In my Horizontal Stripes From Nature post, I made the observation that when I repeated the random stripes I extracted from a photograph, I ended up with a pattern. Meg (Unravelling blog) left an interesting reply,
"Regular repeats make things look the opposite of natural? I wonder if you could print one of them, cut them up, and try placing them in orders that appear less predictable?"
I'm always up for a challenge, so I decided to give this a try. I decided to see if I could expand on my sample stripes to create random stripes.
Here's the photo I chose.
And here are the stripes I got.
Could I make a larger sample with more stripes without getting a pattern? Could I create a random look by dissecting the image, rearranging the pieces, and then putting them together in a random way?
I worked on this for several days. I didn't print it out, but used my photo editor to crop out various sections of stripes. Try and I might, I ended up with an identifiable pattern. I recall experiencing the same thing in the past when I tried to serendipitously make a random stripe warp. For some reason, it never looked random.
So I let it sit for several days, thinking I was going to give it up. Last night I had an inspiration. This morning I worked with smaller sections of stripes, flipping some, and even changing their width. I managed to produce this -
Do you think it will pass for random?
What I discovered, is that it's a lot more work to create something that looks unpredictable. It required way more planning and experimentation. I had to evaluate each addition by looking for a pattern to appear. So this was definitely an interesting experiment. Probably one I wouldn't have tried without Meg's questions.
Would I ever use random stripes in a weaving project? Actually, I have an idea for something which I'll try in the near future.
8 comments:
Leigh, I really like the final project.
One of the things that many great masters of almost anything write about (in any art) is how difficult it is to make things that are created look as if they naturally occurred. In haiku for example, the amount of work to get the words so they convey just the right sense and do not sound constructed is time consuming, as it the continued practice of sword work - a learned activity - to make it look effortless.
TB, I can appreciate that. Even simple plain communication requires a lot of thought and work. Something like haiku, even more so!
I'm actually surprised that I like these stripes too. I have an affection for pattern, even if it's asymmetrical like Fibonacci. But for some reason, this one appeals to me.
I'm surprised by the comment that patterns don't look 'natural.' There are SO MANY patterns in nature! Flower structures, pinecones, honeycomb, spider webs, etc., and even more at the microscopic level. I have loved the previous patterns you've come up with; this one, not so much. I think patterns, in nature and otherwise, are pleasing to the eye (not that random can't be).
If I recall, Meg has worked on random type warp patterns in the past. It is a challenge, I think because our human brains somehow like order. Where I think a random stripe sequence will work, is with an 8-shaft leaf draft I have. The leaf shape is created by the weft. I'm thinking that a random stripe warp will give the leaves individual personality. At least I think so in my mind. We'll see!
Oh, yes, you are going places! Random/simple is difficult and time-consuming, and there is always "the doubt". But it's a joy when it works, even if only in the maker's mind. But especially when dipicting nature, it feels "right" to me. (There is the added bonus, if you are the selling type that the end product is different from others.) I look forward to more of these, please!!!!!
Meg, thank you! I actually like it more than I thought I would. I think it helps to have something for inspiration. The stripes from the photo are random, so they made a good starting point.
Beautiful ❤️
Thank you Linda! I confess I'm amazed that I like it too.
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