3-D Textiles

I have always been fascinated by art that combines two or more techniques.  I love it when people put things together that don't normally go together -- like pottery and embroidery or metal sculpture and clothing design.  Or chocolate and peanut butter, for that matter.

Today, I want to introduce you to two artists who think "beyond the canvas" when creating their work.  Of course, as an embroiderer, my picks are heavy of the textiles.  I make no apologies, and submit that those who think of textile arts in three dimensions are the best example of what I'm talking about.  When an art form is typically thought of in two dimensions, such as needlepoint or embroidery, adding a third dimension takes an artist who is willing to take chances and learn new skills.

If they are very talented, they might even create a recognizable style.  Take Mary's Granddaughter, for example.  Her seemingly simple pieces have become quite recognizable in recent months because her style is so unique.  She combines simple but beautiful embroidery with antique porcelain doll parts to create pieces of art that don't just hang on the wall.  They reach out to you and connect with the world (and each other) in a way that no two-dimensional pieces really can.

I especially like the multi-hoop pieces she creates.  The hoops are generally connected to each other, usually with floss or thread, making the separate pieces into one larger piece.  Because of those connections, her work becomes more than embroidery.  It becomes an artistic statement about the connectedness of everything around us, and sometimes, as with the piece shown here, about the creative process itself.

Visit her Etsy shop HERE, and take a look at what she can do with a few simple stitches and a lot of imagination.

I also like this piece by Etsy artist Shoofly.  It's the first time I've seen a piece that combines painting and knitting, and I think it does so flawlessly.  Imagine a piece like this without the added dimension of the actual knitted shawl or scarf.  It's just another painting, right?  But this work draws the viewer into those hands and what they are doing.  It makes what could be a passive painting into an active, engaging work, and I really like it.

The cooperation of two sets of hands knitting one garment is a great image, and everything from the drape of the fabric to the way the yarn has been attached to the canvas is, in my estimation, perfect.  Take a few minutes to check out her Etsy shop HERE, and if you click on the profile information, there is a long list of shows and links to more of her work. (ADAM)