Nature based inspirations As well as using my own imagery and observational drawings for my pattern creations - I have also gathered a selection of reference material from botanical illustrations and wildlife photography. Using Pinterest is a great way to collect all my inspirations in one place!
Ink Print Repeat - Andrea Lauren
- Andrea Lauren has become such a big influence over my work this year. I discovered her prints near the start, and her colourful and beautifully intricate prints inspired me to get back into printmaking. I greatly admire her use of colour which I often struggle with incorporating into my prints. - archiving different colour reliefs in the print process can be difficult, and her work makes it look effortless. - As I was involving nature more within my practice I got the urge to start creating patterns from the imagery was creating - Andreas pattern collection guided me through my own compositional development. I love her use of scale and composition. - Her pattern designs have inspired me as to how i can transform my sketchbook designs and nature prints into pattern compositions. - It will involve a lot of trial and error but I will begin my taking elements which i like and start playing around with composition.
Nature based themes for lino cut series Ideas:
• British Wildlife / Forest / Coast - Flora / Mushrooms / Insects
• Deep Blue - ocean animals / use blue planet as reference
• Rainforest / Jungle
• Africa
• British Wildlife / Forest / Coast
Group by location (above) or my animal? i.e. Birds / butterflies
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Update - I have been creating some patterns by collating my images in photoshop. Although I have achieved some lovely designs this way, it has proved to be quite difficult and time consuming. - creating a seamless pattern has been my biggest struggle, with a few attempts needed to get it right. Even then you can often tell where I have repeated the design.
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How to make a successful repeat pattern? - As I have begun to really get into pattern making I decided to do some further research and look into different process people use. From doing so, I have gathered some great advice from experienced professionals and improved my technique!
Pattern Research
1) On a clean piece of paper draw a design in the middle of your paper without letting any of the drawing touch the edges- this is very important.
3) Next you are going to cut your drawing in half again the other way(yikes!) and flip those pieces and tape them back together. Now your design should be on all the edges only and you have a big middle white space. Now fill this space with the rest of your design. Remember againdo not draw to any of the edges of the paper.
2) Once you finish the middle space as much as you want you are going to cut your drawing in half- scary I know- but that’s why computers are helpful. Once you have the two pieces flip them and tape your drawing back together. Put the tape on the back of the paper so it doesn’t obstruct your drawing at all later. Also try to tape your drawing back together as perfectly lined up as possible. It’s hard to see that I’ve even taped mine since I’ve lined it up so well.
• The method is creating a pattern by hand, but I have also found how the same methods can be transferred across to indesign to create a seamless pattern digitally!