"I begin with an idea ... and then it becomes something else"
~ Picasso

Tuesday 17 March 2009

Colours of Global Warming

RED = Heat/increasing temperatures
WHITE = Ice/melting
BLUE = Ocean/rising sea levels

I produced quite a lot of samples in the colours I consider represent global warming. My project began to focus on increasing temperatures, melting of the polar ice caps and resulting rising sea levels

Drawn threadwork
















This is lightweight scrim, a type of thin gauzy fabric a bit like muslin. When machine stitched without a backing fabric the stitches draw the threads. I stitched a grid pattern, painted the squares with acrylic paints in shades of red, white and blue and added a little embellishment here and there ... bits of fabrics, threads, beads, buttons, etc.

This is a close-up of some of the squares















When I was researching this project and gathering images for my design boards I came across the work of Sandra Meech, who is an absolutely amazing contemporary quilt artist and one of my favourite artists who continues to inspire me. Later, at College, I studied her work in great detail dedicating a whole sketchbook to her work and experimenting with samples, etc. I thought I would show here a piece she produced on a global warming theme which matched with my own work and fits in nicely here with the grids etc.















My thoughts turned to recycling and I produced this fun collage with recycled elements, images of recycled objects, tin foil, wire, plastic, paper, fabric and stitch

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love to work with grids but have never tried sewing scrim into a grid. This looks really attractive. I love Sandra Meech's work too, I have two (both) of her books and have every intention of working with/through them. I saw her work at Harrogate (I think it was) and couldn't stop looking at it.

I'm working on a grid theme at the moment, found what I think is upholstery wadding in a Scrapstore which is already machined in a grid so I'm working within that . I'll probably blog it when I've done a bit more. It reminds me of a Chinaman's padded coat!

CAROLYN SAXBY said...

Julie, I would love to see your grids when you are finished. I will pop over and have a look. Yes, I've got both of Sandra Meech's books as well, they are great, and I've worked through some of the exercises, but I would love to work through the whole lot in one project. Just need to finish all my UFO's first ...

Anneli/Bockfilz said...

You've really done some exciting experiments with that, Carolyn! When I see the grids, I can't help thinking of how a similar project would look on a weaving loom ... I also like the connection to a political/environmental theme - like a textile illustration, or even a statement. What we do doesn't always have to be decorative!

Julie said...

I had this aim for this year to work through Sandra Meech or Find Your Own Visual Language but we're already nearly thro March and other stuff has happened. Maybe I should try again for the rest of the year!

CAROLYN SAXBY said...

Hi Anneli