Tuesday 11 May 2010

Monday 10 May 2010

Elgar, Gerontius and the enigma

My latest hanging, Gerontius, has been made for the Weaver's Gallery exhibition in Ledbury. The brief was Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance.

I spent a very interesting day doing research in Broadheath at the Elgar Museum and then in Worcester in the Cathedral.
I had an idea of making a piece to fulfil two briefs - never a good idea - but I take so long to design a piece and this winter it seems to have taken even longer.






Eventually I decided on the theme of Dreaming and the Dream of Gerontius.
There is the most beautiful commemorative stained glass window in Worcester cathedral and I took this as a starting point.
I was drawn to the powerful images of the angels and did some large drawings. I felt I didn't want the piece to be particularly representational so started to look at a more abstract idea with the wing shapes and ended up with fractured wings and a rather forbidding angel face.

After a few samples, I decided to use silk as the fabric - primary colours for the background representing the vibrant colours of the stained glass and different silks painted shades of grey for the feathers.

Sunday 9 May 2010

Randwick Woods




Bluebells in Randwick Woods.

bluebells, beech leaves and Matisse

This morning I went out early with the dog into the woods. I really needed to walk and was out for two hours. I took my camera to photograph the bluebells which are simply stunning at the moment - the most beautiful heart stopping blue colour.
I wasn't expecting the vibrant green of the beech leaves either and took several pictures of the leaves against the sky. This evening I was downloading the photographs and one particularly caught my imagination, especially as the shapes of the shadows showed through the transparency of the leaves. Then I was watching Modern Masters on Matisse and realised that I could make a design based on those leaf shapes but make them very simple. I am very excited about the potential and can't wait to try out some ideas. The last piece I made was so intense for so many reasons. This will just be calm and simple.

Monday 3 May 2010

Forthcoming exhibition near Stroud


I have an exhibiton of my work at Wycliffe College, Stonehouse near Stroud. This is the first time I have exhibited on my own.
It opens on Friday May 7th 2010. If you are visiting Stroud for the textile festival you may like to take a look. The exhibition is in the Atrium. Access is through the main reception area. It is a big space and I will hang all my pieces plus two new ones. One is a little lichen embroidery and the other is the piece I am showing in Ledbury at the Weaver's Gallery in June.