Julia Couzens
The first artist I wanted to research was Julia Couzens, when looking through her work it reminded me of the all the little collections of scrap fabric remnants I keep, along with the odd bits of string I think might come in useful at some point. That inevitably ended up bundled up and wrapped up at the bottom of the box.
Obviously Couzens's has put more thought into her work rather than just grabbing stuff out of the bottom of the box.
One of the first pieces that stood out to me was the piece below. What I immediately recognised to be a bee. Couzens has managed to capture the textures of the bee, using soft and fluffy materials and yarns in yellow and black mainly. I particularly like the use of the black netting, the way Couzens's has left one of the edges free gives the effect of a wing.
The next piece that caught my eye was the piece below, I'm sitting here reflecting what it is that got my attention. I think its because the bundle reminded me of a children's fancy dress bundle. It bought back happy memories of the children growing up. The combination of colours gives a fun feeling and it is wrapped in a way that all colours are visible, but your eyes are drawn towards the black and white.
The final piece of Couzens I wanted to reflect on, was not for positive reasons. The colours are similar to the previous piece but are covered in black yarn wrapped in a chaotic manner. The chaotic wrapping reminds me of a someone angrily scribbling over the piece. It doesn't give the joyful feel Couzens other work, due to the black yarn. This is why it is one of my least favourite pieces she has created.
Barbara Cotterell
I really like the fact that Cotterell uses recycled items to create her pieces. Reducing waste and saving money, all things I'm keen to embrace. As well as making something destined for the bin and considered rubbish and transforming it into a beautiful piece of artwork.
Although I found it difficult to find a vast amount of Cotterell's work, but the three pieces below I found inspirational for the this unit.
The piece Cotterell as created by joining used teabags with stitches and curving them around into a cylinder shape. The teabags gives a very rustic natural effect, which is very contrasting against the vibrant red.
What I could see in this piece is the teabags resembling bricks and the way it curves around creates an effect which makes it look like a Well. The other thing that pops to mind at first glance ammonite fossil. The vibrant red background really emphasis's the grey natural tones of the teabags.
I wonder what the piece would look like in a different setting placed in a woodland like the milk carton piece below, would it look more like a well. Or would it blend in and get lost in the setting.
Cotterell's cartons of milk instillation, has been created by making use of the natural folds in the cartoons to create the circular wheel shape. With pop of colour in the middle of the installation where they join in the middle draws your eye to the middle. With the setting the installation has been placed it reminds me of a flower but had it been put in a more industrial setting the look of the piece would be completely different. I could see it looking more like circular saw. I have struggled to find out how the artist has joined the cartons together but I would assume it is glued in someway.
The final piece that I felt inspired by was the piece below created with milk bottle tops, stitched together, I have used milk tops and chocolate coin wrapper's in my foundation work, but used it more in a flattening form rather than a 3D shape. Reminds me of a sea anemone, or dahlia flower head. I would have perhaps added more foil cones to fill the middle of piece.
What I have liked Cottrell's work was her use of reusing everyday items and choosing the right setting for the artwork to portray the artwork how she wants it to be portrayed. These are all things I will take further in my work.
Pippa Andrews
Pippa Andrews was the next artist that caught my eye. What stood out to me what the more clinical geometric shapes and clean bold colours. Her first piece which has been created with paper using a bead weaving technique. They remind me of crayons joined together, in a climbing frame fashion. I think the artist has used wire to join the paper beads together and the keep the rigid cubed form.
The second piece was less geometric and more free flowing. The artist has used recycled bedsheets, again another artist that makes use of recycled materials. I really feel this is a key feature to take forward in my work with the environment being so important and so many items destined for landfill. Why not make the most of them and make something wonderful.
I also like the way Andrew's has used a crocheting technique to make a hanging installation made from strips of bedsheets. There is something quite soothing about the work the maybe its the setting or maybe its the softness of the bedsheet material.
Andy Goldsworthy
I have picked Goldsworthy's work to reflect on, I am not keen on his work, but I like the way he includes nature in this work. I do not feel inspired his work. The work with the sticks, although I can see what the artist is trying to achieve. Creating a window or a frame into nature, I just find that due to the darkness of the woodland and the wood used to create the weaved structure it becomes lost in the woodland. I perhaps could see myself using it in some form weaving yarns through the sticks, maybe a brightly coloured yarn. Or using the colours in Goldsworthy's second piece of artwork.
I love the colours from that piece, its so vibrant and really encapsulates the autumnal colours. Combining the two pieces would inspire me more than the pieces individually. Although I love the colours of the second piece. The concept seems very simple, like a pattern made by a child or an mandala.
Judith Scott
The story of Judith Scott really touched me, being a twin myself I could really relate to her story. Her work also intrigued me as well as Judith having Down Syndrome, her work has so much depth and is really thought provoking. I particularly like the piece below, what caught my eye after reading Judith's story was how she'd managed to create the relationship between twins. Wrapped and joined together in a special bond. Again used with recycled items but you can see the love between the two figures.
Judith binds and weaves together yarns and fibres around piles of common objects, I feel as though she is trying to represent the importance of everyday item and protecting them and keeping them so no one can take them away. It leaves you intrigued as to what she thinks is special enough to keep bound up. I fell the most inspired by this artist and have really enjoyed learning about her and her work.
Karola Pezarro
For my final artist I chose to look at Karola Pezarro's work. Her work holds a story as did Judith's Scotts. The piece below is a large instillation of 5 meters made up of silk bags which have been embroidered. Within each bag there is a different found items and then on the bags the wording depicts a memory. Immortalising the memories, keeping those previous memories going and being able to physically touch and feel that memory. Not only are these physically joined together being stitched together, the words are also joining the object to the memory.
Pezarro's second piece 'Between time' is made up of small clouds attached to the wall. On each cloud there are words such as smile, talk with father and in control. The clouds are then linked with thin delicate thread. I believe she is trying to portray the fragility between these connections and how easily they could snap.
What I am taking away from this research is the reuse of items that would normally end up in the bin. The second thing I will be taking away is the hidden stories, memories and feelings that can be wrapped and joined. Thirdly I want to push the boundaries of normal textiles explore unconventional materials and think more freely.
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