What I Did With The Pattern / May 31, 2015 by Sasha Ward

Inside the baptistry, Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Cattistock, Dorset.                             … — Inside the baptistry, Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Cattistock, Dorset. Copy of the wall pattern

This repeat pattern has been drawn up and ready for use since I first saw it in Cattistock Church last January. I was particularly attracted by the nature of the geometry within the repeat - at the same time diagonal and square but disguised by the organic overall flow of the pattern. In my design work, particularly the ones for healthcare settings, I find that my own preference for a geometric framework is not necessarily what is required. So I have been reversing my usual practice and putting the repetitive geometry into the details which float on an irregular textured background.

Study for designs for Special Care Baby Unit counselling room, Yeovil District Hospital.

The pattern has gone through a series of changes from the original at Cattistock to give it a more open and rounded appearance to suit this commission. More changes resulted from feedback that leaf shapes were preferred to flowers - a bit of a blow as the pattern is essentially floral, but I believe that making changes to order is one of the things that drives my work forward.

Design for 4 ceiling tiles for Yeovil Hospital, SCBU counselling room

Patterns in a Dorset Church / January 21, 2015 by Sasha Ward

I was slightly worried about the way that I had shoved my three Kelmscott designs together in The New Brewery Arts Exhibition (see my last post), but after my visit to The Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul in Cattistock, Dorset I realise that I could have gone further with my display. The baptistry under the tower was designed by Gilbert Scott and decorated in 1901 probably by W.O. & C. Powell. It's a small space filled with patterns, texts and images with no spare space between them. I was particularly taken with one design, used in two different colourways, my drawings of this repeat pattern are shown below right.

Interior of the baptistry at Cattistock Parish Church

I was really there to visit this small, rich Morris window from 1882. The colours are strong and the design is clear, facing the porch this window is immediately more eye-catching than any of the others although they are all filled with interesting stained glass of different types. The detail that I picked out here is the depiction of the wooden surface of the angel's zither - ways of showing wood grain on glass is something that I've played around with too.