lee gainer.

In another career lifetime, I was a textile designer. For a project once, I made a pattern out of fimo dough, coiling various colors around each other to make an overall pattern that was then printed on fabric. It remains one of my favorite prints because it had a particular quality that was achieved by building rather than drawing or painting. The fact that any process in design that yeilded a interesting pattern could be a viable textile croquis, is one of the things I love most about the discipline of textile design. Draw, paint, build, photograph, scratch, rub, print. Whatever. All are viable methods to create a compelling pattern for textiles. I just love that.

This wonderful mixed media piece by lee gainer is so fabulous unto itself, but I also see it as a perfect concept for a printed textile. So often with work like this, I appreciate it as a piece of art to hang on a wall as well as a pattern I'd love to wear. Absolutely yummy!

Thanks to poppy for the discovery.