I don't have many patterned cloths, if you don't count stripes. Always on the lookout for them to hoard for possible still lifes as I love patterns in paintings ... Matisse, Vuillard, Janet Fish ...
I rarely tackle patterns--i think they will be too "hard."
In the still life class I took with her last year Susan Abbott gave us an exercise that I think will help me get over my reluctance: Paint a pattern without drawing it. Just work your way through it, remembering there's no reason for it to be perfect!
Actually, it occurs to me I didn't quite do what she suggested, I didn't find the shapes by painting the negative spaces-- which are white here--but painting the shapes without drawing you do have to consider the negative spaces as you go.
I messed up here and there, but what an engaging way to spend a half hour or so.
4 comments:
Are you familiar with the work of Shirley Tevena? She uses a lot of pattern in her backgrounds...fabric and giftwrap? I mention it because it might be easier to collect paper than fabric. There is often the paper from around the bunches of flowers in various guises in the work sometimes as flat divisions of space and sometimes following the form of the subject it is wrapping and sometimes both ways in the same painting. Best wishes, I think I have caught up - you are very prolific at the moment.
I am having a little spell ... probably trying to avoid work!
I am familiar with Trevena's work and really love it. Paper is a great idea! I will start keeping my eyes open! Thank you!
Oh, I thought of Shirley Trevena, too - she is amazing and loves patterns in her work. She often just sets up things and puts them in her paintings, not exactly like a classic still life, but just objects she puts in, often without drawing much at all. You would like her work…she may have YouTube videos and I know she has books (I have 3 of hers and love them). I like what you are doing and it seems you are really diving into composition and shapes!!
I have two of her books. Will have to take another look!
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