Lace 2

I've been thinking a bit about embroidery as a new medium for pattern creation. I think these floral designs could look cool woven into some cloths.

Lace

Doodles

Here are some recent pattern doodles from my sketchbook:

This last one I drew while on a very long flight. The bumps in the lines come from the turbulence on the plane. 

Rajasthani Textiles

I just returned from a tour of India. My best friend got married in Kochi, and then I spent the rest of my visit between New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. My favorite place was Jaipur, Rajasthan. As this city is high in the mountains without a great source of agriculture or water, the city relied on trade for food, and hence developed a great arts and crafts culture. It is well known for fine textiles, including block printing and embroidery. I purchased enough textiles to fill two large duffel bags (acquired at a New Delhi market for 500 Rs. total, or about $8), and will share photos soon.

I wanted to post a brief update of some of the block printing demos from Jaipur:

All the inks are vegetable or plant based. They had a stamp-pad like tray with cheesecloth and ink.

This is a four color print.

First, the key image is printed.

Other layers are hand registered by carefully aligning one edge and then setting the block down. You pound the block with your fist to apply pressure. (Hello Iron Palm training!)

All four colors.

Typically the fabrics are dried in the sun a few days and the colors change. They did a shortcut here by dropping the cloth in these two solutions.

After Dark

Some time in the 90s, my parents bought a piece of software called After Dark. It was a screensaver inspired by toast:

Today's Spoonflower Challenge Prompt was "Toast," and it reminded me of this whimsical screensaver. In a way, the scrolling graphics are just an animated pattern, as they pan over an infinite surface.

Arrow

Good news. I'm going to start blogging again. I put aside this blog to focus more on work... and now that I've been laid off one week ago,  I've decided to never sacrifice my art again for a job. I'm participating in Spoonflower's daily drawing challenge to get motivation. Today's inspiration is "Arrow"

Terrarium

Tonight I made a terrarium and felt inspired by the spongy lichens from an etsy seller in Louisiana. Yes I bought moss on the internet. I really have had trouble finding it in central Texas, even by creeks. 

Ogee

Lichens

I've been thinking about terrariums lately. So much that I've been collecting air pants and lichens on afternoon walks and piling them on my desk. My coworkers are giving me funny looks so I am keeping them at home until I can find a proper terrarium jar. 

Anyhow, here's a drawing of lichens:

Momentum

Here's a small stripe pattern I made tonight. I'm going to do my best to get back in the habit of doing these drawings in the evenings again. 

New Years resolutions

This was a great project for 2013. I feel like I've gotten a part of myself back now that I'm creating again. I took a hiatus in October when work got crazy, but I'm going to finish up this project in 2014. Working for a startup keeps me busy, but I have fewer than 180 posts left befor I meet my goal. 

Tonight I made hopping john, and even though the blackeyed peas were presoaked, they're not softening up. I drew this pattern while letting the pot simmer. I need a crock pot I guess.

Happy new year!