When I began this surface design journey, it became immediately apparent that one pattern type, in any construction, stylized in any way at all is perennially appealing – the floral. Though florals haven’t been a default pattern subject for me, I have recognized that it’s probably good to have a few strong florals in my portfolio. I certainly enjoy flowers in real life. Right now, my gardens are bursting with peonies, weigela, poppies, alliums and petunias.
But what factors have continued to make florals a continuously popular subject in pattern design? These patterns consistently bring together nature, historical status, symbolism, and decorative elements, which gives them unusual staying power.
A staple design style worldwide
Over millennia, floral motifs and patterns have been used on textiles, rugs, paper and ceramics in ancient cultures including:
Persian carpets and textiles,
Ottoman ceramics and fabrics,
Indian chintzes and paisleys,
Chinese silk and porcelain decoration,
and many more not in this very short list!
These traditions often combined flowers with vines, leaves, and stylized gardens. European designers later absorbed many of these influences through trade routes and imported luxury goods.
An early example of Chinese porcelain with a stylized floral border around the main motif.
Detail of shawl with floral paisley motifs.
Flowers as symbols of wealth
In Europe, elaborate gardens were status symbols. Maintaining ornamental gardens required land, labour, and resources. During the Renaissance and later periods, rare flowers became luxury goods. The most famous example is the tulip craze in the Dutch Republic during the 17th century, where coveted bulbs sold for extraordinary sums.
Photo by Ben Elliot on Unsplash.
When textiles, wallpapers, and ceramics featured flowers, they often referenced a cultivated landscape that many people could admire, but few could own.
As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the UK in the mid 1800s and cotton was made in the new factories, local manufacturers began to re-create these floral designs inspired by chintz and fantasy florals from India. While the prints became more affordable for the masses, the quality diminished, and the term ‘chintzy’ came to apply to some of these designs and fabrics.
Domesticating nature
One reason floral patterns work so well in interiors is that they bring nature indoors in a controlled form. Historically, when people spent much more time indoors during dark and colder months, floral wallpapers and textiles could evoke a feeling of hope for the coming spring. These designs created an idealized natural world within the home.
While geometric patterns provide abstract structure and rhythm, a floral pattern suggests life, growth, and seasonality. Flowers are immediately recognizable and culturally malleable. A rose, tulip, iris, peony, or sunflower can be symbolic. But, even when viewers aren't familiar with a deeper meaning, they can still connect with the image.
As surface pattern design evolved, designers and consumers alike have continued to be drawn to florals, even as the motifs became more stylized and simplified. We can see this demonstrated in designs that arose during the Arts and Crafts era, in elaborate monochromatic damask designs, and in today's simple and whimsical florals. They all tap into the same deep visual tradition.
An example of Arts and Crafts wallpaper with a profusion of floral motifs.
Florals still dominate today
From a purely practical standpoint, flowers are extraordinarily useful motifs. Many historical pattern designers discovered that floral repeats were more visually flowing than rigid geometric structures.
The ongoing popularity of florals stems from a combination of all these historical factors as well as current visual trends that continuously cycle through our social media universe.
We each bring our own backgrounds and cultural references with us when we respond to a floral pattern. Flowers will always be associated with beauty, abundance, comfort and offer a link to living things in a world dominated by screens and technology.
My forays into florals
For the last month or so, I’ve been dabbling a bit with florals again. I’ve returned to a collage style to use my hand drawn elements in poppy based designs. And, in the last week, I’ve started creating motifs that I intend to use in a vintage chintz style design featuring those peonies that make a statement in my front yard. I will keep you up to date on the outcome!
The start of my chintz-style and linework motifs for a new pattern design.
A Full Transition
As of the end of May, I made the leap to something new to support my pattern design journey. In the last issue, I pointed out the issues with feeling stuck with one option -- Adobe products for all of my graphic software needs. Not only was it costly, but it left me feeling like a hostage to their increasingly bloated programs.
After an intensive period of testing, I officially downsized to a subscription for Adobe Illustrator only, while using the supportive program called Affinity (currently offered for free from Canva) to provide photo editing and layout functions. It has been quite a journey to a new workflow and it will continue to force me into a new pattern, but so far, so good.
Two New Retail Partners
In May, I have made connections with two new retailers who will carry my work both in St. Marys and Listowel (in the north of Perth County). Lucid Musings Photography, run by Sean Camp, an established photographer in St. Marys, will feature a photo studio, framing services and retail items that highlight St. Marys. He plans to open in July at the north west corner of Queen and Water Streets.
The second location is the Kitchen Cupboard and Icebox in Listowel. This is a very relevant location given the inspiration for my Goats of Perth County pattern design was based on a visit to goat farm on the edge of this town. There is a good response to my tea towels and I’ve already received a second order!
And, I have started my summer with the St. Marys Farmer's Market. You can find me there every other week or so with my full complement of products including tea towels, table runners and cushion covers.
Free Floral
Here's a little something I was playing around with in the last month or two. It's a collage style trailing floral featuring poppies on one of my hand drawn plaid backgrounds. It's a maximalist treat with an informal touch. Use this free download for whatever personal use you like. Enjoy!
If you enjoyed this newsletter, please feel free to respond. I’d love your feedback! And if you have friends or contacts who’d enjoy this content, please share this link so they can sign up:
Thank you for reading! If you know anyone else who may be interested in my content please pass Shapeshiftr along to encourage people to sign up! And if you just want to leave a comment, feel free to reply to this email.
Grow Your Pattern Literacy with my Shapeshiftr Newsletter
What is the alchemy behind the creative process and surface pattern design? Learn to notice, appreciate, and understand the patterned world you live in. And, get a free, custom download with every issue.
