Thursday, January 23, 2014

LAYER UPON LAYER

Grid by Carol Lee Shanks (stitched cloth remains onto hemp). See more here

Carol Lee Shanks designs and constructs unique handcrafted clothing from fine natural textiles. The textile art pieces you see here are made from the scraps of cloth left over from Carol's 2011 Fall Fashion Collection. 

"She has a great reverence for cloth allowing it to be the foundation of her inspiration. An integral part of her work is manipulating the cloth to create different surface textures."  -  World Shobori Network


Horizon by Carol Lee Shanks. Website here

Hercacleum Sphondylium by Cas Holmes.  (Paper and textile layers, print, worked on top of old teacloths, dye, paint, print, machine and hand embroidery. Ink drawing and transfer). See website here.

"Cas Holmes is deeply moved by the stories of ordinary people's lives, the births, marriages and deaths; the diseases brought on by harsh working conditions and the way these hard facts are hidden from history, forgotten with the passing of time. Her work often contains snippets of text or discarded materials that have associations or conjure up memories. There is always a dialogue with the materials she uses. They bring their own history which is woven into the work" - Moira Vincentelli, Review for Reflections exhibition.

W.I.P by Christi Carter. See blog post here

I love Christi Carter's beaded piece so much I couldn't wait for it to be completed before posting it :-)

Mieke Renders-de Greef. See more at website here

Mieke Renders-de Greef. Website here.


David Quinn. Website here.

I enjoyed reading about David Quinn's process....

"The starting point can be anything, a colour, a found piece of paper, another painting etc. I work on a lot of pieces at the same time. I like being able to see as many of them as i can while I'm working. They feed into and off each other, some sit for ages before coming to fruition, others can come together quickly, the trick is knowing when to step back. I like to layer things up. I probably approach each piece more like a page in a notebook, that's why having lots is important, it means I don't get too precious and am not overly concerned about messing something up. I try to make the most of every mark and layer, look at it from a few different angles and think about how, if at all I could make something of it. This can mean sitting for ages just looking at the work. I want each piece to contain an element of the unexpected and for that to happen means not having too many plans beforehand. Working on a small scale and on lots of pieces at the same time means you can be a lot more spontaneous which I think is crucial if the work is to have life."  - David Quinn. (Read the rest of the interview here and see David's website here)
David Quinn. See website here

Indigo by Jennifer Davies (pigment and plaster on handmade paper). Website here

"In the collages, diverse papers are sewn and glued into surprising combinations. The papers used are often covered with prior visual information -- scraps of old monotypes or failed drawings. Their history animates the collage." - Jennifer Davies

Thyer Machado. See more here



Mary Lloyd Jones. Website here

"  I search for devices that will enable me to create multilayered works. This has led to my involvement with the beginnings of language, early man made marks and the Ogham and Bardic Alphabets."  -  Mary Lloyd Jones

Between the Layers post here

53 comments:

  1. I found your blog today....so glad I did. Your work is amazing!!!

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  2. Oh, thank you Robyn- I am in love! Off to explore the websites of my new amours!

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  3. What a GREAT collection, today! Each is so different from the next...I cant wait to share this...Thanks, Robyn...Laura

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  4. Robyn, Another wonderful post, these are all wonderful. xoxo

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  5. all these works and words included here are speaking my language. wonderful post Robyn!

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  6. Great inspiration here -- each work so different - but yet similar. I am in love with Cas Holmes and her description of her work reminds me of the old quilter storytellers. I'm off to explore more on these artists.
    xxoo

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    1. I would love to see Cas Holmes work face to face.

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  7. words here that touch my heart today...if the work is to have life work spontaneously…
    the papers used are often covered with prior visual information -- scraps of old monotypes or failed drawings. Their history animates the collage.
    thank you Robyn.

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    1. Yes I also liked the mention of prior visual information .... failed drawings ....within the layers.

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  8. je suis enchanté de cette multitude de matériaux..j'aime aussi ces peintures avec inclusion de fibres diverses.. beau, merci!

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  9. so much to think about, and try to use.

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    1. There is so much inspiration on the web, it can get a little overwhelming.

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  10. Natural, spontaneous, flowing beauty. the briefest of materials, layers of textures... very soothing.

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  11. I loved looking and reading and seeing...

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  12. gorgeous work... and I have pinned or reblogged every piece I think... just stunning..to see them altogether... so well done!

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    1. Thanks Cat. I could have written several posts on layers.

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  13. Ooooo I love that beaded piece too. So much inspiration here.

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    1. I actually pounced on Christi's beaded piece :-)

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  14. Where do you find all this fabulous works!!!? Such a lot of stuff here for me to follow up...wonderful.

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    1. As a schoolgirl I loved research. If we had had the internet then, I wouldn't have got much sleep.

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  15. For me this is one of the most interesting posts because of the philosophies of the artists. The different ways of work you've shared concern the creative process in general, so I'll come back here to re- read. Or maybe I will write down some of the thoughts you've shared. Thank you, Robyn!:)))

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    1. My quote book is bulging with artists quotes. I find them so inspiring.

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  16. I love Christi Carter's work she has a brilliant eye for the subtleties

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    1. I was delighted to find Christi's beaded piece just in time for this post.

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  17. I am excited by each example you have shared here, very inspiring and truly beautiful. Love especially Cas Holmes work.

    Gaby xo

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  18. Some new artists to me and some familiar ... all are wonderful pieces and really a bright light for me this morning. Thank you!!

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  19. Ok, I have about 20 tabs open with all this richness.

    Love Cas Holmes, as anything with text draws me right in.

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    1. I know what you mean! Too many tabs open .... confusion reigns!

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  20. I loved exploring and especially finding that beautiful piece by Cas Holmes. I heard her speak last year - such a treat.

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    1. A treat I would enjoy too. Cas must be inspiring to listen to.

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  21. Hi Robyn, I see I have some catching up to do with several blog posts here. I have always been into layering in my paintings-- 2-3 layers with my acrylic paintings. But I have been working with a new medium - cold wax and oil paints- and I find myself laying so much more... 5-10 layers as I experiment and try to figure out this new medium. I also am thinking more about the layers of memories that build up into a story.

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    1. Donna, I can't wait to see your new layered pieces!

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  22. R - artistic layering is such a good reflection of the layering of our own lives and the lives of those who have gone before and left marks and traces to be remembered by and/or discovered. B

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    1. Seeing the layers beneath layers in these pieces immediately adds mystery.

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  23. Robyn, It is wonderful to be here visiting you and getting inspired by all these layers. I love the way collages just happen, one layer after another, and the playful nature of this process.
    roxanne

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    1. I'm so drawn to creating with layers... but there just aren't enough hours in the day. One day when I'm carving less I would love to experiment with layering.

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  24. I am drawn to the simple/complexity in the work of each of these artists you've shared Robyn… this is life… simple/complex… shifting in an instant from one to the other, or both at the same time.

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  25. david Quinn - what a great find! many thanks.

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    1. Yes, indeed! I'm glad David drew you out of hiding :-)

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  26. Thank you so very much for the kind mention, Robyn.

    Christi

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    1. Thank YOU, Christi! You need to bring out the pile of unfinished treasures more often.

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  27. I always enjoy the contents of your gathering baskets so much!

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    1. Now there's a thought.... Gathering baskets full to the brim with inspiration.

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