Leaf patterns design process
Looking for inspiration on how to create and develop patterns I wandered into my local library and picked up a book.
It is very good and full of wonderful ideas on how to collect inspiration from the world around me. Which is how all designers work.
There are projects within the book set out to help create a collection. So I set myself the task of following the ideas set out.
They are set out in a logical sequence starting with an inspiration notebook. Like many of you artists out there I have a plethora of note books and sketchbooks. So number one on the list already ticked off.
Project sections
1 collect and study images of leaves.
2 Draw out ten leaf shapes
3 Pick colours palettes that will work together
4 Put the colour palettes and leaves together
5 design a repeating pattern
6 design a main pattern and its coordinates.
7 Develop a small collection
8 digitise the collection using computer software.
So I looked up images of leaves, there are some wonderful examples, variegated leaves and multicoloured leaves. Leaves that are full spring green and leaves in autumn colours. When thinking about pattern development it seems mother nature has beaten me to it with spirals and helices and mirrored and off set.
Developing ideas
Above and below are some of the pencil and ink sketch’s. I did draw out more than ten but hey I got carried away.
These are obviously not botanical studies but rather abstractions. Using the form of the leaf but neglecting some of the detail.
Then it’s a question of creating the colour palette. And a central motif around which the pattern and coordinates will work. The first set of designs are in watercolour and ink.
