PATTERN & PRINT NEWSLETTER - July 2023
I had so much to say after my last newsletter, but I held myself back and decided not to spam you, and then life just ran away from me and now it's JULY! How did that happen? So I'm sure that this letter is a little surprise in your inbox today - hopefully a good one!
The topic of surprise has come up quite a lot for me recently - in the book I'm reading, Your Brain on Art - how the arts transform us (see below), and then again in a podcast I listen to by Nicholas Wilton (called Art2Life). It seems that on one hand our brains like familiarity, but when we experience surprise or novelty within a safe space, delicious feel good chemicals are released into our body.
What does this have to do with pattern & print? Well, I was thinking... every time we look at a relief printing block (whether lino or wood), we can't really fully grasp what the print is going to look like on the fabric or paper. We might have and idea from experience, but that surprise when we print and lift the block (...and remember to breathe) is what gives us that instant little jolt of pure satisfaction. And then the second slower surprise happens when we try something new, trust our ideas, our decisions and the process to see what the whole thing turns out like in the end. I wonder whether you feel the same way? It's different to drawing or painting somehow... I am realising that novelty, surprise, awe and wonder are important values in my life that I've always made space for but haven't given much thought or attention to. I'd love to know your thoughts and experiences - you can respond here or on instagram. (Oh, dear, I may need to join threads)
On that note, after great determination in getting documentation up to date, fighting for a visa and rebooking flights after they were cancelled, I am now off to Portugal next week. About 10 years ago I did an online surface pattern design course with Rachel Taylor and I decided that I wanted to go to Lisbon to see the patterned tiles. It has taken me a while to get there. So it's time for a break. I will be spending time on beaches - because as my sister loves to remind me: I am solar-powered being and need my annual boost of sun - and I will be in Lisbon with my family on my birthday, where I hope to quench my thirst for novelty, surprise, awe and wonder.
I plan to come back, refreshed with tons of colourful inspiration and printing ideas and insights! I hope you are also able to slow down, take a break and find some novelty, surprise, awe or wonder in your lives too.
Best Wishes,
Karené
What am I reading/listening to?
I'm currently reading Your Brain on Art - how the arts transform us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. It is full of examples of how our brain is physically stimulated on multiple levels, when we make art.
And I am listening tons of podcasts, but the one I mentioned above is the Art2Life podcast by Nicholas Wilton - Episode 88.
Who is inspiring me?
Ellen Merchant's hand block printed designs are so beautiful and she and her husband are putting her fabrics onto restored furniture. Go see...
What's Next?
I forgot to take photos of the stunning scarves that were printed at the Make-It Market! The colour and motif combinations were so beautiful and inspiring.
I will be holding another Scarf printing workshop at Restoration and Creation on Saturday, 9 September 2023. That workshop is not on their system yet, but you can email Caroline at info@restorationandcreation.com to book your spot.
Quite a few seeds of ideas that I planted months ago have started to come to fruition. One of them is that I will be teaching a full day workshop at Central Scotland School of Craft (Dunblane) on Saturday, 16 September 2023. The venue looks so lovely! I'm really excited to be included in their group of wonderfully talented tutors. At that workshop we will be printing with my wooden blocks and also learning to design, carve and print our own motifs with lino. It's going to be a very busy day and I cannot wait to see what is created there!
The event is not on their booking page yet, but I'm sure you can pop them an email if you'd like to book that ahead of time.
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