Blog 64

These last three months here in Portugal have been quiet but busy. I continued hand sewing squares of patterned fabric together using the English Paper Piecing method as described in my last Blog 63. I do enjoy the process but was dissatisfied with the results. My hand stitching just doesn't look neat enough!

I made up some samples on the sewing machine as a comparison and they were better which leaves me questioning where can hand sewing as a process and 'style' fit into my practice?

I would like two or three processes of making by hand that I can switch between, and to balance the use of different skills and experiences that come with each method. The search goes on.

In my last Blog 63 I wrote about the upcoming group show with Plastic Propaganda that was about to happen in London December 2016. I am delighted to share with you some photos from that show.

Detail of my work taken in my studio before the exhibition.

My work in situ at St Katherine Docks London.

'Untitled' Fishing Wire November 2016.

Approximately 120 x 180cm.

For more images of artists work that was exhibited in this group show see:

Plastic Propaganda Exhibition - 'The Thames The Artery Of London'

Putting patchwork and sewing to one side I decided to pursue more knitting using nylon wire and I am enjoying the results so far.

Knitted Nylon (Fishing) Wire.

My favourite is the very thin black nylon wire. The knitting is almost weightless. When you hold it in your hands it feels like nothing is there, except the sensation of the tangle of thread. I have ordered some more of this wire to make a bigger piece. If you catch the sunlight right it makes the knitting sparkle, and in the breeze the piece gently moves about. How do I interpret that into an exhibition setting?

Knitted Black Nylon Wire.

Knitted Black Nylon Wire (Same piece).

This photo does not do it justice as it does to the naked eye. The piece practically sparkles and flickers in the sunlight.

Knitted Black Nylon Wire (Same piece) on white background. 

The white background accentuates the thread's shadows. In this photograph it looks like a drawing. The 3 dimensional melding into the 2 dimensional.

Do you remember my black mohair wool that I was using in February 2016? Take a look here Blog 58 The black nylon wire I have just knitted with is similar.

Black Mohair wool unravelled from it's ball. February 2016.

These black thread works remind me of my bubble paintings that I was creating back in 2008.

Me at work creating the bubble painting installation.

Bubble Ink Painting on Erased Photograph 25 x 20cm 2008.

Bubble Ink Painting on Erased Photograph 25 x 20cm 2008.

I have been looking at artists online who work with thread. At least half of them are Japanese, an interesting observation. Agano Machiko, Chiharu Shiota, Asako Ishizaki, Atsuko Yamamoto. What could be my take on thread and knitting?

By chance I started free form knitting with some of the nylon wire. With the stiff structure of the wire and this abstract form of knitting process I have been able to create a more structured three dimensional object. It was a bit of a 'wow' moment for me. I knit for meditative and relaxing purposes, row after row, same stitch, repetitively. With free form knitting I am constantly alert, having to make conscious decisions on where to stitch next. It is lively and quite a different experience to what I am used to with knitting. Hey, knitting as subject with two different processes and two different experiences!

Free Form Knitted Nylon (Fishing) Wire.

I have recently read "The Language of Sculpture" by William Tucker. In the book the author describes the sculptures of certain famous artists and the context in historical terms of their development. As says in the title of the book "The Language of Sculpture", the author's text provides me with key sculptural type words that can trigger descriptions and thought processes for my own work that I am making. Things to think about such as: volume, gravity, animation, illusion, perspective, density, 'drawing in space', balance, light, weight... I have ordered some books from the Henry Moore series "Essays on Sculpture" to hopefully expand on my ideas.

As regards to the spinning project that Shawn and I are developing, progress has been slow. We have had trouble sourcing an environmentally friendly finish to protect our spinning wheel wood. This has now arrived and the assembly of the wheel can finally begin. We have washed our sheeps fleeces and purchased our carders. They come in pairs and look a bit like combs that you would use to brush your hair. You use both of them to brush each strand of fibre so that it lays straight and in the same direction, before you start the spinning process. We have a lot to do!

Unwashed Portuguese Merino sheep fleece ready to be trimmed before washing.

Romney sheep fleece - washing in progress.

Romney sheep fleece drying on the washing line.

Shortly Shawn and I will be in France for a house-sit, looking after two cats and two dogs. During our stay I would like to spend some time looking at my website and I would welcome constructive feedback on what you think about my website as it is at the moment. Take a look here: www.emmamoodysmith.com

I will also take some more knitting and sewing with me and some books to read. The creative process goes on!