If you enjoy what you do, it shows in your work.

I am extremely grateful I’m able to design and create textile art which is meaningful and uplifting for me.  It’s a continuous, beautiful, creative loop, where I’m always learning and always exploring.

Design, design, design…….
Design. Creative Journal 2009. Cathy Jack Coupland

Trialling ideas and colours may just lead me to new work – or a new body of work!

For me, design nearly aways begins with paper and pencil, lots of rubbing out, fleshing out those lines with a black felt tip marker, then filling with glorious, uplifting colour.  The paper has to be white.  For some reason I just cannot work on yellowed white or greyed white paper.  Sometimes I stitch exactly as I’ve designed, other times I make changes as I work.  That’s fine by me.  I have a plan.  I know where I’m going!

Design. Creative Journal 2009. Cathy Jack Coupland

It’s all about doing, doing some more, then doing even more on top of that!

Nothing creative is a waste of time, in my opinion.

Designing my own work is a magical part of the process of being an Australian Textile Artist.  Do I stitch every design?  No.  Does it matter?  No.  It’s the process; the doing, the thinking and the feeling that’s truly important to me.

Design. Creative Journal 2009. Cathy Jack Coupland

Looking back on work already done, is a great way for me to continually move forward.

Remember the right brain v left brain theory?

I’m definitely a right brain person and it’s that sense of timelessness when I’m deeply involved in working a design that says to me, hey, this is great, this is where I want to be.  Whether the work is good or not is irrelevant.  Almost anything can be improved.  What’s important is that I’ve travelled to a different dimension where time seems to have vanished or been suspended. Along with that comes a true sense of well being and satisfaction. That’s what it’s all about and that’s a very, very special place!

Design inspiration. Creative Journal 2009. Cathy Jack Coupland

Design inspiration can come from anywhere. Here I’ve used part of an image cut from a magazine.  I’ve used words (below) to add a deeper level of meaning to the work.  These words can be applied to materials and techniques not just the design.  It’s a win-win!

Words support design. Creative Journal 2009. Cathy Jack Coupland

Words help consolidate ideas, colours, textures and mood. Mood is important in my work.

After looking through my 2009 Creative Journal again, I think I might stitch out a few of these designs.  They aren’t half bad!

Do you have designs you haven’t looked at in a while?  Seeing with fresh eyes may just inspire new work.  You never know…..

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