Tags
abstraction, Art, Artel, Chichester, clouds, colour, rain, skies, stitch, sunsets, threads, water
Working towards a new exhibition is always challenging. I recently joined a group of contemporary artists called Artel, all of us based in, or near the city of Chichester in the UK. The theme is Transience. This started a train of thought that began with my passion for the natural world. One of the most transient aspects for me is the sky. Skies change as you look at them, colours and cloud formations drift, move, merge, disappear. The light changes constantly, and the winds create rhythmic patterns that dance and swirl, offering endless possibilities that are perfect for abstracting and experimenting.
Capturing moments in time like this with a sewing machine is not easy. Over a period of months I made notes or quick sketches that were no more than a series of hasty lines. I took photos to help me remember colours, although these were soon ignored as ideas began to form. I NEVER work directly from a photo but use them as aides-memoire. Here are some pieces. They are small compared to my usual works, between 4-6 inches square, (10-16 cms) but who knows, maybe they will lead onto larger pieces later this year.
The first image is from a sunset, and the second a late afternoon sky
This is a drawing/collage from my sketchbook. It has helped me make decisions, although it’s not been used as a direct starting point as I had intended to make a much larger piece, but a broken wrist got in the way!
and finally an explosion of gold and blues influenced by the collage above- I think I like it best so far! Your comments would be interesting and helpful.
Carol Naylor 
Hi Carol,
You sky samples are very vibrant and will make for great starting points for you upcoming exhibition !
I, too, belong to a group of fellow fibre artists and love the connectiveness that we have … I hope you have fun with your group.
I am not very loyal to my wordpress account (just in case you are wondering who I am) and I have signed on by my blog … Come visit 😉
I am the only textile artist so its interesting to be with painters,photographers, ceramicists etc. I do know your blog and I also have noted that visitors here sometimes go to see what you are doing!
I really love these vibrant sky scapes, particularly the first and fourth. I’d love to see greatly enlarged pieces even though it would/will be a monumental task. Good luck.
thanks Davida, due to the broken wrist I had to start small but I do hope to take them further later this year.
I realise that larger pieces are generally more acceptable to most viewers and that they allow more variation and detailed expression but I rather like smaller pieces. In a gallery it’s easy to pass them by but on the walls of your own home they can be absorbing. (OK, not many people I know agree with me. Nothing new there.) I’ve been fascinated by skyscapes for some time and when it comes to Constable’s works, for instance, it’s the studies of clouds that I think I’ve enjoyed most over the years. (Again, not many people I know seem to agree, but that’s life). I particularly like the last two images in your posting and I hope it’s not too incidental to say that, although it’s simply a sketchbook entry, I do think the spontaneity of the drawing and collage is very attractive. I’m intrigued by the process of evolution from sketchbook to considered piece. I hope your wrist isn’t holding you back too much now.
thanks so much foryour very perceptive comment. Like you I often prefer the sketches and agree totally with you on Constable and also sometimes Turner.The sketchbook piece needs to be bigger so I do hope to use it as a starting point when the wrist permits! (physio is helping!)