How do I Begin my Creative Process ?

A few books that I’ve read recently have really got me thinking about my process.  Over the years I’ve written many artist statements and I’ve tried to explain how or why I work in the way I do, how I get to my finished embroideries.

My comfort zone has always been making with fabric and thread. When I went to art school the was focus much more on the process, not just finished pieces. I learnt to use drawing to look, record and develop my ideas and inspirations. Drawing became a tool to create and process my ideas and observations and my textiles became more richly developed because of this. 

Over the years, I have relied on my sketchbook as an important part of my process, a starting point and reference as I create and translate my ideas into textiles.  Stitching is still my favourite thing to do in a day.  Most of my embroidery is done on my trusty old Bernina. It’s not a fancy computerized or digital programmed machine. It’s a free and really playful way of creating a line, building up texture, pattern and shape with multiple colours of thread and material.

Reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield has reminded me to be patient with my creative process.  I feel I’m back to making work that is much stronger because I’m giving myself time to observe, allowing myself time to play, and trusting that some joyful creative magic will happen along the way…

“Just say what you want to say … and say it with all your heart.” 

― Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear