Back in the 70’s I was a member of the Spinners and Weavers group and natural dying fraternity in Bendigo Victoria when I worked with a lot of natural dyes for spinning and weaving.
I heard India Flint speaking on ABC Radio National just prior to doing my Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts. She was interviewed about her new work eco printing and I realised I was on the same page as her ecologically and being eco aware. I researched the techniques and began to experiment to bring me to where I am now.
India Flint really developed the technique when researching her Master of Visual Arts. I was studying the Advanced Diploma at the time and was able to use some of the techniques in my fine arts work.
After that I developed my own techniques, taking my direction from nature and trusting my own intuition.
When living with the environment off the grid in an all solar independent dwelling, the environment becomes your teacher. You watch and observe the seasons, the trees, the animals, you develop a respect, an understanding and honouring of the environment and how to work creatively.
SOMETHING I THINK IS REALLY INTERESTING IS THE WAY THAT THE PLANT MATERIAL IMPARTS IT’S ENERGY TO THE FABRIC AND MAKES THE PRINT, SO FOR ME IT’S IMPORTANT THAT THE TECHNIQUE IS ECO FRIENDLY USING NO CHEMICALS AND I PREFER TO USE WINDFALLS, WHICH BRINGS ANOTHER ELEMENT TO THE WORK.
