Developing the tile and exploring avenues

Once I understood how to navigate the pattern in Photoshop, I was ready to fully focus on the tile for the final design.

I decided to start from a rose and build other plants around it. I prepared a digital space for the rose in the middle of a tile and opened all the other elements available to incorporate into the pattern:

I then decided to try various combinations.

The one below stopped me for a while- I really enjoyed playing with repetition of one element, which in turn would create a new element altogether.

I think this one would be nice to be developed in a kind of mandala design and I might get back to it.

I started again. When making this design I thought how nicely lilies slot into that rose, as though they were a part of it. In general I have been very interested in feminine and masculine aspects of everything. How polar opposites they are, how they attract each other and how they create this kind of equal unity of 2 different, yet equal elements, creating beautiful harmony; also how each of them has a seed of the other inside themselves, like in the symbol of jin and jang- the white 'drop' has a black dot at its core and vice versa.

I talk energies here, not necessarily naturally masculine man/naturally feminine woman, as we have so many ways of being as a human, and we get to decide/uncover/notice what feels true to us. When my design was growing in my head and on my screen I started seeing it in a similar way- this beautiful feminine rose has deeply inside her a masculine element in a form of lilies. The rose has leaves, which sway in the 'wind' and release her scent, which travels around and attracts this kind of a lily that she has a seed of. There will be a place where lilies emerge from and at their very core they will have a seed of this kind of feminine rose.

I wasn't really planning to narrate it at all, it kind of started happening on its own and I embraced it, enjoying the concept and appreciating how it has been shaping the way I am putting more elements into the mix. The concept gave it its frame and created oder of all the elements.

Here's the progress so far:

When editing dark florals, I started to move them around, looking for a good position. By doing so I almost accidentally made them create these beautiful moving forms, which remind me kaleidoscope images- one of my favourite visuals from childhood:

I am definitely making a mental note here-potential to explore, maybe in installation, maybe short animation.

(lilies being part of the rose)

When playing with layers I created this result- I very much like the simple aesthetic and colours!

Couldn't just stop there, so kept inventing:

Made my notes and got back to the main focus:

I am adding more and more elements starting from the centre of the rose. Colours are still relative, especially on all the shapes past rose and greenish/blue leaves. Some shapes are muted, only claiming their spot for now. Once I have all the shapes in I will adjust the colours and should come up with a few colour palettes.

I was desperate to finish the pattern by the deadline, but ultimately I started enjoying the process in a sustainable pace, being part of my everyday life and not by expense of my or my family well being. Working at this pace allows me to feel happier and I am looking forward to continuing after Creative Analysis deadline. I have a project I feel deeply connected to, which almost has life of its own now. When I finished 1st year I still didn't know how to arrange my design, what kind of pattern to decide on. That left me hanging in a space of everything and nothing for a while. Nevertheless all those steps led me to this point here, where I feel content and at peace with what I am doing and I can see where I am going. I'm sure I will always have something to figure out along the way, but I actually can't wait to play with all those lovely challenges:)