Fiber Brings Artwork to Life
During a recent interview, fiber artist Lorraine Turner said that she gets her ideas while spending time meditating. In those meditation sessions, the images of wild animals, like calico horses, lions, and tigers have flashed vividly in her mind. She also shared how creating with fiber brings her artwork to life.
In the following video and transcript, Turner describes her use of various types of fabrics, lace, threads, and even real whiskers. She also explains why she uses animals in each one of her artwork. She has come to realize how her work touches the hearts of others while helping distressed animals.
The Elements of Creating with Fiber
‘Not In Our Coup’.
It’s a symbolic piece. I saw this. This was another piece that came to me in meditation. And, it was just standing up for yourself.
The sky here is dyed silk. So, this dyed silk gives that impression of the sky. This is dyed cheesecloth. Just dyed cheesecloth. And, it gives that wonderful organic feel to it.
The back is just raw applique of different cotton fabrics I used. This is all hand-done, all hand-embroidered. These are California poppies I was trying to imply with this work.
I wanted to just add some feminine touch to it. So, I used some lace for the hen back there. She’s quite agitated.
Fox has a lot of lace. I like to use lace in my work. Because of this black. It just gives the feeling that the black; it just implies that the black goes further up the leg.
This was a fun piece to do. This took me quite a while. Actually, this was an Irma piece (Hurricane Irma – 2017). No power. I’m stuck in a hotel room and I’m stitching this fox.
A Reminder to Share Natural Resources
I always put animals in my work, as it symbolizes the family values; the family relations of the natural resources of the earth. I alwas want to remind people that we need to share natural resources.
– Lorraine Turner