I created these pieces two weeks ago for an artist call application, and have been inspired by their mix of colours and patterns ever since. I shared work in progress of one of them in a previous blog post about revisiting recycled paper from security envelopes in my work again. It was a pleasant surprise all of this pattern mixing works as well as it does. Both pieces are approximately 9″ x 9″, and will go nicely into 12″ x 12″ shadowbox frames.

The pieces are inspired by a few different things, including quilting blocks and granny squares. I realized recently I should just acknowledge I am heavily inspired by textile art design and process in my approach to creating art from paper. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to bring my modular approach to installation in the type of work I create to fit into frames and hang on a wall. These two pieces feel closer to those ideas.

I had a lot of enjoyment in making these because I had to pull it together in a short amount of time in order to make a last minute deadline. I couldn’t over think it, so I made decisions about composition, material selection, and pattern choices as quickly as possible. It felt really good to work that way.

I want to make more of these pieces because I have lots more security envelope paper to make use of. In the meantime, my fingers are crossed these two get accepted into the show I submit them for.