Sunday instead of Saturday

Even though my shoulder has been very painful, or perhaps because if it, I have managed to get a lot of work done on 'Coast', it being easier to sit at the sewing machine than paint.

I am going, with Rachel, to a mentoring weekend with Hilary Bower this coming weekend, and that has also concentrated my efforts, as otherwise there would be no point in actually going if I am not working on my chosen subject.

I have been working with stitched paper.  A few weeks ago I made a lot monoprints on large sheets of heavy cartridge, which I then worked into with charcoal, pastel and acrylic medium.  I have been experimenting with these, and other papers and fabrics.  I have also included some of my coastal photographs in some work.

three pieces stitched onto canvas

three pieces, various papers, overlapping, stitched to cotton fabric

book signature, mark making outside, stitched collage  inside

more book signatures

book signature showing inside, and possible binding material

book signature showing stitched patchwork inside

another book signature

I had intended to stitch these signatures together, into a book form.  On reflection, I realise that  I want both the outside and inside to show.  I am now thinking of other methods, perhaps simply hanging over a line, or stitched to a narrow tape or cord, dependant upon whether I want them to hang horizontal or vertical.  I could join them together and make an accordion book, but this doesn't feel right.

a double page from my 'Coast' workbook

I have realised this week how important the horizon is in my 'Coast' work.  I have always put stress on the 'edge' where land meets sea, and that is all important, but the horizon is not only infinite and far away, but also the 'above and below' of the two worlds.

I am looking forward to working on these pieces more this week.  I want to explore line, both the ridged horizon line and the wavering line of the tide.

Trying to get organised

The posts on this blog have been very infrequent and haphazard.  This is mostly due to the pressure of working a painting a day plus the Jane Davies workshop that produced around 150 pieces of work over the six weeks it ran.  I wish there was something similar for textiles as she is such a positive influence.  If you would like to see some of that work, visit my other blog, lynneporterartmatters.blogspot.co.uk

I have booked a further two workshops with her this year, and I also have several art and textile workshops coming up this year, in the real world rather than online.

I need to blog here at least once a week, and Saturday seems as good a day as any, so hopefully this will be a regular slot.  In order to have something to blog about, I am also marking Friday down as a textile day.  I will also do some mid-week, perhaps Wednesday afternoon.  I have also decided to concentrate on 'Coast', and look at landscape next year.

I have been fitting in tiny slots here and there, and managed to do some work on the embellisher machine last week, and am in the process of forming the pieces into vessels.  The pictures below are of the first bowl, made a couple of weeks ago.  The bowls have a lovely translucency which I couldn't capture in the photographs. I have three more bowls to finish, hopefully by next week.

Felt bowl

felt bowl side view

I have also been experimenting with book forms, and the photograph below shows a small sample.  The binding method is over cords, and it was then dipped into Quink ink and then watercolour.

Book Form 1

More experimenting with book forms.  I made the strip about a month ago, and have now started to add photographs of the beach near my home, which I have altered in Photoshop, printed then stitched and finally dipped into wax.

I have yet to decide how to display this book form.  I like the scroll format, and may make a rod on which it can be wound.

Book Form 2

Hopefully I will have more work to show next Saturday.