Art represents my belief in how I live. It is a visual record of time, of place and of engagement. It is heavily influenced by the nature of my materials and the inspiration of my natural environment.
Underpinning my art practice is using materials that tell the story of regrowth with layers of meaning connecting us to our stories. These are mostly of the earth and from the earth and of the places of my heart and others who invite me in to their place of the heart as evidenced by my 2023-2024 art installation in the Edward Hunter Heritage Bush Reserve.
Artworks from 'Ephemeral Ecologies'
This intimate exploration of place formed the thesis of my Fellowship in Creative Textiles (City & Guild. London).
I have continued to expand on the research and paths of discovery within my artist practice.
This has brought satisfaction, clarity of ideas and formations of concepts in my connected development of natural inks in particular.
I work especially with fibre (alpaca and raw wool), cotton fabric and make my own natural inks.
All these materials interrupt the waste stream as they are manufacturing off-cuts or not normally used. This is an exciting engagement in making a difference.
I use tools like the Gentle Roller and print equipment.
Teaching others to reach into their creative selves is a fun part of my artistic practice. Through teaching felt-making, making and using natural inks and ways of looking at art, I invite a more conscious thought on the environment. To become curious about natural surroundings and to engage with moments remembered.
NB: A few images from a July 2018 Exhibition taken by Philip Coates.
