I had a recent conversation with a friend on social media that triggered a nerve in me. Not an anger, or anything like that. More a niggling concern.

I had posted one of the many incredible online tapestry exhibits out there on tapestry weaving. This one was “Fabric of the North” by members of the British Tapestry Group at Kirkleatham Museum. That’s where the eye candy comes in.

She wrote that she’d been weaving a year and a half and still couldn’t wrap her head around how you get from straight selvages and rectangles to these incredible works. “My logical brain knows it’s many hours of hard work and practice, but my impatient self is in a tapestry coma looking at this beautiful work.” 

There were so many ways I could have responded to this, and even more ways the conversation could have evolved, but what I said was “maybe it’s time to stop looking! It’s great for inspiration and appreciation of art but if it holds you back, not so good. I learned tapestry before the internet - I can see how it would be intimidating today to see all this fabulous work…”

And then I felt bad for posting that. You never know how the written word will come off in a platform like Facebook, Instagram, or even an email. I didn’t mean to sound superior or all-knowing, but I do believe there’s some truth to it -and it’s something that bothers me.

She went on to say how she loves asking herself “now how did she/he do that?” and I agreed.

The conversation ended with both of us agreeing that we really do learn so much from looking at other people’s work, so… whew!; my comment didn’t offend (I hope).

I’m not suggesting we live in a bubble and don’t look at other artists’ work. I just don’t like to see anyone intimidated by what’s out there.

So what would I suggest? Getting out the journal and writing down pieces that wow you like that. (That’s what I do). Look at them closely and try to figure out both what causes the wow reaction and how they accomplished it. What special techniques can be identified. Is it texture that grabs you? Color? (Color is the one that 9 times out of 10 will take MY breath away).

Thinking about all this reminds me of a book I read a year or two ago about the work of Muriel Nezhnie by Linda Rees. It is emphasized several times in the book that Muriel worked in isolation of what others were doing in the textile/tapestry world. By the way, Kathe Todd-Hooker has copies of this book to give away for the price of postage. You can find her on her website or facebook. And if you want to read more about the book, here’s an article by the author on the ATA website.

Since I’m on the subject of eye candy in tapestry, have you picked up the recent book out by Micala Sidore, The Art Is the Cloth? Just so you know, that’s an affiliate link. This book is filled with one gorgeous and thought-provoking tapestry after another. I get it out and look at it when I’m too tired to weave anymore!  It never fails to rejuvenate me. There’s a review on The Art is the Cloth here by Rebecca Mezoff .

And if that’s not readily available, here are a few more links to get you grabbing that journal!

I especially loved this one, Archie Brennan: Weaving a Legacy, and how Elaine Wilson incorporated that Fishermen’s knit sweater patterning into the woven background. Brilliance! From Dovecot Studios.

And once again, the colors (and blending) take my breath away in these two, both from Australian Tapestry Workshop!

The Makings of Perspective on a Flat Surface

The Making of Listen, to the Sound of Plants

And finally, here’s a video I enjoyed watching with some sound advice to new weavers by Michelle Driver.

Any thoughts on all this?

What most inspires you when you look at other artists work?

Got links to share?

Share with us all in the comments below.