Surface Pattern Design

Untitled (Bulbs), 2024
Found fabric

Research

Artist: Welsh Rural Industries (Quilter's Guild Collection)

Quilting; texture

Observations from nature

Sketches

Process

Artist Statement

This piece was inspired by the patterns of nature. The interpretation of the piece is ultimately up to the viewer; the piece has been perceived as a tea towel, a children's blanket, garlic, onions, and hot air balloons, to name a few, but the original inspiration was the photo of leaves seen in the research section. The arrangement of the bulbs is meant to be a play on the eyes; at first it appears the bulbs are vertically alternating directions as well as horizontally, but in fact each column of bulbs is facing the same way (either up or down). I used four fabrics with different textures, but all white or off-white, to create unity but maintain a level of variation. I also wanted to play with how the green stitching/quilting would be seen differently on black versus white, so I used a black background to show through between the bulbs. Finally, I added a green border to further unify the piece and provide a callback to nature, the original inspiration for the pattern. This piece allowed me to explore the potential of pattern-based work, and to use quilting techniques in a decorative way rather than to make a functional blanket. While I started with leaves, I'm surprised and pleased with how the bulbs have transformed into a shape that can be interpreted in so many different ways.