Patricia Kelly

I live in Co. Fermanagh. I attended the Art college at Ulster University in Belfast where I obtained a B.A. Honors degree in Fine Craft Design, specializing in embroidered textiles. I have been ever inspired by the changing colour, light and texture of the rugged landscape and skies in the west of Ireland. Growing up on a farm, I was involved in the landscape in a physical and tactile way, making hay and stacking turf. I attributes this experience to the very earthy, textural and repetitive quality of the work I produces today.I constantly pushes my work in new directions exploring images through drawing and paint, finally realising outcomes through the medium of textile, employing the use of free motion embroidery techniques. My work has become much more abstract in recent times with a greater focus on the use of the stitched line. The repetitive use of shape and mark has become an increasingly important aspect of my work imbuing a meditative and ethereal quality.While the work presents an extensive, yet highly selective visual and tactile feast, it is restrained in a most sublime way. Marks, transparencies and opacities are beautifully suggestive and satisfying. As the light changes, pieces shift, breathe and alter.

Q&A

Artist Statement

Patricia Kelly- Artist StatementPatricia lives in Co. Fermanagh, N. Ireland. She attended the Art college at Ulster University in Belfast where she obtained a B.A. Honors degree in Fine Craft Design, specializing in embroidered textiles. Patricia has been ever inspired by the changing colour, light and texture of the rugged landscape and skies in the west of Ireland. Growing up on a farm, she was involved in the landscape in a very physical and tactile way, making hay and stacking turf. She attributes this experience to the very earthy, textural and repetitive quality of the work she produces today.Patricia constantly pushes her work in new directions exploring images through drawing and paint, but finally realising her outcomes through the medium of textile, employing the use of free motion embroidery techniques. Patricia’s work has become much more abstract in recent times with a greater focus on the use of the stitched line. The repetitive use of shape and mark has
become an increasingly important aspect of Patricia’s work imbuing a meditative and ethereal quality.While her work presents an extensive, yet highly selective visual and tactile feast, it is restrained in a most sublime way. Marks, transparencies and opacities are beautifully suggestive and satisfying. As the light changes, pieces shift, breathe and alter. Patricia constantly challenges herself through her work, seeking that which truly satisfies. Her work is an investigatory process deepening and elucidating her thought process.

What craft do you work with?

I create embroidered textiles. I completed a degree in embroidery, Fine craft design in 1986. I produced landscape based work in the past but my work has evolved into a more abstract form in recent years. My favourite technique is free motion embroidery.

What inspires you to work with this craft?

My passion is textiles. I am particularly drawn to the past. I love to use recycled family clothing. My work is influenced by past activities on the family farm in rural Ireland. I am seeking to create works that suggest a flavour of our rural past, pf the texture of hay making, rope making, basketry, etc. and of the repetition of these tasks. My work is meditative and repetitive in the making.

How do you start your creative process?

I roughly sketch out my ideas, but mostly I make notes and the pieces live in my head until they are realised. I begin with a layer of hessian overlaid in a recycled textile or dyed calico. I use nayural dyes, tea, turmeric and I have begun to use madder. I have recently visited the folk museum in Castlebar to research the history of our use of colour in Ireland.The work changes as I progress and might not resemble my initial idea in outcome or size.

How would you best describe your workspace and what tools could you not do without?

I am very fortunate to have a log cabin studio at my home. It was purchased on the proceeds of the sales of the textile landscape work in the past. I have a large table to work at. I have many crates of recycled textile of various colours and textures. I have purchased a new sewing machine recently. It is my second Janome. I simply could not be without my sewing machine!!

Are there new techniques you would like to try?

I would like to learn more about printing . I would like to print lines on the textiles before stitching. I would also like to create prints on paper as final outcomes.

What have you learnt or the best advice you have received that you would like to share with fellow crafters?

My work has developed greatly since lockdown and since I became redundant from my teaching post due to school closure. My advice to others is that any art/craft form takes a huge investment of time and headspace. You need time to make mistakes, to try new things, to develop. I have also found instagram very useful. It has opened doors to galleries. It has also opened conversations with many other craft practitioners. I have found these interactions very encouraging and stimulating.