Gustav Klimt Influences

Gustav Klimt Influences 

When editing my photos I though it would be interesting to add the patterns and shapes Gustav Klimt used in his ' The Kiss ' painting. 

In the image above I layered the photo with another image of spirals similar to the spirals Klimt often used in his paintings. 

In the image below I decided to decorate the photo giving it a more abstract appearance using colorful squares and rectangles similar to the shapes Gustav used in ' The Kiss '. 

I decided to use colours similar to the colours on the girls dress to draw out the multiple shapes overlapping each other. I also used a different thickness to draw each square / rectangle and filled some of them in.  

Repetition and Bold Colours

Repetition and Bold Colours 

After taking my photographs I decided to edit them to give them a more interesting visual. Inspired by Matisse's painting technique of adding bright bold colours I decided to incorporate this into my own work. 

Using an editing software I repeated the image and changed each division into a different colour that contrast and compliment each other well. I like the way the images overlap each other creating an illusion. 

For the picture below I chose more subtle colours and repeated the image to create the form of a pattern. 

I very much enjoyed editing my photographs and exploring different ways to make them look more interesting. I had the opportunity of  applying my creativity in a different way and developed my skills using a photo editing software. 

Symmetrical Pattern

Symmetrical Pattern 

After researching up on Alexander McQueen's dresses inspired by symmetrical pattern I decided to incorporate this design technique into some of my photographs using a Photoshop, a photo editing software. 

The symmetrical and repetition technique strongly relates to the formation of a pattern and I tried to create simple patterns using my own Photographs. 

Above is a transfer fabric print I made inspired by Islamic Patterns. 

The geometrical shape has multiple lines of symmetry in it. 

Below is one of my photographs that I duplicated into a reversed image to give the effect of a symmetrical image. I also layered the image of the fabric print that I scanned in to the computer on top of it creating a fading illusion. Here you can see how the line of symmetry in both images fit perfectly and creates an interesting visual. 

Below is another photograph of mine that I took and duplicated into a reversed image to create a line of symmetry. The bright colours and pattern of his shirt is what attracted me to him to take a photo. His appearance was very unique also. 

Oxford Street Photographs

Oxford Street Photographs 

Below are a few of the Photographs I took of people on Oxford Street. 

I stopped this guy because I liked the Aztec Pattern on his bag.The use of different shapes, lines and colours attracted me to it. 

I really liked this woman's light denim jacket and burgundy skirt, It made a strong contrast that made her stand out from the crowd. I also liked the bright colours and pattern of fruit on her neck scarf. 

Her style looked like she had just walked out of the 80's.. I loved it! 

This guys appearance was very unique to me, I just had to stop and ask to take a photo. You can tell that he was very enthusiastic and and loved his moment in front of the camera. 

I liked the design and colours of his army print jacket. 

These two guys stood out from the crowd in Oxford street and I'm sure it was because of the bright orange jacket I just couldn't look past. The guys varsity jacket is very vibrant in colour and contrasts well with the blue plimsolls. I liked the guy on the lefts black and white polka dot jacket. 

Displaying an example of the repetition of a shape involved in pattern.  

African Patterns and Symbolism

African Patterns and Symbolism

Above is an image of a traditional cloth created in Ghana called ' Kente '. The cloth is woven with rich bright colours and decorative patterns are repeated throughout the cloth similar to Aztec Patterns.  

Below is a traditional African Symbol called "Gye Nyame" is an Adrinkra symbol from Ghana, literally meaning "except for God". 

Traditional Symbols are also used as a form of pattern on kente cloth. Similar to the way Gustav Klimt often used symbolism in his paintings to convey different meaning and to give his paintings more depth. 

Below are more African symbols with a meaning behind them that are often used as patterns. 

Islamic Patterns

Islamic Patterns 


I also decided to look at Islamic patterns because I was fascinated by the  Geometric influence used to create them. Islamic pattern are known to have a very complicated formation and I was excited by the challenge of this if I was to make own interpretations. Islamic Patterns normally consist of four basic shapes that are repeated to construct more complicated looking patterns. 

'  circles and interlaced circles; squares or four-sided polygons; the ubiquitous star pattern, ultimately derived from squares and triangles inscribed in a circle; and multisided polygon ' 




Islamic Architecture 

Islamic Pattern are usually used to embellish Islamic buildings and monuments to express their culture and give them a unique appearance. 

These abstract designs don't only adorn the surfaces of monumental Islamic Architecture but they are also used as a decorative element on a vast array of subjects. Geometric ornamentation is not only popular in the Islamic World, the sources of the intricate patterns already existed among the Greeks and Romans. 

For my project I planned to make my own interpretations of Islamic art by exploring different ways to use simple shapes to create the form of a complicated pattern. 

I did this buy cutting out a stencil of a star shape and printing it on fabric using heat transfer. I then scanned an image of the pattern of the fabric into the computer and edited it by layering the image with multiple replicas on top of it at different angles transforming it into a different looking shape. 

And this was one of my results 

Aztec Patterns In Fashion

Aztec Patterns In Fashion

During my project I will also be looking Aztec Patterns. The bright colours and repetitive rows of shapes 

form interesting and unique looking patterns. I will be creating some lino prints to create my own interpretation of  Aztec patterns and be sure to include vibrant colours and strong shapes that stand out. 

 Also, it seems the traditional patterns of the Aztecs has proven to be very popular within the fashion industry. Nowadays you see lot of high street fashion garments with different styles of Aztec Patterns. 

Trip to Oxford Street

Oxford Street

I decided to Choose Oxford street as my location to spot people in interesting patterned clothing. 

Oxford street is known to attract Stylish Londoners with it's high street fashion stores and independent clothing boutiques. 

I went a long with my sister to ask strangers on the street if I could take a photo of them, fortunately not one of them turned me away and were flattered that I wanted to take a picture of them. 

The weather was very nice that day, which I was very happy about! 

Alexander Mcqueen

Alexander McQueen 

This dress was created by the late Alexander McQueen in 2010. The dress was a part of his spring 2010 collection where his designs mostly involved reptile skin, patterns and symmetrical prints. The dress is designed with a bold print of red and black coloured snakes, relating to the texture, colour and pattern of reptiles.  What stood out to me the most about this dress was its unique appearance, the red and black bold print and the use of symmetrical pattern made it fascinating and eye catching.

 I think that this garment represents form well as it has two diverse forms that have been put together to create one piece. The smooth, red and black reptile dress and the hard angular Armour suit underneath is a combination of two contrasting textures that add an interesting factor to the appearance of the dress.  These two forms put together make the garment have multiple of meanings and gives a whole new dimension to the piece.

The dress seems to exaggerate the female form as the shoulders of the dress are enhanced by the edgy shaped angular sculpting of the garment and its broad appearance balances out the waist of the model making it appear smaller as she goes outwards from her hips accentuating the shape of her figure.  The initial impression of the garment reminds me strongly of reptiles from the repetitive symmetrical pattern of the reptile skin and it also gives the impression of movement as if the snakes are moving and weaving through each other. 

The symmetrical aspect of his pattern designs is something I would like to incorporate in my project with the use of repetition and reflection. When editing my photographs I will be sure to use these techniques to understand the process of pattern and also include the use of bright and bold colors.