While I was working in my room I noticed the light reflections from a drinks can that was in direct sunlight. I decided to play around with different colours and patterns to explore the use of reflective materials and natural sunlight.
In response to the work of Richard Tuttle I have been using plastic mesh and bright coloured thread to build up a textured and coloured patchwork similar to his own style.
To first start my process, I cut up different shapes from the plastic mesh and played around with layering, placement, and pattern. When I had a layout I was happy with I started to build up the texture.
I have bent the plastic to give the piece more of a 3D relief, I have used bright and bold colours that Tuttle and I have been experimenting with weaving, and line. I used a purple-blue coloured thread because when the light hits the thread at different angles there is a new hue to the piece. Â I clustered in one are to add more depth and had the line work following the ridge to highlight the shape of the plastic.
Next, I used the bright orange thread to contrast with the purple-blue, I used a simple under-over weave which created a patchwork, and textile effect. I really like the under-over technique, so I might look into using two different colours and weaving them together.
To extend my weaving further I used multi-tone blue thread and wove them in line with each-other, I like the contrast between empty space and texture.
To finish this response I plan to connect all of these pieces together using different coloured thread and looking at different lighting can produce different shapes in the shadows and how light reacts to the different tones in the thread.
For a quick response to her work I have been looking into different textile experiments using felt, netting, calico, and embroidery thread. I have been looking into line, shape, and using both 2D stitch, and 3D thread elements.
I have used knot work, weaving, bunching, and simple back stitch, I have been using really bright bold colours that stand out against the material I have been using. I think these quick experiments have helped me build up an idea of where I want to take the textile part of my work.
These close of pictures of my knotting work show how I have stitched forward one, then done one overhead knot as shown above, and stitched into the fabric. This created a very flat knot work piece but with the texture element still prominent. I used black felt because it gives so much contrast to the thread.
To extend this work I could look into incorporating different colours into the same piece to create a seascape or skyscape.
This is another way I have taken knot work into a more 3D relief, I have taken a single length of thread, and then used a simple overhead know but I have knotted down the whole length of thread. I have then taken the green knots and attached them to the silver netting to create a 3D relief using texture.
To extend this type of knotting work I can look into mixing it with my other textile experiments.
Again I have used the overhead knot but this time I have used calico as my base material as its easy to work with but creates little contrast, I have also looked into a more bunching
o extend I could look into using darker material, or hand dying my own material.
In this experiment I have looked into both line work and knot work and blended them together on the black felt. I have used a simple back stitch to create the line work and then clustered the overhead knots together to create this almost flower like relief.
To extend this work further I want to look into the clean and bold line work that I have started to work with, I want to look into more colour theory and work with different materials.
For my final experiment I have been using wide black netting, and two complementing threads to build up part of a textured weave. I first built up the blue as I was just trying out different patterns and I really liked how the texture was building up so I added in another colour and I think that really helped to bring out the weaving I was creating.
To extend this more I might look into using smaller netting and thread and look at building up a multi textured and coloured piece, than can link back to my oil painting but also work as a stand alone piece.
My Work:
oil pastel quick mock:
I have looked at the work of Samantha Keely Smith, and although she uses oil pain rather than pastel I like the texture and blend-ability that is gained when using oil pastels rather than pain.
In her images she using a range of complementary colours and tones, as well as clashing colours with strong lines and soft edges. To bring this into my work I can look into using more paint to be a direct link into her work and also look into building up tonal range with fabric and thread.
Amy Marie Evans 