Wallpaper Paintings

This wallpaper art series was inspired mainly by 1950's, 1960's and 1970's wallpaper. Huge thanks to my pals for rummaging through their pantries and cupboards looking for and finding old wallpaper patterns. I have a (slightly weird) fascination for the patterns, but not necessarily the wallpaper colours from that period. I spent a lot of time staring at wallpaper as a kid, and learnt if I stared at the pattern for long enough, I could alter the perspective and create new patterns. In the 70’s we moved from a 1950’s state house in Porirua East into the first solar powered house built under a government scheme at the time. The solar power panels didn’t last, and were expensive to maintain or replace, but I clearly remember the wallpaper in both homes.

I also love Chinoiserie, which is a French word for the fusion of Eastern and Western design. Chinoiserie is a European decorative style that imitates the art and design of European design with China, Japan, and other Asian countries. It was particularly popular from the latter half of the 18th to the mid-19th century and had a resurgence during the Art deco period. I love Chinoiserie pattern design because it has parrots, birds, fish, flowers like peonies, roses, orchids, and is so pretty. The pattern is often replicated on wallpaper, and soft furnishings such as cushions and curtains in lavish or luxurious interior designed homes.