Pattern love

 Little update on the plate:
The plate is back! Love the colours. Surprisingly the blue has remained the same blue throughout so that's really good. The painting of the red is a bit messy - too many little brush strokes but it really seems to sit happily with my other random china - particularly my orange teapot pictured here. The bear seems to like it too!

I'm starting to realise the sort of imagery that appeals to me most. For example I love the chunky geometric 1970s prints like the ones on my studio curtains, and the huge scale florals in my living room but know that the delicacy of the 1950s line work appeals to me more- if it comes to me designing something. Orla Keily has pretty much cornered the market in those simple graphic shapes - they are gorgeous but certainly not what I was born to design! I love the print work of Angie Lewin with its variety and delicacy among the strong lines too...but of course I want to find my way and the last thing you want as a designer is for someone to say "Oh that's just like X's work!" Which it wouldn't be!! I'm not suggesting for a minute that I could do anything like Ms Lewin.

I did do lithography and etching at art college. Both approaches resulted in illustrative work if I look back - my lithographs were full of squiggles and patches of coloured background with figures dancing - A1 scale. And the etchings were quite detailed and tiny! It should be - no it will be, quite an adventure to get a few days solid designing. That may be ambitious but I am going to set aside at least one whole day and a couple of half days this week just to concentrate on the surfacepatternecourse the 3rd part of which starts tomorrow.

It's tricky for me to really find my way, or a style, right from the off as I have been a painterly illustrator for years -one who that loves line drawing on the side... when I can face challenging myself to do it. There's enevitably this horrible stage where what you draw disappoints you, if you were once good at drawing and haven't done much for a LONG time.



I painted this plate in a ceramic cafe today. I wanted a 1950s inspired look incorporating some of the motifs that I find myself scribbling most often.

I sat with the plate in front of me staring at its white surface. All I had in mind were Alliums and squiggles... after about 3 mins scribbling thunb nail size plates in my sketch book I just aimed for the centre and did my favourite spiral shape and worked outwards without thinking too much what the end result would be. As I was just drawing it out with felt tip that burns off completely when it is fired I didn't worry too much. I was there to have fun after all!! the plate should end up red, beige, brown,blue and quite probably purple where the blue is over the red... that bit is the bit I am doubtful about!!

But I did really like the effect and feel that as a piece of pattern work - rather than illustration, this is very me.

I just hope it turns out to be a strong red - not too wishy washy - although I do like the dry glaze colours. So it is very hard to be sure which I am going to prefer. I should get it back by next weekend so I'll post a picture even if I don't much like it.

I hope you all had a good weekend. x Gabs

Comments

  1. can't wait to see how that comes back from the firing

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  2. Thank you Rhiannon - me too ;/

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  3. I have just been given kindly by my father the Angie Lewin book and i so love her 50's inspired work...But you have your completely stunning and wonderful own style even in 50's and 70's styles you can see your own beautiful talent shine through!...we all get inspired by other though and all through time artists have and i have to admit ive found a happy week doing patterns and shapes similar to Angie lewins work...its wonderful when you feel so inspired with ideas! ;0)
    Absolutely Love your plate design! I want one! hehe ;0)x

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    1. thanks for your lovely comment Kazzy... if it turns out well maybe I'll do another ! Some friends came in to the pottery cafe and joked that they'd buy it off me;)

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  4. Ooooh I can't wait to see the finished plate. I love Angie Lewins work too - would love to own a piece of her work xx

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    1. thanks Lorraine :) So would I - think I may have to settle for the postcards of her work!

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  5. Beautiful! Has a lovely mix of contemporary and 1950s style; and delicate and bold. I love the dots too x

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    1. Thanks so much Gilly - great to know it has got the mix I was after, especially as I felt a bit flumoxed by the white plate!:)

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  6. Hi Gabriella, I just found your blog through the ABSPD course Flickr group - it's lovely. I particularly like your paintings (I'm a painter too). My mum and dad live in Beeston Regis - it's a small world eh? Good luck with the pattern designing :) Claire

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  7. I love the plate and like the idea of felt tip which burns off, a good way to get a continuous line, I always end up with too much or too little on my brush. Can't wait to see the finished result. P x

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  8. I loved the simplicity of your design and really liked it when it looked pale pink, even though I'm a strong colour person usually. It's not easy is it when there's so much marvellous inspiration out there that you can't help but stop and admire and then those ideas get mixed up in your head too. So hard to then sort it all out and forge your own way ahead. I think you are and I think you will succeed with what you are doing at the moment. Right off for a minute by the woodburner before bedtime.

    P.s You worked the reply thingy out too, thank heavens for advice from helpful people hey.

    X

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