Rachel Halstead

Since completing MA Textiles last year, I have been involved in lots of fabulous projects including Creative Practitioner for Arts Council of Wales, Textiles Artist as part of 'Threads' at Glynn Vivian Art Gallery and delivering amazingly original one off sessions for Life Long Learning Swansea. This is to name but a few! My area of expertise is Textiles but I have a background in Ceramics and Surface Pattern so my practice invariable involves creating 3D objects, soft sculptures and wearables. I love bringing literature to life through collaborative thinking, making and connecting!

Q&A

What craft do you work with?

After teaching Design and Technology for over 20 years, I completed a Masters in Textiles. I also have a degree in Surface Pattern and HND Ceramics. I started delivering enrichment workshops in primary schools whilst doing my MA and absolutely loved the creative freedom and energy of working in schools as an artist/practitioner. I have since worked with many group in different settings. I enjoy working on sculptural pieces and wearable art, using recycled objects such as duvets and tents.

What inspires you to work with this craft?

I am passionate about engaging communities to find a new way of expressing thoughts and interpreting literature. I adore the poetry of Dylan Thomas and have worked with groups to portray his work through soft sculptural and wearable art. Craft matters as it brings people together, it can help express ways of thinking collectively and individually. It puts thoughts, ideas and creativity into the world – from the inside to the outside. Inspire and connect through making.

How do you start your creative process?

There are lots of starting points. It could be a book, a poem, a painting, a mood, a feeling. I love discussing ideas, building on ideas, running with ideas, sharing thoughts and concepts. As a creative person there are lots of places that provide inspiration and keep the energy flowing – classical museum, a gallery visit, a book, a story, a person, the landscape – especially here in Wales. The sublime mountains and all that they mean and represent. Mountains as Metaphor. My MA work ‘Moving Mountains: A Contemporary Female Sublime’.

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

I work at home – all over the house. I live in a four story townhouse overlooking Swansea Docks. When I’m making or creating the whole house is used. Sewing machine in one room, chopped up fabrics in another, dye baths in the bathroom, hot glue guns plugged in and oozing onto hardboard (hopefully). The clearing up process happens a couple of days after the event/exhibition/workshop. My creative flow is not a stop/start process.

Are there new techniques you would like to try?

I explored digitally printing fabric and treating it like a painting when I was on my Masters. I splashed water on and then heat set it. I would love to do more of this technique. I was looking at Turners sketchbooks. I reproduced his colours in the dye lab. Creating that dirty, dusky, murky pink from behind the thunder clouds was pure joy. Marrying traditional with digital, yes that something that interests me.

What have you learnt or the best advice?

I think the best advice I’ve had is don’t sell yourself short. Be confident in your skills and ability and make sure you are paid accordingly! I would love to work with a theatre company or dance team to produce costume, installations, performance pieces.