s h e l l e y r h o d e s
m i x e d - m e d i a a r t i s t
Shelley is a mixed-media artist concerned with the concept of fragmentation and repair. Cloth, drawings and objects are often fragmented before being reconstructed in some way. She takes inspiration from her environment by observing, drawing and collecting. She is drawn to the effects of time, the transience of nature, the things that go un-noticed and the ever-changing fragility of the things around her.
She gathers objects that are weathered, worn, broken and overlooked, observing and responding to small inconsequential things and discarded detritus that may inspire or become part of the finished artwork.
'I like to take time to stop and look, noticing small often mundane things - the textures, the marks, the spaces, the colours. Slowing down, pausing, looking closely - quietly observing and recording things that draw me in.'
Stitch is used to join but also creates another layer of marks often relating to her drawings. Her textile work takes inspiration from Kantha making and Japanese Boro in which she combines layers of distressed, pre-used cloth. Techniques of piecing, patching and mending are employed as well as folding and trapping, hiding and revealing.
Shelley often finds inspiration on her travels and constantly records her observations in sketchbooks and journals. She has a daily creative practice and posts her daily artwork on Instagram every day.
www.instagram.com/shelleyrhodesartist
She works from her studio in the north of England on the border of Cumbria and Lancashire. She is a member of the Textile Study Group
e-mail: shelleyrhodes1@gmail.com
P u b l i c a t i o n s
Shelley has written two books, published by Batsford, the most recent, Fragmentation and Repair was published in September 2021. Her first book, Sketchbook Explorations was published in 2018. She has also contributed to numerous other books, magazines and online interviews.
In this beautifully illustrated book, Shelley explores the concepts of working large then fragmenting into smaller pieces in order to reconstruct new work which she relates this to the Japanese concepts of wabi-sabi (finding beauty in imperfection) and mottainai (using every last scrap). She shows how she takes inspiration from small fragmented objects, which sometimes become part of the finished work. She shows how she uses salvaged and recycled materials and repurposes household items.
She demonstrates methods of distressing and manipulating surfaces, before repairing with pins, tape, adhesive, wire and plaster as well as a range of approaches to stitch, darning and patching.
These concepts are illustrated with Shelley’s own pieces alongside those of other leading artists, this book is the ideal companion for any textile artist wanting to bring notions of fragility, fragmentation and repair into their own work.
A practical and inspirational guide to help embroiderers and textile artists make the most of sketchbooks to inform their creative work. Using a combination of paper, textiles, found objects, pencil, ink and paint, Shelley shows how a sketchbook can act as an illustrated diary, a visual memory of a journey or experience or as a starting point for more developed work.
Whether out on location or in the studio, she explores every stage of the creative process, from initial inspiration to overcoming the fear of a blank page, manipulating paper and images and incorporating ‘found’ objects to build a sketchbook that is both beautiful and inspiring.
Sketchbook Explorations is the ideal companion for everyone from the beginner to the more experienced artist looking for exciting techniques to expand their repertoire in mixed media. It is beautifully illustrated with her own work and other leading artists.