Apologies if it is still very much summer in your world but here on the island the autumn winds have arrived. The beaches are deserted in favour of crazy golf and cafes and I am able to wander once more. When the tide is as far out as it can be I have the best thinking time as long as I pay enough attention to where my dog has dropped his ball….
Developing from my thoughts shared about heather moorlands in recent weeks I realised that there is only one way to begin this work and that is with a contemporary art quilt. As the autumn winds arrive my mind takes me to quilting in a heart beat as I use the quieter months to quilt. A contemporary art quilt is usually hung or framed and attention is paid to the artistic voice of the piece rather than the function. Over the years I have completed many but not for a wee while so it is time.
I spoke about this plan with my beautiful Patreon group last week and I think some of them might join me in a slow stitching project over autumn and winter. My Patreon group is about to enter year 5 of what was to be a one year project! We meet regularly in zoom where I offer wee creative workshops and, over the years, we have fallen down all sorts of wonderful creative rabbit holes. Look out later in the year when I will be sharing a wee gallery of just some of their work. Our year turns in September and new members are always welcome.
So, to the plan is emerging. In my heart I am a fabric painter as this was my training alongside batik so it seems sensible to start there. I tend to paint on calico and bamboo silk and both of these will serve me well. In more recent years printing has become a go to technique so I think I will over print to start to hint at some detail. I like to use tiny bits of fabric that I have been storing away for just such a project and I think the skill is in how these pieces are combined with originally produced fabric. I use a cotton batting or wadding and embroidery thread (2 strands) and then I am good to go.
Sometimes I stitch in seedbeeds and shells and pressed flowers also make fairly regular appearances. If I am honest I rarely design them in advance. I often do an art journal page just to get me in the right space but I let the quilt find me rather than the other way round. Once the art journal page is finished I will then start a gentle gather of existing fabric pieces, both created by me and commerical before getting the paint pots out. This year I finally joined the party with folk who print their sketchbook/art journal pages onto fabric. I am in the middle of creating ‘A Pocket of Place’ with my Patreon group. I cut up the printed fabric and quilted it to make the pocket. I think I might try that with this new quilt.
I can’t recommend this art form highly enough especially for folk who like to work on a project over time. It has the capacity to reach into our souls and soothe our busy minds. I will share some of my process here for folk that are interested. I am off to find my art journal…..
Until next time,
Fiona xx
About the author
I am a mixed media artist living on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. Here on Substack I write free content weekly focusing on seasonal creativity. I also run a paid subscription. The Stillness Studio focused on the relationship between creativity and the meditative mind. It will bring together my two teaching areas into one place and we shall wander along together working on creative tasks that speak well to the meditative mind. This, in turn, speaks well to our sense of physical and mental wellness.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.