Lowri Thomas

1. This pattern was inspired by a beautiful flower I encountered during my visit to Kensington Gardens. As I wandered through the park, the vibrant pinkcolour immediately caught my eye. I was also drawn to the flower’s unique shape, it stood out distinctly from the others around it. The texture was equally fascinating, almost inviting me to reach out and feel its form. The backdrop of lush, varied shades of green only enhanced the flower’s presence, and I could already envision a dynamic pattern beginning to take shape. To capture both beauty and texture of what I saw, I explored a range of materials in my own work. I used watercolours for softness, oil pastels for depth, black felt pens for bold definition, and coloured fine-tip pens to bring in detail. Eahc medium added a different dimension to the piece.
2. To push the design further, I turned to an app called ‘Mirrorly’, where I experimented with creating mirrored versions of my pattern. This playful process opened up a whole new perspective, transforming my orignial drawing into a series of captivating, symmetrical designs. The mirrored shapes added rhythm and complexity, giving the pattern a fresh, dynamic energy that felt both familiar and entirely new.

3.This floral pattern holds a deep personal meaning for me because it’s inspired by a flower from my grandma’s greenhouse back home. I made sure to add different colour shades to the flower to add texture, but I feel like next time i could’ve added a black fine liner pen to the painting to give more of a defined look. The colors and shapes in this design bring back memories of spending time with her, surrounded by the plants she cared for so patiently. The soft blues and deep purples make me feel calm and connected to home, while also expressing a bit of who I am through art. Creating this pattern lets me hold onto those memories and feelings, turning something personal and meaningful into a piece of work. I really enjoy the watercolours in this painting because they create a soft and calming effect that makes the artwork feel gentle and natural. The way the colours blend together gives the petals and leaves a smooth, flowing look, almost like they’re alive and moving. I also enjoy how the watercolours add texture and depth, with lighter and darker areas that make the painting look more dynamic and expressive.

4. After creating the original floral painting, I then decided to experiment further by digitally manipulating it on my laptop. I duplicated and arranged the image multiple times to form a repeating pattern, exploring how the composition could transform into a effective design. The result turned out beautifully, each repetition enhanced the rhythm and flow of the flowers, creating a sense of harmony and movement across the page. The contrast between the rich purples and soft blues adds depth and sophistication. I think this design would look stunning as a wallpaper or fabric print, as it brings a touch of elegance and nature-inspired beauty to any space.

5. This pattern was inspired by a close-up of a green leaf I found in my local park. As I started observing it, I became fascinated by all the tiny details, especially the veins, which created such a beautiful and natural pattern. I really enjoyed following the curves and marks, almost like tracing the leaf’s story. Using a fine black pen made those details stand out in a way that felt bold and expressive. Adding different shades of green watercolour in the background gave it a soft, calming feel that reminds me of being surrounded by nature.

6.For this pattern, my inspiration came from an unusually shaped flower I found at the Botanical Gardens in my hometown in South Wales. When I first saw it, I was drawn to its imperfect beauty, some of its petals were missing, yet that made it feel even more special and full of character. It reminded me that even things that look a little broken can still be beautiful, and I wanted to bring that feeling to life in my work. While I was at home, I had access to all of my art materials, so I made sure to make the most of them. I experimented with a hot glue gun on cotton fabric to capture the flower’s texture and movement, then added blue dye ink around the glue, which gave the piece a calm and expressive quality, almost as if the flower was coming back to life. I later decided to develop this pattern further by experimenting digitally on my laptop. I played around with copying, repeating, and rotating the image in different shapes and angles, and I felt excited watching it transform each time. This process made me feel more confident and creative, it reminded me how much I enjoy exploring new techniques and helped me strengthen my editing skills while discovering new ways to present my work.

7.After that, I decided to print the pattern onto white cotton fabric using a heat press to see how it would turn out, and I loved the result. I like how the repetition gives the design a sense of balance and structure while still feeling organic and natural. The addition of the yellow thread, sewn in using a sewing machine, adds a lovely touch of colour and character that brings warmth and personality to the piece.

8. This pattern was inspired by the variety of marks and patterns I’m surrounded by in my room. This time, I wanted to create something more spontaneous, a pattern that flowed freely from my hand and mind, without overthinking it. This piece reminds me a lot of an optical illusion, it draws me in and almost plays with my eyes in a really captivating way. I love the variety of mark-making and how the bold, vibrant colours bring so much energy and movement to the pattern. Using coloured acrylic felt-tip pens made the process feel really free and expressive; I enjoyed watching the colours build and blend together. The finished piece feels lively and dynamic, and it makes me feel inspired and uplifted every time I look at it.

9. This drawing was inspired by a plant pot I came across in my local café. Something about its simple design caught my attention, and I wanted to capture that feeling in my work.To create the pattern effect, I used layers of ripped coloured tissue paper for the background, which turned out really interesting. I love how the different colours overlap and blend with each other, creating new blocks of colour and subtle transitions. It adds so much texture and depth to the piece, making it both visually engaging and fun to touch and look at. This pattern was created through freehand mark-making, where I focused on movement and expression rather than precision. I loved the feeling of letting my hand flow naturally, allowing each mark to develop its own rhythm. The overlapping lines and varied textures give the piece a lively and spontaneous energy.

10. This pattern was inspired by the artificial tulip in the photo. I really like how the shapes and colors flow together — the mix of reds, greens, and blues feels really alive. The curved lines from the leaves give the pattern a nice movement, almost like it’s growing out of the page. I also like how the brushstrokes overlap and blend, it gives the whole thing a textured, layered feel. It’s loose but still has structure, which makes it fun to look at and experiment with. For this pattern I experimented with oil pastels and acrylic paint

11. To develop this piece further, I decided to use the app ‘Mirrorly’ again because I thought the colours and the different types of mark-making would work really well with the mirrored effect. I really like how the symmetry completely transforms the original pattern — it feels more structured and balanced, but still keeps the expressive and organic quality of the paint. The mirrored shapes almost create a new flower-like form in the centre, which I find really interesting. I also love how the repeated lines and colours draw your eye inward, giving the whole piece a sense of movement and depth.

12. This pattern was inspired by the previous flower design I created using the hot glue gun. This time, I decided to photocopy the pattern onto paper and use my sewing machine from home on the loose embroidery setting with blue thread to recreate the flower shape. I really like how the blue stitching turned out, it makes the pattern stand out more with the pink backround and adds a bold, edgy feel to the piece. The texture from the thread also gives it more depth and makes the design feel more dynamic and tactile.

REFLECTION

During the second task of this project, which focused on pattern, I explored a range of techniques to discover and create different textures and designs inspired by both London and my home. Much of my inspiration came from nature, I found myself drawn to the shapes, colours, and details found in local parks and gardens such as Kensington Gardens, the Botanical Gardens in South Wales, and my grandma’s greenhouse. I’ve learned a lot about myself as an artist and how I connect with my surroundings. I began to notice that inspiration can come from almost anywhere, from nature, textures, and colours, to simple everyday objects that often go unnoticed. I realised that I enjoy taking these small details and transforming them into something creative and meaningful. Working on each pattern taught me how to slow down, observe closely, and express emotions through colour, line, and texture. I also found that I’m naturally drawn to organic and flowing designs that feel alive and expressive. What I enjoyed most was experimenting with different techniques and materials, from watercolours and fabric to digital editing and stitching, and seeing how each one changed the outcome of my ideas. Each stage of the process gave me a chance to discover new ways of working and helped me become more confident in exploring my creativity. I learned to embrace trial and error, trust my instincts, and let my work develop naturally. Overall, this project has helped me grow as an artist, showing me that inspiration is everywhere and creativity often comes from simply being open to experiment and explore.

1. This Drawing was inspired by a piece of graffiti I came across in an alley near London Bridge. As I walked through the narrow passage, the vibrant artwork on the wall immediately caught my attention – the bold, colourful font was striking, making it interesting to look at. To reflect the texture and style of the original graffiti in my own work, I used a range of techniques. These include water colours, oil pastels, coloured felt-tip pens, ripped coloured paper and denim fabric, allowing me to create layered texture.

2. This second drawing was inspired by a vibrant coffee stall in Borough Market. Its bold and inviting colour palette stood out among the surrounding stalls, instantly drawing my attention. To capture the warmth of the scene, I experimented with a variety of techniques, including watercolours, oil pastels, felt-tip pens and ripped coloured paper. These materials helped me bring texture and depth into the drawing.

3. This third drawing was inspired by a vibrant shopfront in Camden Town that immediately caught my eye. I was drawn to it’s stricking pink brick wall and the bold graffiti artwork covering the roller shutter front door. The building was bursting with colour, creating lively and captivating scene. To bring this energy into my drawing, i used a mix of techniques and materials, including watercolours, oil pastels, coloured felt-tip pens, and even ripped magazine paper iIcollected from a stall in Camden Market.

4. This fourth drawing was inspired again by Camden Town. The graffiti font on this side of the brick wall was so bold and vibrant, it was quite overwhelming at first! To bring this energy into my drawing i used a variety of techniques, such as water colours, coloured pencils, oil pastels and felt tips.

5. This particular photo was inspired by a vibrant fruit and veg stall stall i came across at Borough Market. I was especially drawn to the rich variety of tomatoes, displayed in an array of sizes and deep, stricking colours. To capture this scene I decided to use water colours as a base, and then work on top with water colours to add texture and shadows. I also used felt tip pens to give the drawing more of a defined look.

6. This drawing was also inspired by the same colourful fruit and vegtable stall at Borough Market, but this time I chosse to focus on the bright, tropical tones of the oranges. The way they were stacked created a stricking, organic pattern that immediately caught my eye, i had to capture it! I began with a base layer of water colous, then built up texture and detail using oil pastels and fine line felt tips.

7. This drawing was inspired by a vibrant ‘Pimms’ stall i came across at Borough Market, which immediately caught my eye as ‘Pimms’ happens to be one of my favourite alcoholic drinks! The artwork is based on a colourfull poster advertising the beverage’s price, which stood out with various colours , creating a vibrant appearance. I decided to use oil pastels, water colours and coloured fine line marker pens for this drawing.

8. My eighth drawing was inspired by a cluster of vibrant flowers I often see during my daily walks in the local park near where im staying. Their bold colours and unique shapes never fail to catch my eye, and i felt compelled to capture their beauty on paper. For this piece, i used a combination of watercolours, oil pastels and black marker pens to bring out their vividness and detail.

9. This is a quick sketch and colour study of a postbox I came across while walking though the streets of London central. I was drawn to its distinctive shape and vibrant green colour, which made it unique and stand out from the other postboxes. To capture its character, I used watercolours for the base tones, oilpastels to add texture and depth, and fine line marker pens for more of defined detail look on the outlines.

10. My tenth drawing was inspired by a beautiful flower pot i discovered at my local cafe while having tea. I was particularly drawn to the unique shape of the flower and the angle i managed to capture. I thought the petals are especially stricking, with their unusual form and varying shades of pink. I also found the spiky stigma at the center added texture and character to overall piece. I used combination of water colours and oil pastels for a vibrant, layered finish, and added detail using black fine line pens for defining shape.

REFLECTION

During this talking colour task, I began by focusing on my surroundings, drawing inspiration from some of my faveourite areas in London, particularly Borough Market and Camden Town. While exploring these locations, I took time to observe and experiment with the variety of colours and textures I discovered, capturing them through photographs and quick sketches to develop some initial pattern and colour ideas. At Borough Market, I was initially overwhelmed but also excited by the vibrant and exotic displays of food. The fruit and Vegetable stall especially caught my attention, I had never seen such brightly coloured produce before. The textures and natural patterns of the fruit sparked numerous ideas for how I wanted to represent them in my drawings. For example, I chose to focus on the oranges, tomatoes, a colourful ‘Pimms’ poster, and a nearby coffee stall, each offering unique visual elements that i found inspiring.

As I continued exploring Camden Town, I was captivated by the graffiti art covering the brick walls. It was both fascinating and mesmerizing , a visual explosion of colour and expression. The graffiti fonts radiated a frenetic energy, each stroke seeming to pulse with life, as if the walls themselves were breathing. Vibrant and full of character, the artwork drew me in with its bold curves, dynamic shapes, and diverse styles. The texture of the brick beneath added depth, making the art feel raw and tangible. I truly enjoyed taking in every detail.

Working on this task made me realise just how much colour means to me on a personal level, I see it as an essential part of life’s meaning. Experiencing and visualising colour everyday brings me joy and allows me to express my emotions more freely. While exploring Camden and Borough Market, I encountered a wide range of colours I had never noticed before, which I found truly fascinating, and gave me ideas for my future projects/tasks. When creating my drawings, I intentionally experimented with a variety of materials including water colours, oil pastels, coloured felt tip pens, coloured pencils, ripped coloured paper, magazine and even denim fabric. I really enjoyed blending these materials to add texture, character, and depth to my work. This process not only enhanced the visiual impact of my drawings but also helped me discover my personal style and prefrences in designing and live drawing, whether its what materials I connect with most, and which ones I dont.