What happened then, is that because I can’t touch the work to make it (well, sort of) I’ve ended up making work that can’t be touched.
I am reaching the point where I am almost now able to sew again – nearly – but find myself in a quandary. Should I pick up the stitching where I left off, or should I follow this touch-free tangent to its logical end?
My instinct is to stick with it for a while. The enforced break from sewing has definitely given me a different outlook, different opportunities, different working methods. I have undoubtedly “borrowed” from Bo. There was a suggestion in a comment somewhere that he take up the sewing while I couldn’t. Then he threw down the gauntlet for me to attempt working digitally. So he has, and so did I! Having to re-teach myself Photoshop hasn’t helped. I don’t have an iPad, so don’t have access – other than on my iPhone – to the seemingly millions of apps Bo has. But I have enjoyed playing. I have generated dozens of images, some more successful than others. I have enjoyed learning too.
But producing digital images in the way that I do, in comparison to the way that Bo does, makes me feel vulnerable, incompetent and scrappy. Not used to that! I am extremely confident in using stitches and textiles. I have called them “my voice” in a very pretentious arty farty way on many occasions.
I have posted a couple of images on my personal blog. I felt I had to be brave to do that. I feel even less confident here, with them sitting alongside my friend’s work.
After a session with the digital though, I am finding myself drawn back to my sketch book, jotting down notes about what I can do when I get my hands on a needle again. I don’t think I am going to be able to resist the tactile for very much longer. I might end up projecting these images… if I do, then I think it will be onto something soft, moving, touchable… or something that is pretending to be.
I do feel somewhat freer though now… how strange… time will tell whether I come to regard the stitch as something precious, or whether I now am just not so bothered by it. Having spent the last 6 years trying to prove to myself that textiles is a valid medium for a fine artist, and fighting its corner somewhat. I will feel a little fickle if I discard it too readily.
This started out as an exploration of pixel and stitch. It’ll be funny if I end up not actually showing any stitches…………
