Old and New. Learning from what has been done.

Midpoint in the semester, becomes a time for reflection.

As I have been working on enlarging my patterns, I have also been reflecting on my past media choices.

At one point I decided to work on canvas with acrylic. I enjoyed the canvas because it was a sturdy on the stretcher bars and provided a raised surface to work on. What I did not like was the acrylic because it was thick, and when watered down lost its opacity. The paint showed more of the brushstrokes then I liked.

I did produce two patterns that I was happy with though, which I include below.

Above: Blossom. 18"x 24" Acrylic and Canvas

Above: Blossom (Detail)

Above: Growth. 18"x 24" Acrylic and Canvas.

Above: Growth (Detail).

To move on from this, and learn from it, I decided to stick with the canvas, but use my new found media, watercolor, to fill in the pattern. I have no idea how watercolor would act upon a gessoed canvas. To my surprise it worked really well. The paint was thick enough to produce an even surface, while still remaining liquid enough to easily apply. I could definitely see myself working like this in the future. Check out my result below.

Above: Legs. 18"x 24" Watercolor and Canvas.

Above: Legs (Detail).

I also include another canvas, which is 22" x 28" that I have penciled out a pattern on. I have scanned into the computer a section of this pattern, and my hope is to use photoshop to manipulate colors until I find one I like.

I am taking the color inspiration from my research on Islamic Art

and I'm hoping to incorporate purples, blues, greens and yellows into my pattern in perhaps a stripe like way, similar to the picture next to me on the right.

This provides new opportunities for exploration.

Patterns All Over the World

When creating we must also look to other cultures for inspiration

In looking at different cultures that inspire my artwork, I look to Islamic Art and the patterns created in much of their architecture.

What they create is incredibly intricate, complicated and beautiful.

The colors they use, are vibrant and relate beautifully to each other.

I find myself interested in the simpler patterns as well, where color defines each layer and each shape.

I can see myself using some of these methods within my own artwork. It would be interesting to start defining shapes not only by positive and negative space but also by layers and groupings. Also, this art shows me the power color can have on my patterns, and although I love black and white, color may be something I want to develop more.

I have been working on editing my patterns on the computer, which is something i've never done before. I'm starting to expand the pattern and see what it looks like when it is bigger but also when the image/template itself is smaller- therefore creating a wider view of the pattern.

"Hands"

While I do enjoy enlarging the pattern on the computer, I do not like how it prints out. Perhaps different paper would change my mind, or if I scanned the pattern so that the colors came out better. These are things still to experiment with.