Textiles
I trained as a textile designer at Central school of art and design but ended up specialising in woven Jaquard fabrics using a loom which was the very first form of computer using cards which I had to punch and thread together myself. This enables very complex designs, infact the victorians did almost photographic pieces, resembling etchings. This all requires old huge and heavy equipment which I can no longer house where we live now.
I found that using machine and hand emboidery on my own hand painted fabrics enabled me to achieve the effects and atmosphere without losing the feeling of cloth and the tactile 3 D side of that.
White Swan Echinacea 35cm x 61cm
Machine and Hand Embroidery on organza and silk hanging
Exhibited Cumbria Open Exhibition 2007 Upfront Gallery
Private Owner Graz Austria
During my time in London I followed some evening classes with Chris Knight entitled ' Women Myth and Legend' and have focused on these ideas.
piece represents a celebration of the first woman 'Eve' as a strong positive life enhancing figure, rather than the accepted view of Eve as a negative and sinful woman. The broken image representational of the betrayal of the positive aspects of woman
In many other cultures and beliefs the image of a woman, a tree and a snake is seen as a positive one. The use of red is emphasised to symbolise life.
'And in the beginning Eve'
Large triple hanging of three separate pieces of an insallation 190cm x 150cm and 40cm in depth.
Close up of wall hanging Eve
This work on 'Eve' has led me into more life drawing and I hope to investigate this further but I am still pursuing the floral ideas above in white swan. Hope to do more of these in view to exhibiting a series with the female form.
'Eve 3'
machine and hand embroidery silk and organza hanging. 40cm x 25cm one of a series of eves.
