Having analysed the outcomes of my first attempt at emulating Claire Heathcote technique, I now think I can produce more effective sampling that may well lead to ongoing work that will fit in with my ideas for saleable work on a smaller scale. Furthermore I have learned that I need to be more concise in relation to my sampling. Plan the fabrics, colour the correct weight for the technique as well as the size of samples.

However I have not sufficiently explored and developed the techniques used within Claire’s work. I need to look at the strengths and the limitations further.     

however it soon became apparent that to produce work in the same way as Claire I needed to Re-examine the fabrics used.

apart form my colour choice! (the fabric used were the only one's available at the time) I need to use fabrics with a stronger structure. this would reduce or even eliminate the puckering which can clearly be seen within the pictures.

alternatively instead of using reverse appliqué I could use appliqué, as well as a stronger substrate fabric. this would put less presser on the base fabric and give a crisper finish.

initially I found it hard not to cut off all the loose threads which clearly form a large part of Claire's work. however I did add some by hand as did Claire in some instances

the following image are to show different stages of the sample 

Claire Heathcote original art work

https://uk.pinterest.com/blossommayt/claire-heathcote/

SAMPLING

Within my sampling and experimentation based on the work of Claire Heathcote, the most important aspect for me is to try and emulate the transitory effect Claire creates within her work.

For me the most important aspect is to try to de-construct the techniques Claire has used and produce sampling from this that can be made in a timely manner, therefore allowing me to use this within my work.  

Initial sampling will be to reproduce examples of Clair’s work trying to understand the techniques Claire has used.As the images show I have used reverse appliqué with freehand machine embroider.   

page from my sketchbook

Claire has said “that her work has a calm, thoughtful quality with a feeling that the subjects are caught in motion, and the use of thread gives the work a transitory effect that a line drawing or a painting may not possess to such an extent”.

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/i/interview-claire-heathcote-embroiderer/

I agree. Claire’s use of soft colour, understated patterns and strong stitched line gives a unique look and feel. Within my work I will try to emulate the style and technique using similar imagery to start, then moving in to using images of my own.

Whilst researching Claire and her work I have found it hard to expand on the images placed within my sketchbook. The smallest images are from Claire’s Degree show at Goldsmiths College where she came out with a First Class BA (hons) in Textiles. You can see her development with the techniques she used as well as the scale of her pieces.

I plan to experiment with Claire’s style using different types and weights on fabrics as well as different threads, in the hope that I can produce work that shows the technique and attention to detail the Claire has shown within her work.    

Claire Heathcote

Artist's statement Private View, 2000

"My work features portraits of people that move in art world circles. There is still a struggle between the two elements of figure and background, over which is more important, the background is no longer marked or colourful: it is the white space of a gallery...My use of embroidery to render gallery owners, art critics etc. adds a kind of humour to the work; embroidery is not really seen as high art or as a serious art form. 

It can be incredibly controlled while the stray threads coming off the work make it become very physical. I like the fact that their threads travel through the white space of their world into my space and that perspective is both active and made a mockery of.

The threads, coming from their eyes, their mouths, their ears or their heads maybe a literal measurement of the amount of looking or talking that goes on at private views. 

I question what is being looked at as the work becomes a representation of the viewers looking back at them." 

http://www.thecentreofattention.org/exhibitions/heathcote.html

Louise Gardiner! such amazing delicate work, 

Claire Heathcote! this technique flows so well, great us of subtle colour's

Claire Cole's! not a easy as it looks! so mush work in the control of the mashing needed to achieve such great results  

Richard Box! amazing use of colour, stitch as well as technique. something to get lost in.

so it starts

Task one! 

Setting up a small business on a shoestring. 

That sounds like more than one task to me, so much information, so much to do. 

I have had the idea to produce mixed media, textile based artwork after working on a commission to produce the awards for the creative minds festival in 2012.

But time and other commitment had put that on hold. 
Now I have the chance to not only develop that idea through to hopefully it's full potential, but to expand on it and develop more techniques. 

Who know's were we well end up. 

Well you have to start some were and as we tell the students research is the only place to start.

I have a strong interest in developing line studies with the sewing machine and feel that this would be a great place to start.

Researching artist and designers that use this technique within their work. my initial results were very fruitful, with designers such as Claire Heathcote, Louise Gardiner and Claire Cole's.in most cases I found so much information I was spending so much time day dreaming on the possibility of what could be developed I lost site of what was needed.

lesson one! 

have a plan stick to it, in this case setting my self a time limit on research into one artist or designer, make notes so I can return and expand on my findings.will i stick to this well time will tell...     

  

Creative Enterprise 24/09/15

Who would have thought it! Not me for one... moving in to the modern age and writing a BLOG!! 
A reflective Blog to boot..