 PHOTOGRAPHY BY NINA CHOI According to a recent article from Domino, toile is on the verge of a comeback. "The pattern, known more formally as toile de Jouy, first found popularity in late 18th-century France. Inspired by traditional Chinese porcelain designs and prints, the pattern is identifiable by its landscape scenes and floral motifs frequently rendered in either blue or red hues. Since its origin, it’s enjoyed waves of popularity, notably in colonial time, the 1970s, and the early aughts. It’s a traditional pattern, typically partnered with more traditional furnishings. But given its slow trickle back into fashion, it may be gearing up for an upgrade." I began creating toile inspired artwork in 2017, mixing photography with chintz lace patterns and weaving them together. My 'Comforts of Home' series explored what home means to me through the use of different floral and bird motifs. Using antique illustrations as a starting point I recreated the flowers and birds from blue security envelope lining, grouping them together to form a chintz 'fabric' toile pattern. These elements then formed the base for a paper patchwork and the patterns to decorate ceramic plates. Limited edition prints and a handful of original pieces are still available:
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 101 x 101 cm work on canvas As I tend to work with mostly the same sizes for my work. I thought I'd put together a bit of a visual guide for how they look in situ in a bedroom. Here I've used a standard double bed. There are a few things to consider when choosing what size work you'd like for a bedroom - the bed size, ceiling height, are you going to frame the work, does the bed have a headboard, is there lighting above the bed etc. In the end it comes down to personal preference but hopefully the images here will be some help.  91 x 91cm work on canvas  60 x 60cm work on canvas Most of my works on paper and limited edition print are the standard 10x8", 11x14" and 16x20" sizes. Yes, even though I'm based in Australia and we use the metric system, inches are still used for photos and framing, so those are still standard print sizes and easy to find frames for. The next images show the prints with a mat in a standard frame.  16 x 20in print framed When you get down to the smaller sized prints you may want to consider more than one to help fill the space.  11 x 14in print framed  10 x 8in print framed I hope that helps and remember if you're not sure if a particular piece will work in your room feel free to email a pic over and I can do a quick mock up to give you an idea - just make sure to have something in there as a size reference like a piece of furniture with the measurements so I can get the scale as close as possible.
Image used here: Woven Monstera Leaf Print I've got so many exciting plans and projects for 2019, but it can be pretty overwhelming knowing just where to start. Sometimes just taking a moment to look back over the past years achievements can help with a little focus. So here is my version of the 12 days of Christmas, my 12 favourite things from 2018...  1. Paper cutting Some of my first works for 2018. Apart from a couple of pieces last year, I’d taken quite a long break from cutting paper so it was great to get back into it with this project cutting leaf vein patterns.  2. Pattern painting Pictured here is ‘Variegated I’ one of my absolute favourite pieces this year. It's been a great year getting back into my painting in a big way - going up in size and up on the detail! I particularly enjoyed added a little collaged paper to work like this.  3. Artist Talk Feature So lovely earlier this year to be featured in UK based Artist Talk Magazine. You can still read it online via this link.  4. Interlaced collection From paper weaving to painting weavings. The start of my interlaced collection with this piece ‘The Woven Basket’. You can read more about this ongoing series of works here.  5. The Milburn Prize This year I was very excited to be a finalist in the Milburn Art Prize with this work 'The Woven Basket II  6. Regenerated The Regenerated exhibition at Brisbane's Aspire Gallery kicked off the start of my new aerial landscape series. I love looking at the beautiful natural patterns from a satellite perspective of the world and the Australia desert seemed like a great place to start following on from my aerial woven desert work last year. You can read more about my Regenerated collection here.  7. Microscopy After attending a great art and science workshop a couple of years ago this year I finally started to delve into work inspired by patterns found at the microscopic level, like this piece 'Mulla Mulla Pollen Grains', another one of my favourites from this year.  8. Variegated One of the big focuses of this year was putting together a large body of work for my Variegated collection and show. Celebrating the simple beauty of leaves from the microscopic level through the to leaf vein patterns. You can see the full collection on the website here.  9. Venation Series I just love how these turned out. A limited edition print collection based on my paper cutting work with Japanese ink. Prints are available from the limited print section of the website.  10. The Weaving Room Very excited to be taking part in my first regional gallery exhibition with the Weaving Room at Pine Rivers Art Gallery. As well as being a finalist in the Morton Bay Art Prize earlier in the year with one of my woven photographs. On show until 19th January with 'The Mock Orange Hedge' woven painted paper and printed paper.  11. Water ripples There's just something about water ripples, light bouncing off water and little bubbles on the beach I just love and keep returning to in my work. I was particularly pleased with this piece 'Variegated Rubber Plant by the Pool' with it's multiple layers of pattern.  12. Coral And finally wrapping up the year is my coral work. Great timing with trend setter Pantone picking living coral for their colour of the year. I've still got some more pieces to share in the new year, as well as some particularly unusual work with recycled materials. This work titled 'Beyond the Shallows' is my entry for the Art Lovers Australia prize, another highlight this year being picked as a finalist for the 2018 show. And that's about it. Wow, so much to look back on. I'm feeling very inspired for 2019! Thanks to everyone for your kind words of support and a big thank you to everyone who purchased my work this year. Can't wait to share all my new ideas with you.
If you had a particular favourite piece or technique this year please feel free to share in the comments, it might help me prioritise all these ideas :) And if you are interested in commissioning anything for 2019 please get in touch.   Beyond the Shallows I'm always excited to hear the pick for Pantone Color of the Year, must be the designer in me, but I was particularly excited this morning to find they chose Living Coral. Perfect timing to introduce my current collection of coral themed artwork.
This series of works has been inspired by the beautiful natural patterns found in the underwater world – macro and microscopic images of coral, little bubbles of water on the beach and rockpools. So if you're looking for a little living coral art please check out the available originals sections of the website. Beyond the Shallows available exclusively via Art Lovers Australia.  Coral Formations  Rock Pool  The Art Lovers Australia Prize is on again and this year I have entered "Beyond the Shallows" a new abstract painting inspired by the beautiful natural patterns found in the underwater world.
You can vote for your favourite work and go in the draw to win a $1,000 voucher to spend on the Art Lovers Australia website. You just need be an Art Lovers Australia subscriber. If you'd like to vote for my piece just follow the link and click on the little heart next to LOVE THIS https://artloversaustralia.com.au/shop/beyond-the-shallows/ Thanks!  To celebrate my very first solo exhibition in Brisbane I have put together a set of limited edition prints based on some of the original work from the show. The Venation Series is taken from my paper cuttings which each had a background on suminagashi, Japanese marbling or watercolours behind. These pieces are inspired by the delicate patterns found in leaf veins, the venation system. Available in three sizes, prints start from $50 including free domestic shipping. Shop online here.
 One of the top interior design trends for 2018 has been plant decor, in particular patterned plants. According to Pinterest searches for "pattern plants" was up a massive 533%! Naturally this has flown through into art and design and as luck would have it last year I began working on my 'Variegated' collection which is focused on the patterns found in leaves.
Format Magazine has an interesting read on why plants are having an art world moment here. As Aimee Morris for Art Style Files puts it "More and more people are decking out their homes with plants. Who doesn’t love a good succulent? If your green fingers aren’t up to scratch, try one of these delicious botanical prints." The Variegated collection launches in August, but until then I have a few original plant inspired pieces available here  Regeneration is finally here! Wow it's been a lot of work the last few months putting together work for the inaugural Aspirant Collection Showcase and my solo show in August. I'm very excited to start sharing the finished work for the Regeneration exhibition and to say it's hung and ready to visit. The exhibition is being held at Aspire Gallery in Brisbane where most people would have seen my woven landscapes over the past 18 months. So for this special group show I wanted to introduce something old and something new. My painted pattern work is an continuation of the weavings, inspired by nature, and my landscape painting was actually the main focus of my art practice for many years. It's been great picking up the paint brush again and I've got some interesting painting/weaving combinations coming up. In fact I'll be at the gallery on Sunday 24th working on a few new pieces along with other exhibiting artists if you get the chance, stop by and say hi.
My landscape work has always been a response to the patterns and textures found in nature, and in what I have titled my Regeneration collection to tie in with the show, it focuses on the Australian outback, mostly with an aerial perspective. I enjoy working with an aerial view for landscapes as it highlights the commonality of patterns seen in nature and the reoccurring designs found at any scale, from the microscopic to the satellite. To show along side the landscapes I have produced a few pattern pieces inspired by tiny pollen grains seen through an electron microscope, the Mulla Mulla plant (sometimes called Pussytails) is widespread throughout mainland Australia and can often been found flowering in the desert. The Australian outback is a rich tapestry of changing colours and patterns. Some of these same arrangements are found at the macro or microscopic level in the plants, water and rocks. Tiny dots of vegetation, wild flowers and shrubs, come and go or alter in shade with the seasons. Regenerated by rivers and creeks running like threads through the landscape. Regeneration runs from 20th - 30th June 2018 Wednesday - Saturday 10:30am - 4:30pm 53 Kennedy Tce, Paddington Opening Night is Saturday 23 June, 4pm - 6pm  I'm so excited for June to have on show all together for the first time works from my new variegated series, plus, also for the first time I'll be taking part in the Samford and Surrounds Arts Trail and Open Studios! From the 24th May-24th June you can find my work in the beautiful old Butter Factory building in Dayboro, just a short drive out of Brisbane, at the Mezzanine Gallery. On show is 'Natural Selection' a group exhibition. It really is a very unique space just above Entangle Living Art, the perfect spot to celebrate plants in art. DEMO DAY: On Saturday 16th June from 10am I'll be at the gallery working on some new painted paper weavings. So pop by and say hello. The gallery is open Wed-Sun 10-4pm at 38 Williams St, Dayboro.
 This week is the start of BLACK & WHITE a group exhibition at Aspire Gallery where you can find my new work 'The Teahouse Ceiling' a large abstract painting part of my interlaced series.
Aspire Gallery is at 53 Kennedy Terrace, Paddington QLD open WED-SAT |
AuthorJennifer is a contemporary Australian artist based in Brisbane, Queensland. Know for her highly decorative paintings and unique paper weavings, she explores pattern and visual perception, often highlighting the beauty in the ordinary. Archives
June 2020
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