Photo by Glo von Gesslein
This is my favorite way of designing patterns, which I have done for many years and have found to be very successful. Little did I realize at the time, it was very avante-garde. My self-esteem felt knocked as I couldn't seem to really "fit in" with how patterns were normally made. Some experienced artists weren't as supportive as I would have liked them to be and corrected my approach many times. Thinking and trusting that they knew better because of their achievements, I discarded my "natural" way of doing things to follow their "correct" way. In light of this, I didn't have enough self-confidence as an artist to listen to my own voice and follow my own path, which you really must do as an artist, at all levels.
At the time when I first started, I didn't know anyone who was making patterns this way. Everyone was making dolls or art dolls the "traditional" way, of drawing all the body parts that actually looked like what they were supposed to. Although I gave it my best effort, they never came out the way I wanted them to. The "traditional" way always felt very restrictive and confining to me. I prefer freedom, loose lines, off settings, things that didn't look "quite right" but worked never-the-less.
This is a method I discovered after many failed attempts at trying the "traditional" methods of pattern making.
First, get a big sketch pad, as big as you want. Mine is half my body size because I like working on a large scale.
Take a big black marker and close your eyes. Scribble all over the page like this.
Photo by Glo von Gesslein
Place the drawing on the floor and take a look at it. Do you see any images that "pop" out at you? It doesn't matter what shapes they are. It just has to catch your attention.
Walk around to the side. Look at it again. Do you see anything images that seem to come forth, almost rising from the rest of the lines?
Walk around to the third side. Do the same thing again. Just let your eyes relax and look for more images.
Once again, do it for the 4th side.
Decide what image or images you want to "lift" and "sculpt" out from one of the 4 sides.
I decided to go with the 4th side which you can see in the picture above.
When you know what you want, take a highlighter, crayon, or colored marker and section out your body pieces.
Photo by Glo von Gesslein
Since I wasn't sure if I wanted to use these additional sections as arms or hands, I highlighted them in blue anyway and will see how they play out later on as this piece is being put together.
Photo by Glo von Gesslein
Photo by Glo von Gesslein
Lesson Learned: Follow your own inner voice. You may be the avante-garde of your time. Like Mom said, "listen to someone's advice. Then, make your own decision. " Their way isn't your way, which is why you weren't joined at the hip. You were given different bodies to travel through this life on different paths. Find your path and take it. Their way is not necessarily the right way for you; but, certainly may be the right way for them and vice versa.
Next week:
- These pieces will be sewn and stuffed, ready to begin the designing stage, which is really the most fun.
- I'll also show you the easiest way of finding your face, even if you have all these shapes cut out that don't seem to make any sense.
- If I can get all the pics taken, I'll share pics of a new series I've been working on for quite some time using this form of pattern making. You'll see the basic scribble shapes come alive in the patterns, colors and techniques you choose as an artist.
