On Your Doorstep Issue 3 | Page 38

ANNE KELLY

ANNE KELLY

WORKING WITH NATURE

UK-based textile artist Anne shares some of her work , inspired by nature with which she has a strong connection .
Artists , designers and makers have always influenced by nature , and textile artists even more so . An early series of textile work was based on drawings of plants from the garden . As my pieces have grown in size and complexity , I ’ ve kept and valued a connection with the natural world . Through my teaching and travels with my work , I ’ ve observed that practitioners of all ages and abilities share a huge common love of nature and textiles , which has inspired me to write my book ‘ Textile Nature ’.
The book ’ s journey will take you from starting points through to making and exhibiting , looking at inspirational examples from around the world , and help you to ‘ grow your own ’ work from and connect with green spaces . I believe that observing nature can provide you with a wealth of information and resources for making unique and meaningful work ,
I collect recycled fabric , paper and ephemera using collage , stitch , photographic and print processes to create a range of work , most of which is framed . My inspirations are travel , memory and vintage imagery from a variety of sources . These have been described as ‘ small worlds ’ and my current layered mixed media work started life as mainly botanical in subject matter before developing into larger more narrative works . Often it can be a small scrap or remnant of fabric that inspires a whole piece and I ’ m inspired by naïve and folk art . Collaborations are an important aspect of my work and I enjoy working with other artists . I also produce commissions for private and public individuals - examples of these ‘ collages in cloth ’, based on special places , people and spaces can be found on my website .
I teach a range of levels of ability and was a guest tutor at Jersey Textile Showcase in 2014 , artist in residence at Sussex Prairies Garden and am exhibiting a solo gallery of work at the ‘ World of Threads Festival ’ in Canada this November . I ’ m invited artist at the Knitting and Stitching Shows and have written ‘ Textile Nature ’ and co-written ‘ Connected Cloth ’
www . annekellytextiles . com www . annekellyartist . net http :// annekellytextiles . blogspot . co . uk
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