Wayne Pate’s paintings have captivated the design world- thanks to his unique twist on traditional motifs. Together with Wayne, we have worked to translate his signature figural style into textiles and wallpapers.
Keep reading for inside look at Wayne's world - his art, influences and his travel wish list.
HOW HAS TRAVEL INFLUENCED THE STYLE OF YOUR ART?
Sometimes you have an idea or a feeling you are trying to pursue and travel provides you with that missing sense that is required to actually execute it. You may recall a particular smell or the sunlight streaming down a cobble stone street in Florence, the sound of the bazaar in Istanbul. It’s these memories that really give form to those ideas.
ANY PLACES ON THE TOP OF YOUR "TO VISIT LIST" AT THE MOMENT?
As we are planning to relocate to Paris for a year this coming August the shortlist has become a bit longer. A few on that list are Portugal and Moorish parts of Spain.
YOU ARE NOW A LONGTIME BROOKLYN RESIDENT, AND WE HAVE NOTICED FROM INSTAGRAM THAT YOU OFTEN START YOUR MORNINGS AT NEIGHBORHOOD CAFES. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITES TO RECOMMEND TO YOUR FOLLOWERS
I was devastated when my local Le Pain Quotidien closed down which I frequented daily for about three years. At the moment I’ve gravitated to Brooklyn Larder for the time being. I like a morning ritual, I find it a very productive part of the day that lacks distraction.
DO YOU PREFER PAINTING WITH MORE BOLD PRIMARY COLORS OR DO YOU ALSO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND PASTEL TONES? ANY FAVORITE PAINT BRANDS OR COLORS YOU SEEM TO BE USING MORE FREQUENTLY THESE DAYS?
I am more of a unusual color palette painter where I try and use primary more for contrast, line and accent. I find it very limiting and can really choke a composition out of it’s potential. The brand of paint I use is Sennelier from France. I never use the paint straight out of the tube, it is always mixed with something and I find their colors offer a great foundation and produce hues I really like working with. I often work with a lot of neutrals and work in color as I go along.
WHAT'S COMING NEXT?
More textiles, as I love the process of executing them on paper. I think a composition developed for a textile can stand on it’s own as a painting, several of my textile patterns started off this way and evolved into textiles or wallpapers. I’m also planning to focus more time on painting ceramics, tiles and larger painted tiled compositions.
