Finally, Pattern Tree is ready to go!! Basically I wanted somewhere to document my work and to enable me to share what I’ve been up to with people who’d like to see it, and hopefully get some interesting, inspiring and constructive feedback from you… It’s also going to be a place for me to share other people’s lovely stuff, things I find on my travels and online that I like!

'The Pattern Tree' Ink on cartridge paper 21 x 28cm

All of my life I’ve loved being creative and art was always my thing. For about 6 years while I was at university I enjoyed experimenting with different media and tecnhiques, I always had a thing for pattern and mainly produced mixed media paintings, prints, some simple sculpture/carvings and textiles. I also managed to qualify as a primary school teacher!

Mixed Media on Canvas.

After teaching for a year and a half in England, I’ve been in Korea teaching English for the past two years and things have taken a different direction. I haven’t had access to the same materials and facilities that I did at home, so I began experimenting with the things easiest to get my mitts on. Basically, pens and a variety of papers (I discovered Korean handmade Hanji paper, which is just incredible! Have a look here.) and I brought my lovely watercolours with me from home. It all started at a particularly boring training weekend where I would hide at the back of the lecture hall and doodle, doodle, doodle!! Here’s the original doodle I produced in Korea: http://pattern-tree.com/2011/03/doodle-no-1-original-ink-on-paper-20-x-29cm-digital-illustration/

As I said, I’ve always had a thing for patterns. My current patterns have been influenced by many things. From the random forms I’ve always doodled on my note paper for as long as I can remember to barnacles, traditional buddhist patterns in Korea, other cultures and even the patterns on the inside of envelopes. I love really intricate and repeating patterns and never get tired of drawing them!

So, in two days my boyfriend* and I are leaving Korea to travel for 8/9 months, I’m very excited! You can see our travel plans here. I’m taking as many of my materials as I can carry so I can continue to make as we go. I’m going to update my blog with the things I make and see, so subscribe to keep up and please comment to let me know what you think, it’d really help me out!

*Update: As of 21st March 2012, my boyfriend is now my fiance! We got engaged on the top of a mountain on the milford Track, NZ. I wrote about it here!