I guess to understand where I’m going, I have to reflect on where I’ve been.
So, I’ve decided once a week to take one of my past artworks and revisit it in the form of a post. I have to admit I am very slack with the activity of reflection, but as an artisan it is a very important tool in evolving your skills.
So, here we go….
My late grandmother, 2003, 100cmx80cm, mixed media.
I love texture and different mediums, materials and hold a blatant disregard for conventional ART rules. My creative sparks are at their brightest when experimenting and breaking with those rules. I went to University and obtained a Bachelors of Visual Art with a major in painting. During my degree I tried to pass all sorts of media as ‘painting’ this was one of those works.
In the creation of this work there was a lot of ‘up-cycle’ and a little painting. The frame was made of recycled scrap timber and covered in denim using a conventional canvas blocking technique, I then knitted and crocheted the background and stretched the piece over the top. I was definitely not a proficient knitter back then. To knit and purl was all I knew how to do. I was more interested in how I could blend colours and different threads in a ‘painterly’ visual way.
The image in the centre was painted with oil paints on canvas and then hand stitched on top of the knitted panel. One of my tutors was horrified and dismissed it immediately…. I was all about provoking reaction and felt I had succeeded in that, even if it was negative.
This was the first substantial work I created using the technique of knitting. I love this work and it takes pride of place in my lounge.
Pepperbox Couture 
I know this is an old post, but your artwork is really amazing!
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Thank you, it doesn’t matter that it’s an old post – This work hangs in my lounge and is a part of my everyday life… Thanks for the appreciation 🙂
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It’s the most beautiful crocheting/knitting I’ve ever seen.
Is that really fine yarn? Or did you use some kind of thread?
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Thank you for your feedback. The knitting is a mixture of everything I had at my disposal at the time. There is fine woolen and silk mix yarns, cotton and linen threads of varying thicknesses. I organised them by complementary and color likeness, then wound them into each stitch row by row until I was happy with the result. 🙂
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art lecturers are humans and therefore just as prone to error – and personal opinion – as the rest of us.
Can you tell I had an Arts Major back when dinosaurs ruled the earth ?
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Oh lol, yes they are… I learned so much from my tutors and appreciated any feedback or encouragement they gave me. It really was an invaluable experience!
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Well, no matter what your tutor said & thought at the time, I think this is an absolutely beautiful piece, & a wonderful tribute to your late grandmother! The mixture of textures & artistic techniques is so original & interesting, the amount of detail is exquisite, & for my part I’ve always felt that emotion is a key element of creativity, & this portrait certainly has emotion in spades!
I’m looking forward to seeing more of your past artworks!! xoxo
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I think this is beautiful, and I’m tempted to try to incorporate knitting into some of my non-knitting based craft as well. Thank you for sharing.
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I love your spirit! What a beautiful piece and a lovely tribute to your grandmother. I never could figure out how art profs could give grades in our classes. It’s so subjective. Your personal feelings, your choice of medium (unless required to use a specific one), your life…that comes through in your work. I love your blog!
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I must admit that when i saw the picture I thought ‘Waw, that’s weird’. However, I do not think your tutor should have dismissed it so fast.
It is a a piece of art after all and it expresses your creativity, and your were after all experimenting.
I like your work. It is quirky!
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This image grabbed me immediately – very unusual with that gorgeous textile and portraiture combo and yes – there are no rules in art. Thanks also for your interest in my Pastel Society project! Alison
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Thanks for stopping by and for your message Alison!
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Good for you not to be discouraged from a few negative words! I was impressed with your knitting–the colors and texture. Isn’t it interesting that that was what you were a little negative about? 🙂 Sometimes we are our own worst critic! You are very talented—keep on creating! 🙂
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🙂 lol, oh whoops I wasn’t being negative about my knitting – I just wanted to point out I knew very little about knitting then and I only used that technique as I wanted to offer something different to the discussion ‘what is considered art’ or in particular painting. My favorite bit is the color blending and the variations in the threads.
Thanks for the message!
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Great Idea! Great Piece!!!!
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Pah! What do lecturers know! I was impressed with it before I read your write up. Now I’m wishing I had just a teaspoon of your artistic flair!!!
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Funniest part is, the lecturer approved of the knitting and encouraged me to push the boundaries further with different materials, but did he did not like the painting and said I should not attempt figurative style unless I am willing to spend another 3 years learning to master it. Fair enough he was a figurative painter and he work was flawless….. pfft – My family & I like it!
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You are so clever, thats awesome mia. I love the painting of your Grandma and that frame so cool. Love it 🙂
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Thanks Danni!!
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