Textile Artist in North West Wales

I have been researching textile artists that make a living from their work and that live in my region.  By researching this I haved gained an insight to see how they work, do they have a blog, where they exhibit and do they have work elsewhere to make ends meet.

Alison Mercer

Alison Mercer is an International Fibre Artist that lives in Llanberis Gwynedd.  She studied for a BA in Caontemporary Crafts at Manchester Metropolitan University, PG Dip in Textiles at same University, PGCE at the University of Wales, MA Textiles back in Manchester again and several other courses.  From this I have gathered that she is well qualified in her field.  She works in textiles through handstitching, making books, using mixed media and is also a tutor at Coleg Llandrillo Menai.  She has over 2o years of experience and enjoys her work.  I have met Alison and have been on some of her courses and I found her energy and enthusiasm catching – not a dull moment insight.

Alison Mercer

I will be continuing with Textile Artists in my next post

Moving on from Foundation Degree in Art & Design

I have been thinking about what I’m going to do after finishing my course.  There are a few options that I’m interested in.  One is to apply for a place on the third year at Glyndwr University on the Art & Design course.  This would be a continuation of the course that I’m studying now.  I have been to see the college and I do like Wrexham and its not too far to travel on the train.  I hate driving far therefore travelling by train would be better for me and I could work on the train there and back.

Manchester School of Art offer a three year full-time underfraduate course in Ba (Hons) Textiles in Practice.  This would be a good option as I could study embroidery more in depth.  I must make enquiries about this to check if I was able to enter in year 3 of this course.

Another option I have been researching is the top-degree in Textiles at Hereford College of Arts.  This would mean a three hour train journey there and three hours back every college day.

From a personal side I would like to push myself further and gain a degree.

Jeanette Appleton

Jean Appleton was born in Essex in 1949.  In 1967 she left school and studied a Foundation Course at St. Alban’s School of Art.   She was back in the college in 1979 to Study for a Certificate in Embroidery.  Although she failed her eleven plus and did not have a degree  she was accepted on a one year Post Graduate Diploma at Goldsmiths’ College due to the potential she showed at the interview.  Her love of sketching has helped her in her working process.   The foundation fabric of her work is felt which she stitches on top. She is also a member of the 62 Group.

Jeanette Appleton

Jean Littlejohn

Jean Littlejohn was born in 1945 in Maidenhead.  Between 1963 and 1966 she studied for a Certificate in Education specialising in Art and Textiles. She taught for many years before getting married and starting a family.   During her time teaching evening classes she met Jan Beaney who was a teacher on embroidery.  When she was on maternity leave she was able to join Jan’s class and enrolled on the City & Guilds Part 1.  Their friendship grew and they became a partnership Double Trouble.  They have written many books on embroidery together and both love to teach others the art of the stitch.

Jan Beany and Jean littlejohn 1998

Stitch Magic  is a  book I have borrowed numerous time along the years.  When reading the book I felt that the chapters was like a workshop that carried me through the process of creating and learning new skills without having to leave the home.  I felt that it is not your usual embroidery book but something that changed the way I thought about the whole subject.

Jean Littlejohn is also a member of the 62 Group of Textile Artist since 1991.

   

Jean Littlejohn

Inspired to Stitch (Book review)

I borrowed Inspired to Stitch by Diana Springall from the college library as part of researching other textile artists.  It is a most fascinating and informative book that covers the approach to stitches textiles in the past 50 years.  It covers the work of 21 well known British textile artist such Audrey Walker, Jean LittleJohn (I did a workshop with this lady in a Knitting and Stitch Show in Birmingham many years ago – very inspirational), Jean Appleton and Louise Gardiner.    As you work through the chapters on the different artists it takes you through their way of working through their sketchbook, research to the final process.  I came across artists that I knew a lot about and discovered others that I had not heard of such as Karen Nicol and Rachel Quarmby.  I think it is very important for me to learn about other artist especially in the textile field as I feel I can a lot from them.  Not only looking at books but visiting exhibitions and galleries.  By doing this it does help me in the way I work on my textile pieces and gives me the confidence to try out new processes.  I found the book very useful and I would recommend any textile student buy a copy for their own library at home.   I will be writing about some of these in my next post and will also find a few photos to show you their work.

Edrica Huws

We have sold our house a few months ago and now we are in the process of packing before moving into rented accommodation whilst waiting for the perfect house to come along. This morning I was clearing yet another shelf of books and came across Erica Huws Patchworks.  I bought this book at the exhibition of her work at the primary school in Llangefni – Oriel Ynys Mon was being refurbished at the time.  I remember the day because I was in a applique workshop with Gwenfai Rhys all day in the very room the exhibition was held in.  I had plenty of time to study the original patchwork of this talented artist.  I remember looking closely at them and found that the stitching was not perfect like patchwork, I could see the stitches but stepping back they were like paintings.  Her work was so cleverly done.  Why would she spend so many hours stitching away when she had attended the famous Chelsea School of Art and Royal College of Art and studied painting. Her answer was because she enjoyed it.  Her work was in textiles but I think the end product was art.

Here are a few of her patchwork pieces which I enjoyed.

My textiles

I thought that I might share some of my textile work I have been working on for the past couple of months.  Most of them are of a small scale but I have completed a medium size one.  Textiles are very therapeutic to work on but they do take time to complete.

Stitched Textile

I prepared the foundation fabric from recylced material.  Then  I selected different coloured fabric, lace, and other material I had to hand to match before cutting them into different sizes.  I used a hot gun and a hot soldering iron to melt the organza and create different textures.    After completing this process I machined all over using zig zag and straight stich.  The above method does not take too long but the hand stitching takes hours to create the desired effect.  Some of the pieces I have made took a week to complete, this is because of the tiny stiches I used.

I sometimes add buttons to create interest

I have stitched more into some of the pieces which I like because of the different textures that have been created

Textile Study Group

I enjoy browsing the internet  and discovering new textile artists and groups.  I realize its not quite the same as wandering around galleries and museums but I find that I can fit in a fifteen minute of me time between chores.  This group consists of artists and tutors that have between them a wealth of knowledge and experience.  I came across them when I clicked a link from Rosemary Campbell’s website (previous post).

Bobby Brittnell is one textile artist from the group which I have come across before.  Her work shows the skill that she has gained from the 40 years or so that she has be practising her art.

Bobby Britnell

The above work shows the skill of stitching on a prepared textured surface.

Tulip on Tiptoes – Bobby Britnell

The above is a quilt that is dyed, painted and stitched into.

I shall write more about this group in my next me time.

Rosemary Campbell

I have only recently come across Rosemary Campbell’s work.  She is a textile artist based in Scotland and a member of the Edge Textile Artist Group.  Her work involves the use of thread as a drawing tool on a painted background.  She then layers her background with applique, shadow work, hand dyed fabric and felt and hand and machine stitch.  I find her work interesting and full of life with the stitching.

Boats on the Shore Rosemary Campbell

Requiem for Kristanne Rosemary Campbell

The above is a large textile piece using her method of layering and stitching.  It measures 160cm x 125cm.

Another day at college

I have been very busy the last couple of months.  We’ve sold our house therefore I’ve been packing boxes and trying to lead a ‘normal’ life as possible.  Living out of a suitcase is not easy, but saying that I don’t have to be fussy as to what I wear.

I was pleased with my results in college and am hoping to get the same marks for my next three modules.  I have decided to apply to Glyndwr University to study my third year in Applied Art.

As you can see I am enjoying my latte whilst I’m working on my textile piece.

I have had a chat about how I’m progressing (or not) with my course tutor Jane.  I have decided that I’m going to work on further stitched pieces on the theme of kitchenware.

Jane introduced me to a new artist this morning – Odilon Redon.  I have not come across him before and I’m so impressed with his work that I feel that I need to post about him.

Oil on canvas 1905

Odilon Redon was born in Bordeaux in 1840.  As a child he enjoyed drawing and won a prize for his work at the age of 10.  He began formal training in the arts at 15 but his father persuaded him to change to architecture.  As he failed his entrance exam he continued with his training to become an artist and then changed to sculpture.  An interest in buddism shows in his work as many include a figure of the Buddha.  He died in 1916.  He was known for his work as a printmaker, painter, draughtsman and pastellist.

I especially like his work on flowers.  The colours are strong and stand out and also work well together.