My Work
I am inspired by the South West Coast Path and the sea; things rusting and decaying, lost or discarded and found again, put to new use.
For me, beaches are best in spring and autumn; I am drawn to windswept, solitary places, when a brisk walk on a clear day yields interesting finds to be collected, drawn and stitched. Rust from the landslip at Lyme and Eastbourne’s Fishermen’s beach, stripy Devon pebbles, holed pebbles and oyster shells, fossils, sea glass and tatty feathers. And that view of distant cliffs and sea sparkling in the sunlight.
Items discovered in this way often find their way into my sketchbook. Textures, sounds, lines and patterns all contribute. Words are important, and may appear in the work itself or I may write as part of the development of a piece. I dye and print most of my own fabrics, using Procion dyes, rust and found objects.
My current work focuses on atmosphere, walking and collecting; the evocation of a sense of place. The muted colours of the sea and coast are combined with hand and machine stitching to add text, images and texture. The quilting stitch is important, adding interest and a tactile quality to the surface: time spent in quiet contemplation echoing time spent walking and collecting.
For me, beaches are best in spring and autumn; I am drawn to windswept, solitary places, when a brisk walk on a clear day yields interesting finds to be collected, drawn and stitched. Rust from the landslip at Lyme and Eastbourne’s Fishermen’s beach, stripy Devon pebbles, holed pebbles and oyster shells, fossils, sea glass and tatty feathers. And that view of distant cliffs and sea sparkling in the sunlight.
Items discovered in this way often find their way into my sketchbook. Textures, sounds, lines and patterns all contribute. Words are important, and may appear in the work itself or I may write as part of the development of a piece. I dye and print most of my own fabrics, using Procion dyes, rust and found objects.
My current work focuses on atmosphere, walking and collecting; the evocation of a sense of place. The muted colours of the sea and coast are combined with hand and machine stitching to add text, images and texture. The quilting stitch is important, adding interest and a tactile quality to the surface: time spent in quiet contemplation echoing time spent walking and collecting.
Copyright © Terry Donaldson 2010-2020. All rights reserved.
