Fossil & Printing

We've been doing some stencil printing on the Textile course. 
My original drawing was from an image of a fossil tree; the lepidodendren which formed the basis of the coal measures.
This print was from an acetate sheet, which I burnt through using my soldering iron (for textiles). It's black paint, onto cotton. And as yet, I'm not sure what the next stage will be. But that's fine; like a lot of the pieces I'm making, I will let it settle, and see what emerges.
I've made a number of these prints, on different fabrics; to see what I can do with them. Overlays (!) and stitching I suspect?


Here at home there's lots of work going on; the roof of the garage needs replacing, so I have lots of clearing out to do, to make it ready for the builder. And I'm having some of the garage converted into a workspace, so I can have a home-based studio to work in. Exciting, and daunting at the same time!

Knitted Book of Mining

 

And here are the completed pages of my 'knitted book'.

Journey Through the Past; Core Sampler

So at last 'Journey Through the Past; Core Sampler' is finished. It's taken me a long,long time to complete it. The starting point for me, was visiting York Art Gallery, and seeing the exhibition there of Sashiko sewing. It inspired me to think about using fabric, sewing, stitching, and textiles as a medium for artwork. Initially it was the idea of creating 3 dimensional work using textiles and stitch; and I've not really followed up on that idea at all!
Instead I got started on this massive piece; it stands approximately 5 feet high, and approx 2.5 feet wide. And incorporates; hand stitching, transfers, hand painting, machine stitch, hand-dyed fabric, embroidery, silk-paper making. It's been a real 'Journey' for me. 

Fabric and Fossils

I've been using the sewing machine since attending Louise Taylor's workshop at the ArtHouse. I was the recipient of a pile of sample fabric books (from DIVA) and have been experimenting with using the fabric they contained. Mixing hand-sewn scraps, and machine-sewn strips is proving interesting. Layering them together is a small step away from my painting techniques. It also gives me quick results....which is very different from my usual painting methods! This is my 'prototype', as it were! An experiment. Of course, once I'm involved in making, lots of other ideas flow from it, and other ways of using techniques and materials.

Ammonite

From Whitby museum; a massive Ammonite fossil. I'm doing lots of research into fossils at the moment. All part of this fascination with geology I currently have. I'm creating some drawings using thread and fabric. Hand sewing onto a sheer white fabric, almost organza fabric, images based on the trees, Lepidodendren which once grew on the planet. It was these plants which millennia later, gave us the coal which was mined in the Yorkshire area.

I'm continuing to dye some fabrics; and machine sewing the results. It's still very exciting, and interesting. And using my machine remains a thrill!

As we've been having such gorgeous weather recently, I've taken advantage of it, and taken my beech carving outside to use the surform, and rasps on it. Although I began this way back in August, and it's still not finished, I am carrying on with it, I'm pleased to say. Slowly, slowly, the beechwood is shedding it's pockmarked surface, and becoming smoothed. The beautiful grain of the beech is showing through, and the creamy white surface makes me want to run my hands across it. Very tactile, wood!

Fossils

The exhibition at Chantry Chapel looms closer!
Two days to go; am just about ready. Some final bits and bobs to complete, like the labels ready for hanging.
My 'Knitted Book Of Mining' is glue-ing to the cover as I write. The drawings are all framed. Canvases all stringed (strung?).
The exhibition has a geological theme; entitled 'Journey Through The Past', it explores the carbon beneath our feet which has had such an impact upon the Yorkshire region. The coal industry brought wealth and jobs to this area, and the demise of mining has been quite calamitous to many communities in Yorkshire.

The title also references one of my favourite musicians, Neil Young, who had an l.p. (back in those days of vinyl; another product of the carbon-age!) called 'Journey Through The Past' way back in the 1970's. It came close upon the heels of his hit albums 'After the Goldrush' and 'Harvest'; and with typical cussedness, was his soundtrack to a film which was never released! Or been re-released as far as I know!
Neil Young has followed his own path, and been true to his muse, no matter the cost to his personal relationships. Maybe not a role-model to follow slavishly....but he's never cared for the nonsense of fame and celebrity.
I salute him for that.
To quote Neil....'This one's for you'......