Our major assessment task this semester was to design our own patterns. The patterns had to be inspired by a particular style such as:

• Bauhaus
• 1950’s
• Art Nouveau

An additional requirement was to show the use of our patterns in various applications including:

1. Tiles
2. Fabric
3. Wallpaper
4. Phone/iPad skin
5. Tattoo

During research I was drawn to Japanese styles ie Art Nouveau.

What was not immediately clear was that our lecturer expected us to derive patterns from our own ink drawings! I am not used to drawing freehand so really struggled with this task. In hindsight my approach was wrong as I had a particular Art Nouveau design that I was trying to reproduce and not concentrate on just making interesting marks, patterns and shapes. I persevered and ended up with some 43 pages of various blobs and brush strokes.

Ink drawings used as pattern components

I numbered, then scanned each page as a PDF. The originals served as a quick reference catalogue. From each page I picked only a tiny part then assembled a pattern by copy past  and transforming the components. A pattern was then very quickly created by simply duplicating the group of components, occasionally offsetting or reflecting. A final step was a matter of replicating as required then filling in with different colours.

How to build a pattern

I was amazed! from maybe 4 brushstrokes I was able to create a whole set of different and varied patterns. It looks like I have an endless supply of material that could be used.  Also, now I know how brushstrokes can be used, I would focus a lot more on just form and shape rather than trying to create an entire pattern component.

Pattern 02

Pattern 03

Pattern 04

Pattern 08

Pattern 09

#artnouveau #patterns

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