Textile Study Group

artists and tutors sharing ideas imagination and skills

First and foremost a hand stitcher, it feels natural, but never commonplace, to have a needle and thread in my hand. The rhythm of the repetitive stitch - the gesture - is a very important aspect in the making of my work. I would describe the stitching, for me, as an intensely physical activity, the actual process is as important as the finished work.

My work always begins with intensive drawing of my subject matter and sampling to investigate the means of expressing it in terms of textiles. For a number of years the content of my work has been derived from studying the landscape of the American SW where I have travelled extensively. The land, shaped by time and natural elements, is also affected by generations of people who have lived, worked and left their marks upon it. Recent work is concerned, particularly, with my observations of the devastating after effects of wildfires on the landscape in Arizona, where the red rocks are left blackened and trees are reduced to stark, black, twisted forms.

Although I spend a huge amount of time on my stitching and I am very particular how it lies and the kind of surface I am making, I am not overly precious about it. After stitching is completed, I often treat work with clay slip, paint and sandpaper, emulating wear and erosion and creating, in the piece, its own history.

Jean Draper