Design By Commission

This recently finished commission was quite different for me. Designed around the clients fine bed linen, that is decorated with silk embroidery. The pattern is small and random and fills a border that sweeps across the cream background framed by a double pleat.
I decided to focus on one element of the design; the pink floral one, because the client has plain pink curtains in her room. I managed then to include most of the smaller elements all bound together by the swirly lines that appear throughout.

To appreciate the painting fully you have to be infront of it, pearlescent medium adds a pleasant surprise to some of the petals on the pink flower, the paint on the leaves was applied to resemble stitching and texture medium and gutta were used to create texture. I applied two raised strips at each end of the canvas to replicate the pleats that frame the pattern.

The linen is elegant, feminine, delicate and slightly oriental in appearance, my aim was to capture that essence while providing a focal point and creating a piece that would tie all elements of the linen and the room together.
I went through many sketches before I reached this point and was surprised at how much of the time spent on this commission went into the planning of it rather than the painting of it...reminding me that it's often the simplest of design that have the most graft behind them.

I was happy with my result and the client was very pleased...It looks wonderful in the room, holding focal point across the top of the bed.