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I am interested in the metaphorical potential of unorthodox painting materials. The primary material of my current paintings is Store-bought paper sewing patterns applied directly to the canvas. The patterns are reinterpreted outside of their usual functional context as garment templates to represent metaphysical/figurative imagery.
The wording and schematics on the sewing patterns present a material metaphor by reinforcing the notion of a story, allowing the viewer to “read” the surface of the painting. Additionally, the intrinsic schematics present on the patterns convey a high-tech, engineered language that contradicts the nostalgic nature of personal garment making. Patterns and templates are the genesis of assembly, but once they are realized, they are tucked away or discarded. These paintings expose and liberate the pattern to become something to keep.
