pattern love
Rachel Ellen AndrewsSo, who has signed up for SEWN? (Did you see what I did there?)
This is a delightful class about creating pattern and sewn paper products from Mary Ann Moss at Dispatch From La
When I saw the #sewnclass hash tags all over Instagram from Sandra Kaye (@sandielovestoart on IG or sandrakayedesigns.blogspot.com) and Cat (@sea_story on IG or seaskystone.blogspot.com) I thought ooh, this looks different. But is it me? I'm a painter right? Do I want to make patterns? Shouldn't I be painting?
But the thing is I haven't been painting for about a month now :-( I'm not sure what's going on but my energy is very low so I had been thinking I needed something light and playful but with a bit of direction; something that would take me out of myself.
I hummed and hawed about SEWN for a couple of days but mainly due to encouragement from Sandie and Cat (and seeing all the gorgeous work appearing from other lovely peeps on IG) I decided to go for it. And I'm so glad I did!
Who knew pattern making would be so addictive?
It's not so difficult to work out really. I love making mandalas, and they are patterns of a particular kind.
My own paintings are full of pattern - albeit irregular pattern
I love to wear pattern
And my most favourite painter of all time is Matisse, master pattern painter of them all
Purple Robe and Anemones (Baltimore Museum of Art)
So I'm having a good time, hooked on painting patterns and now I'm making products with the pattern papers - this sewn paper book cover is my first project. I've never sewn paper before; it produces such a beautiful textured product - I'm loving it.
And I think, some weeks down the line, this is all going to feed back into my painting practice. After all, my favourite contemporary painter, Flora Bowley, is currently queen of pattern. So, maybe it's not all about a bit of doodling with paint and sewing. Yes, it's great therapy and the repetitive nature of creating the patterned papers is very soothing but I think in the long run it's going to be more than that. I'm experiencing new ways and rediscovering old ways of making marks with the paint and also choosing different colours to my normal palette. Somehow and sometime it will all work its way into my creative process. So stay tuned...
How are you spending your summer? Are you painting like crazy or taking it a bit easy like me? Have you signed up for SEWN and are you hooked too?
I'd love to hear from you so leave me a comment below. And I would love you to share this post if you've enjoyed it, just click 'share article' to bring up the usual options.
From my criss/crossy/sewn/patchwork heart to yours
Rachel xox
Reader Comments (8)
I knew you would get sooooo hooked!!!!! LOL!!! Lovely pattern papers!!! I am having a great time as well. Thanks for the shout out in your post:):) Well, I'm off to work some more...although I did stop for a bit to work on a quilt...I had a great need to sew (fabric):):) Hugs-S
You're welcome Sandie :-) and thanks for stopping by. Love that you stopped sewing paper to sew some fabric! X
After reading about you and seeing your art, I am feeling very inadequate and untalented. Your work is wonderful.
Oh Nancy, please don't feel inadequate! Your patterns on IG are lovely! thanks for stopping by x
I've had the same thought...that this is going to somehow feed back into my future work. I'm SO glad you're enjoying it SO much (LOL see what I did there?)--and I'm hoping it's just what the Doctor ordered for getting you out of the painting drought of the past month. On a selfish note, I'm really enjoying you being in the class because it means I get to see all of your yummy patterns!
Cat it'll be interesting to see what happens for us both :-) It's definitely helping me to get inspired again! Thanks for stopping by x
Love this post Rachel and your patterns are so lovely. I also visit the Dispatch From LA website and am very tempted to do the book binding course. Thanks for all you share both on Instagram and in your blogs, I love following them. x
Thanks so much Margaret :-) I've been thinking about the book binding course too! And thanks for stopping by, it's much appreciated!