I am a weave designer hand weaving ranges of hand woven scarves and also framed wall pieces and hangings. Construction of the cloth is at the heart of my work, using different weave techniques to bring out the inherent qualities of the materials. For example in my scarves I mix combinations of yarns such as silk, linen, cotton and viscose, and use them to control the way the cloth reflects the light and the feel and drape of the finished fabric.
Much of my inspiration comes from landscapes and seascapes, but most particularly in my wall hangings and framed wall pieces. These are woven with wire, high twist silk and other materials such as paper yarn and horsehair, again using the structure of the weaving to produce textural, sculptural pieces. It is the combination of structure and materials that most fascinates me, creating a tension between different materials and the way they behave in a given weave.
In another range of framed work I hand pleat the fabric using cotton threads to control and create the undulating surface of the piece before working into the it with oil paint and pastels. I have taken this process; the first stage in smocking, and applied it to a tightly woven cotton fabric creating a firm layered surface on which to work. Building up the colour on this surface the shadows created by the pleats to add to the sense of depth and texture.
Image credits (from left): Scarves from Counterpoint range (Charlotte Grierson), Scarves from Xylem range (Charlotte Grierson), Detail from framed wall piece ‘untitled’ (Charlotte Grierson)
Charlotte Grierson
Textiles
Studio 14, Framework Studios, 5-9 Creekside, Deptford, London SE8 4SA
T: 07753 602 420
Contact: Charlotte Grierson
weave@charlottegrierson.com