Inspiration - Northern Star
Finding inspiring shapes and motifs from Greek folk embroidery is one of my passions and the Northern Star motif is one of my favorite finds. I stumbled upon it while admiring an outer-garment from Drymos (village in northern Greece) and I immediately fell in love with its simplicity and uniqueness.
Click on image to enlarge - I was inspired by the two circular motifs found on the left and the right of the piece.
Creating the Northern Star motif was a labor of love. I sketched and re-sketched the original circular shape until I achieved a balance of simplicity and elegance. I played around with traditional design tools like inks and watercolors, as well as digital ones, to create the final version.
If you look closely to the original motif you will notice that it has more points and fewer details, but I used some key elements like the Y shapes connecting the points of the star to create a more structured 16-point star.
The first time I used the Northern Star motif was for the embellished version of the Boules masks I made. The Northern Star was placed in the forehead replacing the gold circle found in the original masks.
It was then added to the hero print in my Boules collection of repeat patterns.
Recently, I even created a collection of three Christmas ornaments featuring the Northern Star motif that is currently available for purchase in my shop.
One of the things I love most about strong motifs like the Northern Star is their versatility. They can be scaled up or down and used in various contexts. I continue to experiment with this motif and I can't wait to see where it takes me next.
Greek folk embroidery is a significant part of Greece's cultural heritage. By incorporating elements of Greek folk embroidery into my designs, I hope to honor this rich history and share it with others.
If you're a fellow artist or designer, I encourage you to look at folk art almost like an explorer and seek those motifs that could really enrich your designs. I truly believe you will be surprised by how many unique shapes you will be able to find.
The Northern Star motif is a testament to the beauty and versatility of Greek folk motifs. It inspired me and I hope it inspires you too…
