Drawn to Stitch: Line, Drawing and Mark-Making in Textile Art

This book is about is an exploration of one of the fundamentals of art and design: line. You'll learn how to observe and document the lines that you see around you in nature, architecture etc and then learn how to interpret those into embroidery and textile art.Broken into 4 major sections the book begins with an extensive overview of tools, materials and backgrounds. The types of drawing tools for making marks on whatever grounds you work with are followed by a discussion of how to alter your backgrounds by layering, collage, piecing, weaving and several coloring options. These backgrounds are the base for the second section of the book entitled Line Drawing and Textile Processes.This second chapter guides you in adding marks to your backgrounds using techniques such as mono-printing, printing blocks made from erasers, lifting and removing color using chalks, crayons discharge, and frisket and then moves into a discussion of several transfer techniques. Creating lines is not limited to just printing techniques though, the author also includes a section on creating needle felted lines and marks as well as making fibrous surfaces with silk tops and cocoon strippings.The first two chapters of this book are really the groundwork for the books main focus which is found in chapter three: Interpreting Line Quality - Drawing and Stitching. It's in this chapter where you'll find examples of actual design interpretations by the author as well as other artists. Each piece of the authors artwork is accompanied by a image of the original design reference and the approach she took with interpreting or drawing the line and then what stitch techniques were used. This section is an absolute feast for the eyes! Full page images of the artwork as well as clear crisp closeups allow you to see the intricate details of the pieces. Detailed explanation of how each piece was created give the reader a good understanding of the artists approach as well as a road map for the reader to consider when creating their own work.The book closes with a chapter on Using Line. Here is where you'll learn how to use stitch to interpret the textural quality of lines and marks on a surface. As in the third chapter an image is accompanied by the resulting artwork that it inspired along with a description of how the piece was created. The difference here is that the focus is on the types of stitching used; hand stitching or machine and the type of stitch used.This book is a must have for textile artists who are looking for a fresh innovative approach to interpreting line in their work.

While `Drawn to Stitch' is written primarily for fibre artists, it is an excellent resource for artists working in other mediums as well. In fact this latest book from Gwen Hedley can be treated as a comprehensive workshop and worked through over a number of weeks. In doing this, you can be guaranteed to be far more skilled at observing, interpreting and transferring your creative ideas into your particular artwork than you were before. I am an abstract artist, working in mixed media, and have found `Drawn to Stitch' excellent for this purpose. I am now looking at resource material in a fresh way.As Gwen Hedley herself says, the first two chapters, based on materials and technique, are simply the lead in to Chapter 3 which she says is "the kernel of the book." Hedley demonstrates with specific examples how she goes from collecting ideas for pattern and texture to her finished fibre art. To give you an idea of how creative she is, here are some examples of her resources;A corroded metal window frameA banded pebble,Worm casts on a rock,Eroded stone in a garden wall,Scratched lines in a wooden shed,A carved column, coastal port,Cracked window glassA crumbling sea wallOffice structuresA wall repairSkeleton hydrangea petalsSprayed graffiti on a wallScattered pine needlesA sea urchin shellIn a sense, you learn how to use the 'macroscopic lens' of your own eye to see your world in a new way. Additional artists include, Sheila Mortlock, Clyde Olliver, Bobby Britnell, James Hunting, Mathew Harris, Roanna Wells, Shelley Rhodes, Andrea Butler, Alex Mcerlain, and Alice Kettle. Most of these artists have their own websites, so you can go see the treats in store for you.

I am a high school art teacher. In trying to keep a neutral stance when teaching art history or in using examples of artist's work, sometimes I struggle with a genuine appreciation in some work. Especially that of non-representational artists. Gwen Hedley's book Drawn to Stitch was a real eye opener for me in finding deeper meaning in some of the current day art. Her examples take one through the whole process from inspiration to completion of a piece. I have a new appreciation for the forms of art that only appear as color or just lines on a piece of canvas. This, in turn, has given me new approaches in my teaching techniques.On a practical side, her approach to line design has given me fresh ideas for teaching my line design and drawing units. She has opened up a whole new approach to the way I have taught these foundations of any basic or advanced art course.As an artist, I will certainly use her techniques in my own work. I am so glad that I stumbled onto this book through the Amazon.com website. The suggestion that was sent to me through the website was very beneficial to Amazon.com, my students, and me!! thanks!

I bought this book for inspiration and guidance in my work as a book artist, not a textile or fiber artist, and for my purposes I am not disappointed. The techniques and works described may almost always be applied to either paper or fabric. There are instruction provided for a variety of media, from image transfer techniques to printing colors onto either paper or fabric, but (as a teacher) they are not what I would describe as detailed or really well explained if you have little or no prior experience with these techniques. They are adequate for an experienced artist, but I don't feel this book would serve well as a 'must have' basic for one's library - as a bonus, yes indeed, due to the inspiring photographs and combination of techniques and styles presented. For those reasons I am enjoying it very much.