has been four years now since I officially became self-employed and this is why I love it:

🌟 I wanted a job I could fit around my daughter while she was young - what I do is fairly flexible so I’m always around for school and sick days and holidays - school days are SO SHORT but I do love those few hours I get to work

🌟 I have always loved being creative but like lots of people it became the last priority, saved as a ‘treat’ so hardly ever done - now it’s one of my top priorities and I feel like I see the world with more colour and life than before!

🌟 I’m very passionate about the environment and how amazing nature is, and tend to draw what I love the most - and hope by doing so I create some interest and love for the natural world in other people - we won’t help it if we don’t love it 💙

Tell me why did you start your biz?

#brisbanesmallbusiness #brisbanebusiness #smallbusinessaustralia #aussiesmallbusiness
#smallbusinessgoldcoast #smallbusinesssunshinecoast #smallbusinessbrisbane
#sunshinecoastsmallbusiness #goldcoastsmallbusiness #brisbaneart #brisbaneartist #queenslandartist #queenslandart #australianartist #australiandesigns #behindtheart #creativeentrepreneur #aussiebusinessmums #businessmum #artistmum #entrepreneurartist #artistlifestyle #brisbanebusinesswomen #printdesignerlife #surfacepatterndesign #textiledesigner #funpatterns #vibrantart #colourfulpatterns #fabricprintdesign

🌟 Christmas cut-off date for pet portraits 🌟

🌟 Christmas cut-off date for pet portraits 🌟
If you'd love to gift a custom pet portrait for Christmas let me know by Friday 1st December - that's the last day I'll be taking on commissions to be finished and prints delivered before Christmas!
🌟 if you want a digital portrait only (to be printed at your leisure) then the cut off date is Friday 15 December 😊
🌈 you can also buy a gift voucher at anytime for the pet lover in your life, just DM me to arrange ✨
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#petportraitsfromphotos #custompetportraits #customdogportrait #animalartistry #animalartist #dogportraits #dogportraitartist #dogartist #dogartwork #petartist #catportraits #animalcreatives #petportraitart #giftsfordoglovers #giftsforcatlovers #catportrait #customcatportrait #uniquegiftidea #uniquegiftideas #custompetportrait #personalisedportrait #brightartwork #boldcolour #brightart #customillustration #artforyourhome #colourlovers #printsforyourhome #customartwork #brisbaneartist

🌸 my sketchbook lately… these last few pages

🌸 my sketchbook lately... these last few pages of my sketchbook took lots of inspiration from the ‘expressive sketches in mixed media’ Skillshare class by Ohn Mar Win - such a good class!!
I took longer than I thought to finish this sketchbook, we’ve had family visiting (the last page you can see some shimmery effect, that is metallic Gelatos which were a gift from my cousin, very fun!) and the last couple of weeks I have been in major website mode trying to basically build my website from scratch which is hurting my techically-lacking brain - with this warmer weather I just dream of sitting by the water somewhere and drawing ✨
Anyway I am starting to see a theme in my sketches of using pink, blue and yellow... giving me some ideas for the next sketchbook 💖

#brisbaneart #brisbaneartist #queenslandartist #queenslandart #australianartist #originalartwork #behindtheart #creativeentrepreneur #aussiebusinessmums #businessmum #artistmum #entrepreneurartist #artistlifestyle #brisbanebusinesswomen #creativeprocess #designprocess #sketchbooktour #sketchbookpages #artistsketchbook #sketchbookwork #sketchbookpractice #sketchbookdoodles #mixedmediasketchbook #draweveryday #sketchbookartwork #mixedmediaartwork #mixedmediaartjournaling #artplay #abstractsketchbook #australiansurfacepatterndesigner

💙 Teddy 💙 such a cutie and a delight to draw

💙 Teddy 💙 such a cutie and a delight to draw!
I always offer a range of backgrounds so the final artwork is exactly what you want - with Teddy, the owner wanted a background that would complement an existing artwork so I created 9 different options before we found one that was perfect! Swipe for the final artwork!
If you would love your own colourful pet portrait to hang in your home and look fabulous everyday, check out the 'pet portraits' link in bio 💙
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#petportraitsfromphotos #custompetportraits #customdogportrait #animalartistry #animalartist #dogportraits #dogportraitartist #dogartist #dogartwork #petartist #catportraits #animalcreatives #petportraitart #giftsfordoglovers #giftsforcatlovers #catportrait #customcatportrait #uniquegiftidea #uniquegiftideas #custompetportrait #personalisedportrait #brightartwork #boldcolour #brightart #pawrent #pawrents #furbaby #furchild #furchildren #customillustration

Hello 👋 my name is Anna and I love to draw vibr

Hello 👋 my name is Anna and I love to draw vibrant illustrations and patterns inspired by the ocean and tropics!
☀️🌴🐠🐚🌸🌊
My ideal holiday is on a remote tropical island - snorkelling, hiking, exploring the beach, and drawing - would you come too?

#entrepreneurartist #brisbanebusinesswomen #brisbaneart #brisbaneartist #queenslandartist #queenslandart #australianartist #natureillustration #natureart #originalartwork #watercolourpencils #watercolourpencilsdrawing #natureartwork #originaldrawing #australianwatercolourartist #customillustration #customillustrations #customillustrator #commissionartist #customartwork
#watercolourartist #watercolourpainting #tropicalillustration
#tropicalartist #tropicalart #tropicalartwork #botanicalinspiration #oceaninspiredart #naturepatterndesign #oceanartwork

What I do as an artist working at home to be as ec

☀️ summer in Bris ☀️ my completed illustra

☀️ summer in Bris ☀️ my completed illustration which I'm very happy to say is going to be part of the art zine available this Saturday at the @brisbaneillustrationfair 🥳
This illustration basically captures summer in Brisbane for me - leopard sharks, manta rays, frangipani and pandanus - inspired by summer at Minjerribah and my photos from there* 💙
What does summer in Brisbane mean to you? ☀️
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
*full disclosure - these leopard shark pics are actually from Julian Rocks, a tad further south and less blurry than my Manta Bommie pics 😂
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#brisbaneart #brisbaneartist #queenslandartist #queenslandart #australianartist #natureillustration #natureart #originalartwork #watercolourpencils #watercolourpencilsdrawing #natureartwork #originaldrawing #stradbrokeisland #oceaninspiredart #oceanartwork #summervibesonly #creativeprocess #artprocess #wallartdecoration #artforinteriors #artforyourhome #colourlovers #printsforyourhome #leopardshark #mantaray #mantarayart #minjerribah #beachart #beachartwork #summerart

Follow on Instagram

Australian surface pattern designer