Considering pattern for surface decoration - birds

Early this morning, while walking on the salt marsh, I was entertained by the aerial display of a flock of House Martin, newly returned from sunnier climes. Their flight was mesmerising — wheeling, swooping and diving in constantly changing directions — although this made photographing them extremely difficult. More often than not, I found myself with images filled almost entirely with sky, interrupted only by the tiniest dark speck.

Rather than seeing these photographs as failures, I began to see potential within them. I decided to zoom closely into each image, isolating the small forms of the birds and adjusting the tones and colours until only black silhouettes remained. Stripped of detail, these shapes became something much more abstract: fleeting marks that capture movement, rhythm and spontaneity.

What interests me most is how these silhouettes might translate into surface decoration. I can imagine them evolving through print, perhaps using photocopied repetitions, or becoming the starting point for free-flowing drawn patterns rather than literal representations of birds. The unpredictable paths of their flight already suggest a natural visual language — one that feels energetic, layered and organic — and I am excited to explore how these aerial traces might develop within my textile work.