The Creative Process

I develop ideas for art from the things I see, whether it is a landscape or the centre of a flower. I photograph it, draw it or just remember it.  Over time these images start to coagulate into complementary groups.  This mess is then left to fester in my head for what is often an extended period of time.  It is tweaked; bits are added and taken away.  There are often design flaws that I have trouble fixing while I'm thinking about it, so they are left until I see something, or think of something at 3 in the morning, that solves the problem.  Hence I have pencil and paper next to the bed.

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Once the design has reached maturity it will suddenly come together and is put on the nearest piece of paper (often an old envelope), or just drawn, full sized, on the foundation fabric.  Then the work begins to collect the fabrics, paint, thread, beads etc that will be used to construct the artwork.  Things will change during the period of construction.  As the work comes together I see different  things and have new ideas that require incorporation.  Finally, the end is declared when everything looks ok, because it has been said that "everything will be ok in the end".

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Due to the method of this design development I don't have a lot of material evidence, and therefore my portfolio and sketchbook are non-existent.  Nonetheless, a lot of effort has gone into my designs, and I have the mess in my studio to prove it!

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Denise Gaskell