I’ve admired African textiles, patterns, and artwork for a while. Recently I saw these images and quote from Margaret Courtney-Clarke on the Art, Craft, and Architecture page on Facebook. I can’t wait see all of the images from African Canvas: The Art of West African Women. I’m excited to learn more about the women who create this beautiful, labor-intensive work and the significance behind the patterns.
“My objective in this work is to document an extraordinary art form – vernacular art and architecture in West Africa – that is not transportable and therefore not seen in museums around the world. It is an attempt to capture the unseen Africa, a glimpse into the homes and into the spirit of very proud and dignified peoples. In much the same way as I photographed the art of Ndebele women, I have drawn on my personal affinity for the art itself, for methods, design and form, rather than the socio-anthropological or political realities of a people or continent in dilemma. These images portray a unique tradition of Africa, a celebration of an indigenous rural culture in which the women are the artists and the home her canvas.”
– Margaret Courtney-Clarke, 1990
I collect a lot of African textiles, prints, and patterns on Pinterest. Well, I used to have a lot. Then I reorganized my Pinterest boards into sections (who knew you could do that now?!?!) and accidentally DELETED them! I’m slowly building my board back. When I explore the images there now I feel creatively energized.
How African Textiles Show Up in My Art
Even though I don’t usually notice it while I’m painting, my love for the colors, shapes, and mark making of African textiles influences some of my own brightly colored pattern-heavy work.
A Peek Into My Creative Process
I don’t usually look at images to get inspiration for how to paint a pattern or to learn a certain style. Instead, I’ll think about a theme or an energy that I’d like to convey with my work. I write about it in my sketchbook and brainstorm different words, styles, or scenes related to the mood. Then I’ll go to imagery. I look Pinterest boards, my own sketchbooks, the art and design books on my shelves, and sometimes reference films.
I love looking back over a series or style of my own work and retroactively pinpointing how images I’ve obsessed over for years show up.
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