I have been fascinated by people all my life. I’ve never been someone who takes people at face value. I’m interested in the why. Why did they say that? What did they mean? What was the context?
Because of this, I’m usually quite good at reading people – reading their emotions, and reading what it is that they’re not saying. It is said that 80% of our communication is non-verbal body language. I’m not a mystic, but I think I’m observant when it comes to people. The slightest change can change a meaning. It’s a bit like Latin, which I used to study a long time ago – a different vowel could change the whole meaning of a sentence.
We’re also complex beings. I’ve always thought that people aren’t ‘black or white’ but are made up of myriad shades of grey. We have a huge range of emotions, which can change in a millisecond.
We feel emotions based on our thoughts. Our thoughts come from our beliefs. When you’re feeling a particular emotion, possibly a negative emotion, it’s useful to notice what your thoughts are. What is it that you’re thinking that’s leading to that emotion?
Because we all have different genes, and different upbringings, we all have different inbuilt belief systems. We all have different maps for the same land, with different ways of navigating. We take different roads to get from A to B. Because of this, we can all react differently to the same input – how would you react if you fell over in front of people, or if someone ignored you, or if someone paid you a compliment?
It's this complexity that has always fascinated me, and it’s found it’s way into my stitching. I’m currently fascinated by stitching portraits. This is my year of portraits.
My main model is my husband, as he’s always around..! He also takes a good photo (unlike me) and has an interesting face to stitch (unlike me!).
I’ve been trying to challenge myself in my stitching – for example only using remnants, or a very limited colour palette.
I've also been using remnants of fabric, rather than newly-bought. Somehow it lends a face character and a story.
Doing this makes you really notice a face – not just the main features, but where the lines are. The trick, in stitching portraits is to choose where you stitch – which lines do you choose? Do you make them harsh lines, or can you make them softer? You notice shading and colours. You notice emotions.
It's lead me to the project I’m currently working on – stitching just the eyes for a range of emotions. I’m trying to expand my range of models to compare the same emotion in different faces. So, if I ask you to pose for a photo, I may have an ulterior motive!
Watch this space.
