Printing without a pattern with Pat Pauly

Show Notes

Takeaways from this episode:

• Fabric is both canvas and collaborator.

  Pat doesn’t just design on fabric, she designs with it. Her large-scale prints aren’t decorative backdrops but integral elements of composition, often driving the entire structure of her quilts.

• Composition begins without a plan.

   Rather than starting with a fixed design, Pat creates a “palette” of printed fabrics and lets them converse on the design wall. “They just happen to be like best buddies,” she says. “It’s as though they were ready to hang out for the whole school year.”

• Printing is a process of freedom, not control.

  From soy wax resist to spontaneous scraping, Pat’s surface design techniques are loose, direct, and joyfully imprecise. “I just love printing,” she says. “It’s a Zen moment.”

• Bold colour doesn’t need permission.

  Pat embraces intense colour unapologetically. Her advice? “Don’t be shy. Value is what matters most. Try it out.”

• Your life becomes your language.

  Whether it’s gardening, photography, or carpentry, Pat believes that all your life experiences should find their way into your creative work. “Everything you do and experience should be of use to your work. You don’t have to tell anybody about it, just do it.”

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Explore the artwork from this episode below

During the live interview, we shared some images of Pat’s artwork. Since you’re listening to the podcast version, we’ve made some images available for you below.