In the Studio this week Carol Fagan In the Studio this week Carol Fagan

Junk Artist Journal

With my diploma course complete and Rob still not well - in and out of hospital from coughing up blood post a chest infection - it has been difficult to focus on a new project, so I decided to have a go at an artist junk journal with collaged and textured pages. I will use this to print out and put the quotes on creativity that we put together as a group. I am not thinking too much about the placement of papers at this stage. Just getting the base sheet covered. The detail and embellishment will come later. At the moment it all looks a bit of a mess, but I am sure order will eventually come out of the chaos

It is taking a lot longer and making a bigger mess in my studio than I had anticipated but I finally think I have the pages don so I can concentrate on the covers and adding the bits and pieces of stencilling and stamping I want to add to the inside. I decided to make 3 signatures of 3 A4 pages each, folded in half that makes 6 ages per signature. That means both sides of the papers need to be collaged so 8 A4 pages in total. I thought it would free up my artistic style and would be something I could stop and start at will. I have been working on the pages for that last 4 days on and off. My studio looks more like a bomb site at the moment as I have so many bits and pieces saved over the years toward having a go at something like this. I found the paper towel iron blanket prints from eco dying are a wonderful addition to the collage materials. Now things are drying and maybe I will get to work on the covers etc on Monday. I have to work tomorrow so nothing much will get done then. Below are some progress photos and a shot of the mess in the studio

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What is my current Textile Focus

My interest in textile art is wide and varied. My focus at the moment is on completing panels for my scholarship project Parallels in Maori and Celtic customs and art. I am currently working on a Tromp L’oeil piece that represents the Winter solstice coming through a gap in the hills that was important to both cultures in mapping their seasonal world. the centre piece is hand embroidered and now I am trying to complete the effect of adding small pieces fabrics to create the effect I am looking for