NZ Contemporary Textile Artists Show in UK

Detail from 'Evolution'

The first blog on my new website. Goodness, I am certainly starting to move with the’ technology ‘ world!

It has been a busy few weeks. The Knitting and Stitching Show in the UK has opened. I have two pieces in the New Zealand Contemporary Textile artists exhibition there. Both are using my hand painted, stamped and stencilled fabrics. I have machine stitched and then hand stitched to give lots of visual texture.

I am totally fascinated and seduced by marks at the moment. I don’t care if they are stitched or drawn. I use them to guide the viewer around the work, to explore and interact with the work. The two pieces connect visually through colour and line, but are made as two separate pieces.

The second thing I have been working on is my painting for the David Ryan student work exhibition. This opened at the Refinery Artspace, Halifax St Nelson on Tuesday night.

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David, Jo Kinross and I run the Creative Journeys Workshops programme. I have four paintings included as I have been going to David’s classes as a student for a year or so now. It is interesting when looking at my two latest paintings to see the connection between my textile work and painted work. There is a similarity in the way I am using paint and stitch. All seem to have a movement and gentle energy I am enjoying. There has been a good response from the public for the exhibition. It is exciting to see everyone’s work together in one place. The standard is extremely high, which is a reflection of the quality of tuition. David begins each class with a visual instruction/discussion session. We look at the work of many artists, usually with a focus on a particular aspect of painting (tone, composition etc). This has proved to be very useful and has certainly improved my ‘eye’ and the way I approach my work.