Fairlyte Hand Painted Interiors

Fabric Designs for Rowan, Westminster

2011-06-15T10:52:00.005+01:00

Last year I was thrilled to be invited to design for WESTMINSTER FIBERS, an American company producing "lifestyle" printed fabrics for quilting and sewing. I am part of the ROWAN FABRICS branch of the company and have produced two collections with a third in production.

See the Westminster Lifestyle Fabrics Spring 2011 Catalogue here

Back in 2007 Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mabey chanced upon my studio and were inspired enough to recommend me to Westminster with whom they've collaborated since the 80's. If you don't know of these guys please look them up because they are leading ambassadors in the world of quilting, knitwear and glorious colour and pattern. Incredibly lovely chaps too!

First Collection - out now:

FAIRLYTE GARDEN
5 designs in 4 colourways

Butterfly Carnival

Medusa Tree

Bug Hunt

Blossom Swirl

Fritillary Wing

This collection launched in January 2011. I called it Fairlyte Garden after my business name Fairlyte. It's an odd spelling I know and I've seen it online spelt in the oddest ways (Fairytale, Fairylyte etc).

The 5 designs evolved from a large fresco secco painting I did in 2009 (below) when I was playing with elements of Chinoiserie and scraps of vintage fabric.

Dragonfly Tree (with detail)

The design process was a huge learning curve for me as I had to paint in a new way that could be interpreted by the engravers into fabric. That meant being able to separate the colours, put the designs into a working repeat and think on a smaller scale than I'm used to. The biggest challenge was how to keep my signature style of ageing and distressing the surface; how to incorporate cracks and worn areas. There are limitations and some of my cracking didn't translate so well into fabric, looking more like batik in print, so I had to adapt my techniques.

Here's a shot from the workshop last year. At the bottom are my original paintings for Butterfly Carnival, Medusa Tree and Bug Hunt:

The Fairlyte Workshop - some artwork

I was thrilled to see the designs for the first time in print. I'm not a quilter myself and do very little sewing so I am keen to see how people use my fabrics and I hope to learn from feedback how I can adapt and develop my style as I work on future collections.

2nd collection - launches August 2011

MISAKI

8 designs in 4 colourways

Coming soon is this larger collection of Oriental inspired designs. It was previewed at the Houston Spring Quilt Market in May as featured on the fascinating True Up blog devoted to fabric.

Here's a sneak preview of my own:

The Misaki Collection by Melissa White

3rd Collection - launches Jan 2012

TO BE NAMED

I am currently working on my third collection which should come out in January if all goes well. I've started painting in gouache on paper rather than with pigments on fresco as before. Loving the colour control. Here's a sneak preview:

New work in progress

I'm really excited about this one as it's inspired by an amazing exhibition I went to in Paris in May. It was a retrospective of one of my favourite artists Odilon Redon. I adore his pastels as he uses the most gorgeous colours imaginable. Stay tuned!

WHERE TO BUY

Please visit the Westminster website for their Store Locator.

In the UK you can order a selection from the Fairlyte Garden Collection at FANCY MOON priced at £12.98 p/m. This online "purveyor of fine fabrics" stocks a great range including many from Westminster.

Satyrs, Putti and Masks (oh my)

2010-10-11T23:29:00.026+01:00

This recent commission for a painted wall hanging is a nice opportunity for me to show you one of my favourite examples of grotesquework. I love it for its dynamic, bold and playful subject matter.

This large scale design is one of the five we selected for The Anticke Collection.

The Golden Cross wall hanging

It depicts a scrolling fantasy of arabesques, masks, satyrs, naked putti and pilasters.

This is an English variation on the Italian Renaissance decorative style which in turn is derived from Ancient Rome (the word grotesque coming from the Latin root "grotto" meaning a small cave or hollow where these types of design were discovered.)

Details of our painted cloth

Painting the cloth at the workshop. Close reference is made to photos of the original wall painting to capture the spirit of the artist who painted it nearly 500 years ago.

The original black and white wall painting of c1550 still survives in good condition in a 15th century inn. This is largely because it was preserved behind panelling until its discovery in the 1940's. The design was painted with lamp black and size on lime washed lime plaster.

Details of the original wall painting

Commissioning Fairlyte

As one of The Anticke Collection designs we can paint the Golden Cross Grotesque onto linen to be hung as a wall cloth, or by the metre for curtains and soft furnishings. Sections may also be painted as fresco secco panels. Please contact Fairlyte for details and pricing.

Painted cloths installed wall to wall in Shakespeare's Birthplace Museum.

Shakespeare's Birthplace Museum

Reopening in 2000 following an ambitious redisplay project this landmark museum commissioned us to paint the Golden Cross Grotesque onto stiffened linen to line the walls of the upstairs parlour. We also provided cloths for 3 other rooms.

Fairlyte Open Studios

2010-09-16T22:14:00.000+01:00

The Fairlyte Workshop is opening its doors for the

COASTAL CURRENTS Arts Festval 2010

A celebration of visual arts, performance and events throughout my hometown of Hastings & beyond.

Opening times:

18 - 19 & 25 - 26 September 11am - 6pm

For full details including directions please visit the COASTAL CURRENTS website

If you are local to Hastings on the South Coast of England it would be great to meet you. Come and have a cream tea and meet me and my two guest designer makers (see below)

Here is a little montage of some of the work I'll have on show and for sale:

Some of my fresco secco paintings

....and here are some Elizabethan designs hand painted on linen for cushions and curtains and as fresco secco panels.

A mosaic of Elizabethan designs

Joining me are:

Julie Tucker-Williams
Julie creates unique pieces in silver and gold, precious stones and freshwater pearls. Buy unusual jewellery from stock or commission a piece to your personal requirements.

Vanessa Mooncie

Vanessa is a contemporary crochet jewellery designer who creates delicate, finely detailed accessories. As a silkscreen artist her prints capture the provocative narrative in couture, dance and illustration.

Vanessa's crochet pendant and Julie's silver heart pendant

Mermaids and Multivines

2010-09-06T20:33:00.000+01:00

A recent commission to paint a swirling Elizabethan Multivine design.

The finished painted wall


Mel and Dave painting the design

We painted this design between the studding of an attic bedroom in a Grade II listed Elizabethan house in Mermaid Street, Rye.

Mermaid Street, Rye

The original design was discovered painted on the walls of a house in Canterbury which is why we have named the design The Canterbury Multivine. Whilst the house is long since demolished, fortunately the painting was recorded as a watercolour just before the bulldozers moved in. Thanks to this sketch we were able to reconstruct what we know was a popular style of design in the 16th century.


A detail of the original watercolour

As Elizabethan wall painting designs go this is one of the more subtle and pretty of them with a loose flowing arrangement of flowers, leaves, acorns and fruit. As with most Elizabethan wall paintings this design has its appertaining frieze across the top. The colours consist of a simple palette of earth colours: shades of yellow and red ochre and terre verte.

We have enjoyed using this elegant design over the years in different settings. Here are some examples (not terribly good quality photos I'm afraid - these are scans from photos - pre-digital era!)


Canterbury Multivine - Exhibition stand at Period Living Fair

Canterbury Multivine painted on kitchen walls (private client)

Canterbury Multivine painted between beams in a library (private client)

VELVET DRAGONS

2010-08-02T19:20:00.002+01:00

Supplied to The General Trading Company

This world-famous department store has long been a favourite of the Queen and once held the wedding list for the Prince of Wales. In Spring the store relocated from Sloane Square to South Kensington introducing new designers along the way.

I was invited to supply a collection of velvet cushions hand painted with a slightly fierce, slightly demure looking dragon head. This design is based on an Elizabethan grotesque wall painting found in a house in Surrey.

Elizabethan wall painting

Here are some shots I took at the workshop then in store later on.


Newly painted Dragon cushions at the Fairlyte workshop.

Dragon cushions piled up at the workshop before delivery to London


Dragon and pompom cushions amongst others at The General Trading Co. Store.

Cushions dotted around the store

Along with the Dragon cushions I also supplied unpainted pompom cushions and some linen cushions painted with leaves:

Pompom cushions in six colours. Pictured here at the workshop against one of my fresco secco panels titled "Dragonfly tree"

Linen cushions with painted leaves in four shades pictured at workshop

It was good to have a large order like this from such a prestigious shop. The connection was made in November 2010 when The GTC hosted the first gathering of QEST scholars. Called The British Craft Fair this was an opportunity for craftsmen and women to sell their crafts to the public. I became a QEST scholar in 2007 when I was awarded a sum of money to carry out further research into Elizabethan painted interiors. Hopefully there'll be another show this year. I'll keep you posted.

As for the Dragon; I've been very fond of this dragon wall painting for a while now and as an aside, here's a fresco secco panel I painted recently:

Bagshot Dragon Fresco Secco

WHERE TO BUY:

Dragon, Pompom and Leaf Cushions
Available uniquely from The General Trading Company. Priced variously between £90 and £185

Bagshot Dragon fresco secco panel
30cm2, £170 from Early Oak Reproductions

Dragonfly Tree fresco secco panel
w122cm x h92cm, £950. Available directly from the Fairlyte Workshop - Contact Melissa: info@fairlyte.co.uk

Welcome

2010-07-23T23:47:00.001+01:00

MY FIRST POST

Hello

I'm Melissa White and I established Fairlyte Hand Painted Interiors about eight years ago having been a decorative artist since 1995. I work from my large workshop in Hastings, East Sussex where I hand paint all things decorative for interiors.

I've decided to get this Blog going to replace the newsletters I've been sending out for a few years now. Rather than waiting to build up bits and bobs worthy of a newsletter I think I'd prefer to give shorter snapshots of what I'm up to in Blog form.

I hope that my precious mailing list subscribers will be happy to follow me here instead. If you are new to Fairlyte, may I suggest a quick nosey around my two websites (listed to the right).

I'm excited about how this Blog could develop. To get the ball rolling here are some random shots of my workshop as it stands this week:

Some fresco secco panels of repeat patterns I've been working on.

Piles of vintage linen, a painted swatch of an Elizabethan design & a painted linen cushion

Some off-cuts of Elizabethan painted cloths

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