Stitched Art in Coastlines: Guest Blogger: Gillian Smith

Autumn Exhibition – Blog #7  – Level 3 Advanced Studies in Experimental Stitch – Asters

I am a passionate kayaker and love the shoreline where the sea meets the land, a constantly shifting scene with the movement of the tides. I chose the theme “coastlines” for this course, and although I have done many 2-dimensional island collage pictures, decided I just had to take the opportunity to create a 3-dimensional island with trees, shrubberies, rocks and seaweeds. I was looking for texture in a variety of techniques and Gail pushed me through much trial and error to find the best materials and proportions for this ambitious project.

I wanted to go beyond the familiar pictorial with images of spawning sockeye that I have been collecting for 6-8 years, ever since I since I saw a picture of their brilliant red and chartreuse coloration against the dull green river, another type of coastline. I was interested in using colour and layers, painting with dyes and transparent fabrics. How realistic or abstract would the piece be? I ranged through techniques learned in earlier courses and this one to put together what worked for my design ideas.

©Gillian Smith – applique

©Gillian Smith – machine stitch

©Gillian Smith – Island: Manipulation – hand and machine

©Gillian Smith – Island detail from Level 3 Advanced Studies in Design and Experimental Stitch

©Gillian Smith

©Gillian Smith

©Gillian Smith

©Gillian Smith – hand darning

©Gillian Smith

©Gillian Smith – layered collage

©Gillian Smith – Machine Stitch

©Gillian Smith – applique