Kaleidomatic App
There is an app that I absolutely love called Kaleidomatic. I used to use it all the time to create patterns from my artwork. When IOS11 came out, it stopped working but I refused to delete it in hopes that the developer would update it. Finally a year later and onto IOS12, they have. I was so excited to start playing with it again.
It allows me to choose an image from my photos and create amazing random patterns using the artwork. I purchased the "in-app" pattern and color packs to have more flexibility. The collage image above started with the flower artwork in the center of the grid. By choosing different options I was able to create the other eight patterns. By twisting two fingers on the screen, you create a moving kaleidoscope image that you can take screen snapshots at various points. The patterns are infinite. And you don't have to use artwork, you can use any photo either from your albums or taken within the app itself.
One thing I am not sure of the quality and resolution of the saved image if I was to try and use it to produce an actual product. I will have to experiment with it and see and maybe write to the developer.
Here are a few more examples. It's amazing to see your artwork in a new way that you couldn't have imagined.
10 Years and It's all Good...
Last month I entered a cover contest for Uppercase Magazine. It was for their 10th-anniversary issue and the theme was "the tools we use". This was the first time they had a cover contest and there were over 300 submissions. I found out yesterday that I did not win, but it's all good. I was happy just to participate and I love the piece of artwork I created because of the opportunity.
If you are a creative person and haven't heard of Uppercase, go pick yourself up a copy, you will love it, I promise. It is a wonderful inspirational quarterly designed and printed in Canada. It is, as it says on their cover, "for the creative and curious". Each quarter has a theme and is filled with artwork and stories from creatives from all over. Uppercase is also an independent magazine so there is no advertising, just lots of amazing print, craft and artwork. When the new issue arrives every three months, I can't wait to open the package. It's not just for the content, but I absolutely love the way the magazine smells. Paper and ink, print shop fresh, reminding of my graphic design days when I used to go on press runs for clients.
Anyway, back to my submission. I wanted to show you the progression of the idea to the finished artwork. I knew immediately it would be a watercolor mandala in my doodle style.
It started with a quick pen sketch. I then arranged "the tools I use" in a circle and created another sketch from that. Once I had a sketch I was happy with, I traced the image with an ink pen onto vellum paper and did a quick color wash. Then I did something I have never done before, instead of redrawing or tracing the image directly onto watercolor paper, I scanned the vellum into my computer and printed it out on watercolor paper made for an inkjet printer. It worked out nicely, but I think I prefer painting onto good quality watercolor paper instead of the inkjet version.
The finished piece looks like this...
And the submission I sent to them to show them how it would look on their cover looked like this...
So even though I didn't win the cover contest, I won because I really enjoyed creating this piece. And coincidentally, 2018 is actually my 10th year in business, so it's my anniversary too. I think I will frame it and hang it in my studio.
Because They Speak to Me...
Cleaning through my closet the other day, I realized I had a number of pieces of clothing that weren’t exactly my style of dress or cut of blouse, and I wondered why I bought them? Then it hit me, it was the print. I was blinded by its color and pattern. (I am a sucker for that.) Patterns literally jump out and speak to me when I am shopping. I have to be very careful as I walk into a store not to be wooed by the floral, geometric and organic images that are clearly calling my name.
And it doesn’t stop at clothes. I have notebooks, bowls, placemats and other home decor covered in beautiful textiles which are all the culprits of my weakness. (I guess I could have worse vices.) Lately I’ve been taking pictures with my iPhone for inspiration while the little voice inside me says, “You don’t need that, yes it's so pretty, walk away.” I am drawn to the intricate repeat of shapes and unusual color combinations I find. I also love how so many vintage patterns have recycled themselves into today’s fashion and decor.
What speaks to you when you walk past it? For me it will always be pattern and I will forever be a textile junky. Over the last few years I have dappled in designing my own and have taken some amazing online classes with textile rock stars like Rachael Taylor and Jessica Swift. I’ve learned how digitize my artwork and create repeats for designing textiles. Maybe that’s a path I will explore further down the road, we will see.
