New Work - Geography of Memory, Beginnings

This new work began when the Vancouver Island Surface Design Association put out a call for entry. They were looking for an interpretation of 'Pathways' in a 60" x 12" format.

Sarah McLaren and I had been focused on colour for many months and were both inspired by the colour work of Jean-Philippe and Dominique Lenclos. This couple research the colours typical to a specific place in the world.

New Zealand Forest
Sarah and I have both lived in a number of different places over our lifetimes. We decided to show our memories of those places through colour with each inch of the work representing one year in our lives.

I began by making a life-size sketch then started sampling. My visualisation of this work was so clear my first sample was enough at this stage of my design process to be able to move on to the next step.

I made the base for the ground from a mix of upholstery fabrics heavy enough to support all of the stitching I had in mind.

Next step - deciding on the colour scheme, which was easy because of my strong colour memory of each place I have lived.

Picking the right ground fabrics took a little bit longer even knowing most of them would be covered they still had to be right. 

The base fabrics are bonded to the upholstery fabrics in the right proportions.

Painted bondable webbing ...

...to match each place's colours.

Ironing the painted bondable webbing in place.

Adding snippets of threads, yarns and fabrics to build up the complexity and texture of each section.

Selecting the right coloured nylon scarf from my stash.

Bonding the snippets and nylon scarves in place using parchment paper to stop the iron's sole plate from getting gunked up.

I sprinkled a few granules of 007 Bonding Agent to make sure thicker areas of snippets stuck well. It takes a higher heat setting on the iron to make these granules melt but once they have they stick very well and become invisible.

This is an old and well-used method for building a ground before stitching begins. I learnt this during my City and Guilds days and still go back to it because it is so effective and versatile.

Next step - the stitching. 

Work In Progress - Cryosphere II, Hydrosphere

I have the idea for my Yukon panels in Articulation's 'Provinces' exhibition. 

I want to show the phase change when water hardens then melts.

I have settled on the colour scheme - white (not yellow-white), silver and cerulean blue.

I haul out from my stash all of the light to sheer fabrics in those colours.

I collect up all of the threads, papers, and embellishments in those colours. 

I draft up a pattern for the size of the panels and cut it out in Tyvek.

Pinning the different sheers on the wall gives me an idea of their transparency and drape.

It is looking distinctly bridal in the studio.

Sampling, sampling, sampling.

I am sewing on different layered fabric sandwiches searching for the look I have in mind. 

The burning and melting station is set up.

I test all of the fabrics and sandwiches with a heat gun and a burning tool.

I don't want brown so anything with cotton in it is put away.

I have settled on the colours and fabrics now I need to sample to find a technique that best expresses the idea. I have made lots of drawings and compiled many lists in my workbook.

Now is the 'percolation' phase. It takes time for the ideas to sort themselves out. I record these ideas in my workbook and continue sampling until the way forward is clear.

Current Threads 2013 Artist Talks

On Saturday 21st, the Metchosin Art Gallery featured artist talks during the Vancouver Island Surface Design Association's annual Current Threads exhibition.
Curator of the gallery, Hailey Finnegan, made the opening remarks and introductions.

Sarah McLaren spoke about the processes and techniques involved in her monumental thread painting of a path through a forest. We are all familiar with this native, island forest, which makes the details and accuracy of Sarah's work so inspiring.

Kristin Rohr http://kristinrohr.com/combines science and art to produce maps about important social issues. She made the audience aware of how much sampling she does and how important it is in her process before she is ready to produce a major work. 

Linda Wallace http://www.americantapestryalliance.org/AP/ArtistBio/WallaceL.html is a tapestry weaver extraordinaire. She also makes a bridge between science and art to express how she feels about important personal issues. Linda also produces exquisite, small graphite drawings, most of which stay in her small sketchbooks but some have a second life providing the motifs in large woven wall hangings.

Then I spoke about the 'Synesthesia series I am working on.
I couldn't take a photo of my self but I will be posting more about this series later.

Daniella Woolf Encaustic Workshop

Here are some more images of sampler panels I made during the workshop to document each of the techniques Daniella showed us.

 

 

 

It was a great workshop. I learned lots and Daniella is an excellent instructor.

Busy Hands Finishing Work

Students in the VCA Textiles class have had their final class where they were busy finishing samples, projects and assignments.
Dana

Kati

Sarah

Garland

Esther

Red & Student Work

An up-dated image of Red. Working on the 3rd layer using finer yarns.

More samples of student work - Self Applique using their own hand painted cloth.
Garland

Sarah

Kati
There is much excitement in the college this week as students have their last lesson for the term. They are finishing assignments, projects and art works in preparation for the Christmas Show when their works will fill every bit of space inside the college.
The Christmas Show will be on Friday December 16th from 7:00pm and Saturday December 17th, 1:00 - 4:30pm. On Saturday I will be demonstrating with my sewing machine and talking about the course I will teach in January - Mark Making With Machine. 

Red & VCA Student Work

Here is a progress shot of Red - it will be needing its pedigree name soon
Working on the 2nd layer - thick yarns

Victoria College of Art Mark Making With Thread
Student samples - Self-Applique
James

Sue Mei

Esther
A technique that always produces surprises

VCA Mark Making With Thread

The students in the Victoria College of Art Mark Making With Thread, Textile Arts course are producing some exciting samples.
A selection of their colour studies in various stages of progress.

Exploring ways to open up the ground cloth to create negative spaces.