Jenny Bowen
My inspiration at the moment is with interlocking shapes and patterns. It started with the piece ‘28days’, which depicts the day by day changing shape of the moon over its monthly cycle. I used different sized crescents in ’Waxing and Waning’, and then in the pieces ‘Linked in’, and ‘Chain Reaction’.
The technique I used in the above has become quite dominant in my recent work; namely collagraph printing. I combine this with overlaying of printed shapes on organza silk. Another work using the collagraph printing technique is ‘To Cut a Long Story Short’…which is based on decoration from Minoan cups, with very simple spirals and fluid shapes.
My pieces ‘Matrix 1’, ‘Matrix 2’ and ‘Coral Reef’ were produced for the SWTG exhibition, ’Wasted’. Here I used water soluble paper with machine stitching and background printing. The images were based on the shapes of plastic interdental brushes and of seed heads.
I have been a member of South West Textile Group for 28 years and have participated in nearly all of the exhibitions throughout the South West.
Personally I find a proposed exhibition title focuses me into producing a piece of work. This is often helped by ‘Work in Progress’ meetings. These provide useful advice and comments.
I would very much recommend joining South West Textile Group to a textile artist starting out, as it provides a professional approach for a would-be exhibitor.
Waxing and Waning
28 Days
Coral Reef (Wasted)
Matrix 2
To Cut a Long Story Short
At Home with Minoa, detail