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TECHNIQUE

ccunningham-woman.com

Traditional techniques combined with a modern sculptural approach establishes the structural integrity of my work. Outlined below are skills and examples when considering the creation of my Textile Wall Hangings. 

Click on images for detail.

TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES: Applique, Patchwork and Quilting. Dressmaking techniques enables fabric to be manipulated, with padded structure and layering.

A MODERN APPROACH: Experimental 3D structure has resulted in some textiles of substantial proportion through the use of thick padding and excavation of structure.

RECYCLING OFF-CUTS: Effective in creating panels of colour and texture, layering for additional depth. Frayed edges promotes a wealth of natural texture. 

3D FLOWER HEADS: Individual petals hand stitched to a padded applique head. Petals are created from machining two pieces of fabric right side together with an opening to turn out. Excess fabric left around the stitched edge when cut provides the bulk necessary to give structure to the cavity. Hand stitching petals around the flower head provides artistic licence to create individual form. Embellish with light reflective beads and sequins. Beautifully sculptural.

SCULPTURAL CONTOURING: Layering fabrics to create volume and depth is a simple yet effective way to contour a surface, anchored with a stitch, embellished in beads and sequins to enhance. Naturally frayed fabrics provides an elegant  fragility.

USING WOOL: Enhances texture and creates volume. Knitting and crochet feature as both background and embellishment. Wool jumpers are used in the layered formation of flower heads to contour an area. Creating a variety of pompoms (volumes vary according to the type of wool used) takes me back to my early childhood. And embroidering my poetry adds an emotional layering to works.

ORIGINAL POETRY: Poetry adds an emotional layering to works, hand embroidered in wool or silk threads. Cancer 1 and 2 expresses the emotional and physical trauma of my experience.

UNUSUAL TEXTURES: Creating soft sculptural vaginas from pockets. Using my hair, having fallen out during chemotherapy, to create a large 3D vagina nest. Bubblewrap and plastic sheets, layered between fabrics, creating the visual impact and density required in Cancer 2. The metal underwire from a bra embodies the loss of a breast in Cancer 1. 

RECYCLING: I am passionate about rejuvenating textiles no longer valued in our throw away society. Carboot sales, charity shops and donations from family and friends provide me with a wealth of possibilities. The crushed velvet curtains from my childhood can be seen in many works. Indian silks provide intricate detail to be used in embellishment. Wool knits provides density. Lace adds delicate detail. It is the accumulative effect of using a wide range of textiles and embellishment which gives my work it's unique quality with surfaces encrusted with beads, buttons, light reflective sequins, old jewels. Some textiles have been reworked and others grown over time.

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