Preparations are well under way for the Knit & Stitch show at Ally Pally in October.
I will be there with my new book ‘From Art to Stitch’ on stand number RCJ7. I will have books to sell and will show much of the work that I have made for it some of which will also be for sale. my thread stand will also be available
WORKSHOPS FOR 2015/6
Based on ‘From Art to Stitch’
CHUCK CLOSE
The inspiration is the work of an American portrait painter. He divides his images into grids which when viewed from a distance renders the image to a photographic likeness, but close up each square is abstract.
We will use this idea to turn a photograph into a hand stitched piece.
VAN GOGH
We will explore colour and texture through the work of this popular and inspirational artist. We will look closely at the painted surfaces and working with hand stitch, we will record the extraordinary colour combinations to inspire textured, stitched landscapes.
KANDINSKY
This artist was inspired by music, geometric shapes and eccentric structures. We use these ideas to create machine stitched surfaces as backgrounds for playful, imaginary 3D figures built from found objects.
HUNDERTWASSER
Hundertwasser was an architect who created imaginative buildings that grew out of the landscape. He had a horror of the straight line which he used to great advantage to meander across his vibrant paintings. This course uses applique and couching by hand and machine to depict architecture in the landscape.
MORANDI
Italian artist Georgio Morandi used a quiet, close-toned palette of colour to depict small still-life groups. We will combine loose textured surfaces with fine stumpwork-like stitching. Small vessels will be cast using a variety of techniqes with added straight stitching.
JOHN PIPER
The work of this prolific artist spans much of the twentieth century, so moves through several styles. This course is inspired by his prints and drawings of architecture that captures the ‘aesthetic decay’ of the British countryside. We will work with mono print to reflect the scribbly style of his mark-making and will combine this with machine stitching to create a small panel.
MATISSE
Henri Matisse is a very popular and prolific artist whose work developed through decorative simplification with light , colour and space. Much of his inspiration was drawn from textiles. Taking these elements we will use patterned, printed cloth together with still-life imagery to create rich, decorative and patterned surfaces using composite stitching by hand.
This year’s summer school was based on the work of the popular artist Van Gogh exploring colour and texture. Through close examination of his vibrant paintings and recording colour combinations and texture marks students made some exciting papers for design that inspired stitch samples.
They made some texture blocks that were used for print and to make rubbings. The next step was to combine these to create more complex surfaces for interpretation into small panels.
my book is now finished and will be available in September. I will be at the Knit & Stitch show at Alexandra Palace with the book and a display of some of the work that I have made for it. – Make a note of the dates – October 7th – 11th. I look forward to meeting you there.
Janet Edmonds 