'There is always music amongst the trees in the garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it'
Minnie Aumonier

A stitch or two

This piece details the hand-embroidery of a large scale sample which will hopefully feature as part of my degree show. The piece is attempting to capture movement and density of mark through varying the scale of the stitch as well as the thickness of thread. I have tried to think carefully about the composition of this piece (which unfortunately the photograph does not quite capture) as I was keen to generate the feeling of a stark and isolated landscape which are often synonymous with the British winter.

Make your mark

Capturing movement, tone and depth through pencil and rubber marks.

Red, yellow and green

Watercolour marks of paper.

This piece dates from early within the first term of third year when I was experimenting with how we use drawing as a means of expression. While the sense of movement and colour works well on this piece, I think it highlights that I often become seduced by the process of mark-making and forget to look at the orignal source to inform the drawing. While I am not soley interested in making representational pieces of work I am keen to create pieces which are reminiscent of nature.

Stitching yellow

These two small hand-embroidered samples are loosely based upon fields of rapeseed. Both pieces were completed earlier this year. While I think the delicate use of stitch and colour works well in these samples I think the pieces could benefit from an increase in scale. I hope to achieve this with a further piece stitching in yellow.

Fields of yellow

Two drawings of trees

'Breeze is the conductor, trees the musicians, leaves the instruments'

Following on from the advise of one of my tutors I have decided to consider other sources which may feed into my work as inspiration. Since Christmas I have been listening to Classic Fm, especially while I stitch as I find the momentum of the music is complementary to the long hours of sewing. I therefore find it really interesting to learn of an established link historically between British composers and the landscape.

The idea stems from the belief that classical music is somehow evocative of the landscape. Composers such as Bax, Elgar and Holst, amongst many others are thought to have held a natural affinity with the landscape through their music. An example that comes to mind when I think of this is a piece entitled Dawn by composer Jean Yves Thibaudet. When I listen to this piece I cannot help but be vividly reminded of a morning landscape.

Through drawing and stitch I aim to generate a sense of movement within my work similarly to the way music does when you listen to it. My work is attempting to capture fleeting moments in time that are suggestive interpretations of the landscape rather than representative depictions.