Page 23 - Allison's Magazine ~ Issue #99

really intriguing, and something in me It makes a lot of sense to see my work
knew I needed to change my major. on textiles now, considering that so
I saw textiles as evolving my painting much of my education was about
interests in a three-dimensional way. creating textiles. I find the industry
I think my time really exciting, especially with the
studying abroad in During my junior year, I studied technology of digital printing—it really
China influenced a abroad at the China Academy of Art enhances the vibrancy of watercolors.
in Hangzhou for a semester. That was
lot of my botanical
another distinct experience that has had There is a lot of plant life in your
work. I love trying
a big influence on my work today. I designs. What draws you to this
to capture the life learned a lot about traditional Chinese subject matter?
and energy that exist floral painting, as well as the power I think my time studying abroad in
in plants. I find of expression through calligraphy and China influenced a lot of my botanical
them poetic and brushwork making. work. I love trying to capture the life
so majestic. and energy that exist in plants. I find
How did watercolor painting enter them poetic and so majestic. I love that
the picture? Are you self-taught? they are imperfect and organic.
I was designing patterns for
Abercrombie & Fitch’s women’s brand Tell us about your process. Do you
at the time, including painted original sketch anything first?
designs. A work friend, who was much If it’s work that’s outside of my own
more experienced in watercolors, taught line of products, I will create rough
me different ways that I could play with pen sketches. However, if it’s my own
them. He allowed me to see it from a body of work, I sketch in the form of
modern, nontraditional way. It wasn’t painting. It’s a good exercise to jump
about forcing the watercolors to be right into painting and not rely on
tight or highly technical; instead, I was previous sketches. The best ideas come
challenged to control them only to a from that improvisation process, and I
certain point and then allow them to do build more confidence as an artist when
their own thing. It was so liberating and I know that I can look at a blank page
so much fun. I knew immediately that and eventually arrive somewhere that is
this was the medium that I had been really compelling.
searching for all along.
Do you have any surprising sources
Did you always envision that your of inspiration?
watercolors would go on textiles? I’m currently going through a phase
No, but it has been an incredibly where I want to find inspiration in real
satisfying experience to see it on textiles. life, like going to an art museum. I want
When I started my business in 2012, I to experience art and find new ideas
was very focused on what I knew, in a different way so that my paintings
which was painting. I really wanted can move forward and be sparked by a
to get back into painting but with different point of view.
watercolors. From there, people loved
the printed reproductions that I was But I think inspiration can also come
selling of my paintings, so I was able in other ways, like music. I pay close
to expand little by little into other attention to the tempo of music. The
categories, including textiles. rhythms can spark a new idea or pair

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