book

This celebrated artist, author and teacher is seen working in her studio and demonstrating in detail, every stage of her technique of building rich new cloths created by machine and hand stitching on soluble fabric. Different pieces of work are shown to illustrate each stage or process and suggest the range of expressive possibilities.

The work throughout is supported by sketchbook studies asking questions about aspects of landscape, growth and seasons. These images are an integral part of the cloth. Lately, study has been based in the theme of Five minutes from home to make the point that a location for study need not be exotic to evoke colourful response.

The continuum of sketchbook, response, realisation, sketchbook is the theme of this extemporary portrait of a meticulous and caring artist/teacher. The teaching aspect also extends to the yearly production of new subjects for the books produced in conjunction with Jean Littlejohn who is also featured in this series.

"My work is inspired by images memories and emotions experienced both at home and overseas. Landscapes and the play of the light on surfaces continue to evoke strong feelings. My aim is to capture an essence of time and place emphasising certain aspects in a simple statement.

I prefer to work in themes and keep sketchbooks to inform my thought processes. This approach enables me to work through the first impressions endeavouring to progress to much more subtle, evocative responses to a particular aspect. Previously Greece, New Zealand and Australia have intrigued me and still do. My initial reactions can take sometime to develop, allowing time to evaluate my responses and for memories to strengthen or fade. This in turn helps the selection and compilation process of exaggeration and understatement to formalise a design. My recent theme of '5 Minutes from Home' features two local fields. Day by day observations made throughout the year reveal many surprising features....fleeting moments of changing colour and mood continually transform the space. The work references both the intense and subtle colours which partner the patterns created by the ever changing seasonal aspects of seeding, growth and harvesting crops."