Pattern Pulp

Artist Profile: Julie Mehretu




Over the coming week, expect a steady flow of creatives who are making their mark on the pattern world. From color, theme, style and medium, each personality is testing styles and formats that will impact the industry at large in bold and innovative ways over the coming year.

We kick off the reel with Julie Mehretu, a New York based artist best known for her densely-layered abstract paintings and prints. While not a new comer, Mehretu’s work is continually pushing boundaries in color, movement and subject matter. The gestural nature of her lines give life to shape and color, making it seem as though you and the painting are wrapped up in a magical wind storm.

January 3, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Happy New Year!




Dear Friends,

I hope this note finds you well on New Years Eve Day!

I apologize for my sudden disappearing act this week.  As many of you know, New York was socked by a blizzard of epic proportions.  As I was due to fly to Asia on Monday, I made a last minute switch and caught a flight to Hong Kong before the storm hit.  The change left me without any time to wish you all well.

I’ve been visiting loved ones in Singapore for the week and am leaving for a scouting trip to Sydney and Melbourne tonight, back in New York in mid January.

But fear not!  Beginning Monday, January 3rd I’ll be rolling out Pattern Pulp’s 2011 Designers to Watch.  We’ll have a mix of emerging and established creatives who have been most inspiring to us over the past year.

In the meantime, have a wonderful New Years and I look forward to touching base soon!

Best,

Shayna

December 31, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Friday Quick Links!




  1. 1. Love this quirky family portrait by Lori Andrews via Poppytalk
  2. 2. 300 colored vases by Hella Jongerius using modern and old techniques via Dezeen
  3. 3. Andy Kehoe’s work looks like a beautiful dark fairy tale world via Empty Kingdom
  4. 4. Jovi Schnell has an interesting process to choose the colors she paints with via My Love For You
  5. 5. In case your chairs get cold this winter or just need a dose of prep via The Designer Pad
  6. 6. A series of posters inspired by Margaret Wheatley’s Turning to One Another via Design Work Life
  7. 7. A visit to artist Jim Drain’s colorful studio via Sight Unseen
  8. 8. Mark Warrington’s uses of color, pattern, and character to great effect via Peanut Soup Deluxe
  9. 9. The Little Lotus Project brings art to children on the Thai/Burmese border via Sweet Station
  10. 10. Music and art combine with these Mondrian headphones via The Audacity of Color
  11. 11. Pondering the stories told in the lines of Jason Thielke’s intricate illustrations via Vecto Ave
  12. 12. Fun with dough via Abstract City

Coverage by: Emily Gup

December 24, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Twitter Influencer: Olympia Zagnoli




Olympia Zagnoli’s illustrations are beautiful and contradictory. They’re vivid yet understated, simple though bold and retro while entirely modern. The young Italian illustrator’s work has been exhibited in magazines, newspapers, book covers, posters and galleries around the globe, with clients ranging from the New York Times, the New Yorker, The Guardian, Adidas Originals and The Rolling Stone. The illustrator is just as delightful as her work, evidenced by her twitter feed where she is equally witty and whimsical. There you’ll find amusing tales of her daily adventures, recent illustrations and the creative inspiration that drives much of her work.

December 24, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Drip. Dot. Swirl




We recently included illustrator, Von Glitschka as one of our twitter influencers and it’s not surprising to see that he’s continuing to make his mark in the design world. His most recent project, Drip. Dot. Swirl, is a treasure trove for pattern lovers. The book includes 94 original designs ranging in style from intricate knot work and subtle florals to retro wallpaper and alien-inspired mazes. He’s also included several application examples.

Additionally, the book contains a DVD with all of the EPS source files along with PDF tutorials for each pattern swatch. Beyond its technical value, Glitschka’s book is an inspirational resource for beginners and seasoned designers alike. For more info, click here.

December 24, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Merchandising: Matt & Natt




Gilt Groupe loves patterns just as much as we do. It’s evident nearly every time they style an accessories shoot. Last week’s Matt & Natt handbag sale took an instagr.am meets pattern approach with their merchandising hero shot. This gridded layout is fun and functional and nearly always the quick fix when displaying smaller objects.

December 21, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
On Instagram.