Texture - textile; some thoughts on floral patterns and flower photography.
Eugène van Veldhoven
Designer of textiles and wallcovering since 1993. Designing patterns for textile industry, with a focus on decorative techniques. Producing short runs for fashion houses. Researching 3D printing flexibel materials.
Sometimes it is not the shape of the flowers, but the texture of the petals and leaves that attract me. The way poppy petals are wrinkly like crepe, the curving of carnation petals like a petticoat, or beech leaves that unfold like a pleated garment by Issey Miyake. The velvety sheen on many types of flower, like pansies in close-up. The way raindrops arrange themselves on the leafs of the Lady’s Mantel (alchemilla). The crepe surface of many types of leaves... In those cases I focus on the materiality, and will most likely place flowers and petals close together or overlapping; taking the focus away from the shape of the separate elements.
Another favourite of mine is the Checkered Lily (fritillaria meleagris) which, as the name already indicates, has a pattern of coloured blocks. Will be great to make a pattern using flowers that already have a pattern themselves… We have a rare semi-wild variety of the plant in the Netherlands, but luckily it is being cultivated as well.
Interested in seeing my new floral patterns? Contact me for access to my online portfolio.
