Floral Design

Attributed to James Johnstone, this floral design exemplifies his training and interest in the Arts and Crafts movement, and in particular, British designers such as the eminent William Morris. Johnstone has created a stylised, symmetrical design that could easily be applied to everyday objects in the form of wallpaper or fabric. The pattern begins at the bottom of the paper, with a curving group of flowering teal-coloured petals. Thin green stems emerge from these and grow upwards, shooting off in the centre and looping back on themselves while the central stem continues towards the top of the design, where it emerges in a flourishing display of burnt orange and purple flowers. The pattern is simplified yet elegant, representing the essence of the plant rather than a detailed description. Colours are confined to precise borders, with only slight tonal variation occurring with the build-up of watercolour; allowing for block printing should the pattern be used for commercial products.