Beauty in the Anticipated
Moving away from home and into a new home will bring you a rediscovered love for things and moments that are often taken for granted.
Companionship, sunny days, fruit trees, wildflowers, and the antiquity of my surroundings all moved me to create these pieces.
This is a line of flour sack towels I created using different methods of screen printing
It all starts with getting the colors and shapes down on paper. Here are some of my first sketchbook pages.
I was initially inspired by highly saturated colors paired with organic motifs. The textures and patterns I layered were much more geometric, which created a fun balance.
I then wanted to begin experimenting and learning screen printing techniques.
These are some of the samples I created.
I used a combination of mono-printing, screen printing, and painting directly on fabric. I was careful to note which techniques gave unique and desirable effects and how I'd later use them for my final products.
After experimenting with printing, I went back to the drawing board.
I began picking out color schemes as well as motifs. These organizational pages were essential because it allowed me to fully develop my concept.
Some motifs were stronger than others, and I took careful consideration of which color schemes would best represent the chosen "beauty" on each towel.
The final step before executing my line was to simply draw out and label what I was about to do.
I listed in detail which layers would be first, as well as which colors would be used in each motif.
This step was vital because had I not done this, the towels could have appeared rushed, unorganized, and sporadic.
These are the final pieces. Made with fabric ink on 30" x 30" flour sack towel.
Each represent a "beauty" that is overlooked too often, but its simpleness is what continuously brings peace to my life.
Piece #1: Companionship.
Humans' love for one another influenced this one. The beauty of loving one another, golden hour, and fields of wildflowers should not be overlooked.
Piece #2: Sit by the Stream.
While living in Pennsylvania, I find myself most happy while taking walks in a nearby national park. This park is filled with streams, woodlands, meadows, and wildlife.
Piece #3: Citrus.
Looking out my back porch in Savannah, my neighbors have a large and plentiful citrus tree. The colors of the fruit shine bright against the rest of the garden, that in winter is a very muddied shade of green.
Piece #4: Savannah's Backyard.
Savannah is the first city I've lived in, and it is a uniquely antique city at that. The faded brick and cobblestone from who knows when always make me curious and grateful. The birds that sing in the early morning while perched on the wire remind me to enjoy nature, even while living in a city.
Thank you for reading about this fun process I had. I hope this reminded you of little overlooked beauties in your own life. There's always something!