Welcome to the sixth of a series of interviews about artists who garden. Today's interview will be with Karen Hall of An Artist's Garden, a textile artist and fellow Blotanical member.
1. What is your art, how did you come to creating it?
I am a professional embroiderer and artist and I have been stitching for as long as I can remember. I work on a variety of medium, including:- felt, paper, silk and organza. Often “found objects” leaves, petals, wood or metal are incorporated into my work. Free machine embroidery and hand stitching are my paint brushes.
2. What is your inspiration?
I draw inspiration from journeys – although usually journeys of the soul, or life journeys. More recently my inspiration has come from journeys around my garden or the local area. Traveling and paths feature often in my textile work.
3. How does your garden or nature influence your art?
I think that my garden has only really started influencing my art in the last couple of years – with the move to this house. I notice that my “goddesses” now seem to have flowers round them.
I have always enjoyed including animals in my textiles in a naive way.
4. Will you share a picture or two of your garden with us?
5. A picture of your favorite plant?
I don’t think that I have a favourite plant – this garden is very much work in progress. Since starting The Artist’s Garden, I think that the plant I am actually photographing is my favourite plant. Getting close up and personal with plants really helps me see them.
This is one of my favourite garden photos of a cosmos after some heavy rain.
6. Any photos of your art in the garden?
The textiles I create don’t really go in the garden, but this is “The Artist’s Garden-Studio” and more than enough art goes on in here for any garden!
7. What is the best lesson you have learned from the garden or nature?
Work with Nature -
I have gardened on sand and gravel,
I have gardened on clay,
Here I am gardening on stony wet soil. It really is important to try and pick plants that will be happy with the conditions in your garden.
From nature I learn about cycles, birth, life, death, re-birth. I think this is something else thing is prevalent in my art work.
8. Do you have a gardening tip to share with fellow gardeners?
I think that the best thing I have read this year is from Gail who gardens at Clay and Limestone in her post titled,
"I’m Looking at the Garden with Your Eyes."
"They are kinder, gentler than mine."
http://clayandlimestone.blogspot.com/2009/02/im-looking-at-garden-with-your-eyes.html
Compassionate Eyes is what I need to remember when I look at my garden.
9. Show us your favorite item in your Etsy shop.
Currently my Etsy shop is rather neglected – and does not have much in it. I think of the things that are there – I rather like the giclee print “Oasis” – my camel with attitude!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9148593
10. Show a favorite item from another Etsy shop.
There are so many fabulous artists now on ETSY – it is very hard to pick.
I really like the work of Seth Apter, a New York Artist.
Particularly this image, “Solstice Fifteen” his ETSY shop is
The Altered Page.
Karen, I thank you for sharing your creative inspiration and textile creations with us! I really enjoyed this opportunity to learn more about you, your garden and your art!
Thanks for visiting! Please leave a comment if you'd like and stay tuned for the next "Artists in the Garden" interview.
