Key Patterns and Motifs - Part 1 - Observing patterns

Key Patterns and Motifs - Part 1 - Observing Patterns

I find that I am instantly drawn to anything that contains patterns; it never fails to make me feel joyful! Patterns are central to decorative painting, so it's very good practice to make a conscious effort to start noticing and observing the different patterns all around you.

Where to Find Patterns

Often inspiration for patterns can come from unlikely places, and the key is training your eye to notice what is around you.

Pattern can be found in:

• Decorative mouldings in historic houses
• Examples of artists' work, postcards can be a nice reference to keep
• Painted ceramics, look particularly for pieces which have borders
• On your travels
• Textiles, I love to look at quilts
• Books that showcase a variety of decorative arts

While a photograph is a great way to record an inspiring pattern you see, I would also really recommend doing a quick sketch of it if you can as this can often lead you to create your own spin on it.

It can help to think about how the pattern you are observing was created. Is it a fluid movement, or something more rigid? What tool was used to create it? This can enable you to engage with the pattern on a more meaningful level.

Further Reading

John Ruskin

History of Irish Spongeware

'Glorious American Quilts: The Quilt Collection of the Museum of American Folk Art', by Elizabeth V. Warren and Sharon L. Eisenstat

'Folk Art of Europe', by Herbert Theodore Bossert

'Masterpieces of Dala Peasant Paintings', by Svante Svardstrom

Your Assignment

You may have already started to gather your sources of inspiration - take some time to continue with this endeavour, and perhaps use your sketchbook to record some mark making inspired by your observations.