Anastasija Kondratjeva's “Busy bodies” fashion shoot. Okay, if this doesn’t blow your mind print wise I don’t know what will! This wild style is what I sometimes aim for in my collages. For more incredible photos of the shoot see Front Row blog under "Other Related Links" below.
On my daily jaunts through shopping centres, the Observer in me has noted how everyone is going pattern crazy this year! As a collage artist obsessed with perfecting my use of colour, texture and patterns, I find this fashion trend so exciting! Recently, I spotted an eye-catching mix of floral and camouflage prints on the knapsack of a young girl: “How is this EVEN POSSIBLE?!” I thought? “And, how is it working?!” Although diametrically opposed in sentiment, the patterns were perfectly paired because they both hailed from similar colour families – so brilliant, so innovative! You know it wasn’t so long ago that this sort of thing might be condemned in the fashion world, but it seems this year almost (keyword) anything goes when it comes to mixing patterns (and even textures). Equally captivating is another vision I wanted to share with you. This week, I spied a diaphanous scarf swathed around a mannequin’s neck upon which two prints were blended: a classic plaid and an exotic leopard! Instantly the material’s thin, filmy surface took on the appearance of a rare butterfly wing! I was thoroughly impressed by this unlikely pairing and once again asked myself how it could be successful? The Observer is always questioning… I do believe it was definitely the choice of the translucent material along with the fact that each pattern shared colour schemes that complemented each other perfectly: a melange of rich dark browns, deep royal blues, and emerald greens and small wisps of tartan red and beige. If I had to name this hybrid pattern I would christen it: sauvage élégante (elegant savage)! Note: the Observer is also always inventing new terms and titling her finds. No discovery must ever go unrecorded without being named! Alone in her discoveries, the Observer delights in uncovering the uncommon; its moments such as these that I thank the Great Creator for my visual acuity. It brings me so much joy! And yes, Sheila Sample-Cain, this will definitely be noted in the new gratitude journal you made me!
Some of you are probably wondering, what do clothing patterns have to do with collaging? Well, here at Collage Your World where living life and creating art are synonymous, putting on your clothes is just another way of layering things up and collaging with life’s everyday materials. In fact, it’s my been my intention to open a segment of a workshop by having students dress themselves in different bits of fashion materials so we can begin to think about the act of collaging and layering in more creative ways. I truly believe that it’s in awakening our sensibilities to our everyday life’s rituals that we can take that kind of expression and extend it to our work in the studio or wherever we create. While clothing ourselves, everyday we have the potential to create art and not even realize it! Imagine that!
This holiday season, I challenge you to play with your fashion sense and take a small leap of faith in yourself by mixing up some of the patterns and textures in your closet. Ms. Wendy Southin, I know you’ve got a little polka dot something or two in your closet – now what could you do with those?! I’m pretty sure some of you are saying, I have no two clues as what to do! No worries; my heart goes out to you! I feel the same way so here’s a helpful site: Fashion Outlaw with several brief tips, photo examples and strategies for inspiration. Remember too, you don’t have to go out and buy something new… there are probably plenty of things you can use in your closet. For those of you who’re already great at mixing patterns with your scrapbooking, wrapping and magazine papers, this exercise will give you that added challenge you need. For those of you who are new to indulging in this type of fashion awakening, don’t be surprised if you start enhancing your collaging as well as your wardrobe! Best of luck… and do send me photos… you bet you’ll be seeing one of mine sometime soon!
Stayed tuned for more on the fascinating topic of fabric prints/patterns and collaging… in the weeks to come I’ll discuss using these strategically to help you personalize your collage narratives as well as how one contemporary artist is using fabric in his artwork to speak of the melding of African and European cultures – so cool!
NOTE: I’ll be taking two weekends off for the holidays. Chat with you again on January 9, 2014. I hope you have a chance to relax and enjoy the season as well as ring in the New Year in style or perhaps with a bit of peace and quiet (like me)!
Other Related Links:
Collage Tip #7 (Part 1): Going Gaga for Magazine Textures!
Tales from the Observer: Art, Display & Installation
Front Row Blog
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