A machine stitched panel was inspired by some art work created spontaneously with ink and acrylic paint. The work is flat, unusual for me as I normally like to raise the surface in some way.
Recent work
Vessels
I have at last completed the two vessels started on a workshop taken at Hawkwood college near Stroud. The workshop was lead by Gisela Warburton, a very generous tutor. She showed how to make these vessels and how to really think carefully about how we could add or decorate using Line. We painted twigs from the surrounding woodland and also strips of fabric and studied the relationship between them when placed together on a plain white sheet of paper. We explored possibilities with placement, weaving them together and recorded the shadows created by light falling on and around the material.
It was a very thoughtful process, slow to come to judgement and selection, giving a meditative quality to the making. I have enjoyed making these and taking time to finish them. There is satisfaction in observing closely, mulling decisions over in the mind. Sometimes making is spontaneous and quick and other times it is good to slow down and contemplate options.
Scraped vessel
This vessel was painted black first then covered with white paint that was scraped back.
Here I have used just white paint to add a line or two and to fill the upper space with finely cut thread to create a texture that looks stitched.
The Broderers Exhibition
The art of Embroidery
London 22 – 27th February 2022
Bankside Gallery, London SE1 9JH
I have a piece in this exhibition, do come and visit.
Textile Residency Day 2 Wednesday
I will expand on the A1 painting I did yesterday. I used mainly black ink plus yellow and red. The red ink was a concentrated type and was very strong and not the colour I really wanted. I wet the paper in areas and and drew into the wet surface referencing the tree photos I had before me. The water spread the ink and gave me some nice mixes of colour. The concentrated red was much too strong so I drew over it with a brown Caron d’ache crayon to knock it back.
I used some of the papers I had painted to create a collage based on a tree photo and made a raised surface. It needs more work but I need time to consider what. I worked into a couple of the pieces I did yesterday.
There were a few visitors who showed interest in the work and it was good to consolidate my thinking as I had to explain my what I was doing.
Residency at Layby Farm, Stoke Mandeville, 11th – 23rd October
I will be in residence at Unit 1 Layby Farm, Old Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville, HP22 5XJ from 11th – 23rd October.
I will be working to the theme of TREES and making work from the photographs that I took as I walked the Outer Aylesbury Ring. I am interested in the many details to be found within trees. I like to draw tree bark, lichen, scars and snags on the bark, decaying matter and anything that gives me texture and the patina of decay and ageing. Drawings in the first instance will be translated into stitching. I intend to work mainly by hand but depending on how the work develops, I may decide to add machine stitching.
The residency will end with a workshop 0n Saturday 23rd October that will explore close observation of the marks left by the passing of time, of growth and weathered details on the surfaces of trees. the act of looking, considering and recording the infinite variety of detail will result in intensely worked surfaces on paper and fabric.
Do come and visit.
Taking Textiles Further
Two further weekends are offered at Missenden Abbey in the Taking Textiles Further series.
Taking Textiles Further is a course aimed at textile artists who have completed certificated courses or others to come and further develop their design skills within their own textile specialism. This may be anything from embroidery to patchwork, or knitting, felting, weaving or lace making. Students are encouraged to explore ideas and methods of design that may be outside their usual range and to critique their own and others within this supportive environment where peer support is part of the workshop time. Drawing is a key activity and is practised in its widest forms giving learners a very individual and original starting point. There is an expectation that learners will also take a keen interest in contextural issues and the wider sphere of textile practice.
Weekends are designed around broad topics with attention given to design elements and principals and contextural concerns. This year’s theme is ‘connections’ which may be made in many different ways; physical, digital, writings, through historical, geographical and community sources. There is a rich seam of inspiration to be found wherever one looks. Connections may be made through practical means or may be unseen and merely sensed or felt. They may be personal, local, cultural, lasting or ephemeral. This subject provides a feast of exciting but challenging starting points for textile design.
Weekend two 28/29th March 2020
This course considers the design ideas found through investigating connections between people past and present. These may be family trees or historical registers such as lists of people travelling by boat or train, the written word through letters or diaries between family or others or any other written evidence. This is an opportunity to design a unique textile that illustrates personal connections with people, places, or an historical event.
Using the texts we will design with print, transfer methods and Thermofax prints to engage with the connections they present, combining paper, cloth and writing. We will create surfaces that suggest the passing of time and evoke memories using maps and family tree forms and embedded text.
Weekend three 13/14th June 2020
Connect with recycling and repurpose unwanted objects with reclaimed materials to create a modern icon or container to hold a precious item. Consider using an old garment, a book, an object or piece of jewelery that is past its best and transform it into something else to give new meaning and fresh appeal. Using wrapping and stitching together with old used cloth we will create a new object imbued with special memories and significance.
For further information check out the Missenden Abbey website: Missendenschoolofcreativearts.co.uk
Bucks Art Weeks 2020
I am taking part in this years Art weeks starting 6th June to21st June. I will be showing 2D and 3D textile works and drawings.
I hope that it is a better week weather wise than last year when we had wet and stormy conditions.
Old and New – exhibition at Open Door, Berkhamstead
I am showing three pieces of work in the Open door textile exhibition that runs from 20th January to 16th February 2020
Hiding Places – a series of frames within frames using mixed media.
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Detail from ‘Trapped’ cotton fabric and hand stitching.
‘Graffiti’ machine embroidery, from a design developed from a broken window
Bucks Art Weeks
Open studios 2019
This is the first time I have opened my studio for visitors. I have set up a selection of my work to show the range and diversity of what I spend my time doing. The weather is cold, rainy and blowing a gale but dont let that put off your visit.
Missenden School of Creative Arts summer School
Image into stitch inspired by the work of John Piper
August 5 -7th
John Piper worked throughout the greater part of the twentieth Century, exploring a wide range of techniques and subjects. This course is based on his work about the countryside, and how historical buildings connect to their environment.
He used printmaking to illustrate his interests so we will explore mono print as a means to generate ideas. Imagery will come from architectural sources and we will endeavour to capture the effect of ‘shabby chic’ that so appealed to him.
For more information contact: alison@missendenschoolofcreativearts.co.uk
Janet Edmonds 