Texture

I love texture. It is just so evocotive and has the power to transport you somewhere else. To other times and places....

Been monoprinting...

Today I have been monoprinting. Been playing. Indulging myself with circles (another weakness...). Am ever so slightly in love with the inky imperfections. And the peppery background noise.

scribbling... over and over and over. Beautiful, imperfect repeats that don't quite repeat.

Holocaust

I have been working on an incredibly haunting project about the holocaust during the second world war. The students have been working on three enormous canvases working with personal objects such as clothing, glasses, books, watches.... Trying to capture the fragments and breakdown of peoples lives...inspired by the huge mountains of belongings at Auswitz...the work is not finished yet...possibly will work with text and projections too...not certain yet...

will see...

My mum's garden

Is beautiful...it is a perfect little haven where I feel secure...(it is home)

Fragments

Detail from a quick sketchy piece made from scraps of fabric left over from curtains and bedding my mum made for my Sindy house when I was 3. From a stamp. A zip from an old skirt (again made by my mum many, many moons ago). Brown paper (requires no introduction). The straps from a strappy vest (from my strappy vest days). And buttons from my button tin. Put through my sewing machine... I like the idea of fragments from my life. Stitching the past together into a new shape. Gallons of varnish...it's the smell...can't resist...prussion blue paint. Again, it's a weakness...

I pummelled and picked at it. Threw it across the room (I do that a lot...). Not sure. Kind of like the brokeness. I think....

Brown paper and used stamps

I love textures that have a history. That used to have another life before I got my sticky little fingers on them. Have a story to tell. A past... Brown parcel paper is my utter favourite. I love giving it a place of its own. No longer the supporting act (etc)...Broken zips are georgous. Little, tiny uniform teeth. Not quite lining up anymore. Edges and seams are interesting especially if they are unravelling from being worn so many times. But used stamps are on another level entirely... They have travelled. Made the effort. Been bought and stuck on by somebody (no longer licked!). Been designed and approved and collected. But my love is conditional. I only love the used ones.

(I am trying to make bunting for my nearly-four-year-olds birthday tea. I'm too stingy to buy it. I have cut up her old stripey tights and other assorted bits and bobs. Bought a zillion metres of ribbon. Now I just have sixty little flags to make...wondering why I start these things?)