Another Pattern Done

Pattern No 3, coloured Pencils, glass beads and embroidery thread 21 x 21cm

I finished another of my patterns the other day and have just got around to taking a photo of the finished piece.  As I love a good show and tell on how art is created I did some of my own this time to share.

I started with the background and drew a grid and drew some pattern on it with pen, then coloured it in with coloured pencils, for this one I them chopped them up into squares and glued them down, I wanted them to look like tiles.

Pattern 3 Construction 1

When ever I cut out a paper shape I make sure that I colour the edges, it gives the shape more definition and finish.  I find the PITT artist pens with the brush end the best for this and they come in such a great range of colours too.  The brush ends will also go over pencil fairly well.

Next I did the squares using some of the colours from the colour scheme below.  The top square also had a pen design on it to give more texture to the design.

Colour Scheme from Design Seeds

Each tile goes through a number of processes, the are drawn, a pattern put on it, coloured in with at least three different colours and these have white or a pale colour over the top to blend them, the edges are inked, then a hole if punched into the centre then they are embossed to make them curve for more interest and texture.

Pattern 3 Construction 2 Embossing the tiles

Next step is to sew on the background with the embroidery thread and then finally sew on the tiles and add the bead to the centre.  it is weird, but fun to be sewing onto paper, it takes me way back to kindergarten and we would sew into cards with wool to make pictures.  I love the mix of mediums and the twist it gives the work.

Pattern 3 Construction 3 Sewing the tiles and beads on.

There it is done!  approximately 10 hours of work all up.  Well not all done, I still have to figure out how it is to be hung or framed and what to call it.  Anna Warren kindly suggested ‘Grid Series’ which I liked but grid sounded a bit short or harsh to me so I did a bit of wandering through the dictionary and starting with grid wandered around and came up with reticulated – to form a network and interlaced and motifs.  So at the moment I am considering Reticulated Motifs, Interlaced Patterns or Interlaced Motifs for the series and then individual names for each one.  Feedback on name very welcome.

Karen