Being a painter who does not paint, I employ painterly techniques; such as collage, to assemble patchworks from textiles, artex, paper and the odd bit of paint. I grew up with typical 70’s décor, so woodchip wallpaper, artex ceilings and orange/brown carpets are familiar. This familiarity leads to a curiosity/desire to constantly re-evaluate the use of pattern and the conventions associated with 'patterns'.

 

pattern  /'pæt(ə)n/ n. & v.

 

     1. n. = a repeated decorative design on wallpaper, cloth, a carpet, etc.

The circle is a shape of no straight lines and un-ending curve centred on a point of origin. This not only structures the repeated design, it allows illustration of the repetition. The circle will be exactly the same length/dimension at every degree, and so the patterns will always be repeated, unlike the square or rectangle.

 

     2. n. = a regular or logical form, order, or arrangement of parts.

I use a formal geometric structure, not only to contrast with curved edge, but it also makes another type of pattern. The straight lines control the all the materials making up the pattern, and by using a geometric pattern, it is ordered and logical.

 

     3. n. = an example of excellence; an ideal; a model.

The structural patterns are based on rose windows. These circular oculi were believed by medieval scholars to be intrinsically divine and perfect, an example of excellence.

 

     4. v. = decorate with a pattern.

The use of fabrics stem from a way to go over the top with ornamentation/decoration and comment on tastes and aesthetics. The fabrics themselves become part of the patterns as they are intrinsically patterned themselves. By either being garish or cutesy, multitudes of colour take the eye over with edge, with harsh and clashing patterns.