Embroidery- The Textile Art Magazine
September/October 2013
"Jean's work is largely about the passing of time, often combining aspects of pattern with history."
Jean Littlejohn's most recent textile artwork was largely inspired by the renovation of her Victorian home. While work was being completed, Jean gained ideas from peeling back the layers of plaster and wallpaper and studied the interesting textures and patterns surrounding her.
The 80x40cm image above ('Portal') was created through a combination of printing, layering, hand and machine stitch as well as embellishing. The subtle colours, all tints of originally bolder colours, help to create a sense of the past; the patterns are still visible but have faded over time. Her use of layering also mimics the build up of patterns and textures on the walls through the years that it has been inhabited.
Although as a flat 2D image on the internet it is hard to gain a real sense of the textures on the piece, the layering still somehow manages to hint at the raised surfaces so you can visualise how it may feel to touch. The careful consideration of colour means that although composed of numerous layers of pattern, it is not chaotic or overpowered by the different textures.
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