Much of my practice involves playing with different materials. Often I repeat the same technique with different materials, as the qualities of the material can have a significant effect on the result. Thickness, rigidity, flexibility, and even colour can make a piece look very different.
Previously I’ve made spiky dodecahedrons by twining with hemp and paper yarn.
With the paper yarn I wove away the ends (which took for ever!), while with the hemp I tapered the spikes to a point and left the ends free.
This time I used bindweed, but made the spikes much shorter and left the ends free.
The result is more untamed, much wilder, though I will probably trim the ends just a little more.
It’s not been a good year for bindweed. The long hot summer has led to a lot of bindweed in my favourite places withering and dying off (I suspect gardeners will be pleased). So when I spotted a set of splendidly smothered railings earlier today, I took the chance to replenish my stock.
Ah Kim, I LOVE what you do with foraged weeds/twigs/grasses etc. And this time these beautiful bindweed – its like a Cinderella story!
Thank you Judy – no glass slippers involved! 😉
Love the different effects! Really like the disorder and energy of the bindweed👍🏾 One woman’s bindweed is another woman’s creative material🤷🏽♀️