Caroline Champion creates abstract hand embroidered art with acrylic paints and thread. Ideas come to her from nature, overheard conversations, lines of buildings, clouds and more. Her pieces reflect her emotions at the time she is creating and stitching the piece.
How did you get started making stitched art? Do you feel that you chose your “passion” or did it choose you ?
How and when did it all begin? During the pandemic.
No, actually, maybe not during the pandemic. Much earlier than that.
I grew up in a house where art was present. There were books, paintings and my mother who worked wonders with her hands, a brother who drew and a father who loved puns.
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I was always surrounded by yarn, wool and needles. And then came Covid, with its time on hold, new endeavors and a desire to keep my hands busy. I was already doing cross-stitch, but I didn’t really like counting, and the motifs were often a bit old-fashioned. Traditional embroidery seemed freer, lighter and less restrictive. So I ordered an embroidery kit on Amazon (noooo!) and fell in love.
I don’t know which of us chose the other. I think embroidery and I agreed: it was love at first sight for both of us. I chose her and she recognized me.
When was the first time that you realize that you are a creative person ?
I think it was time that helped me realize that I was a creative person… And my wall is full of my embroidered drawings. The more I embroidered, the more I realized.
It took me a long time to understand that creating was a vital need, that I had the right to do it and that it wasn’t a question of “doing well” but of trying!
What inspires your work ?
Everything! Nature, a phrase heard on the street, the lines of a house, colors, the movement of clouds, laughter and tears, sounds, shapes, patterns on a garment, the words of a song. Everything is an inspiration. If you lend an eye, an ear and a heart.
How do you manage your creative time ? Do you schedule start and stop times ? Or work only when inspired ?
I don’t plan. I don’t have an alarm clock, or a schedule to follow when I create.
But I have to deal with reality, and my job as a teacher.
And then, there are several parts to my creative process: the drawing, the starting point, the first draft comes to me more often in the evening.
For the color part, I wait until morning and the light to be sure of my palette. And the last part, when I play with threads and needles, can be done at any time and lasts the longest.
I don’t have a schedule, but there are times that are more suitable.
How often do you start a new project ? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time ?
I can work on several projects at the same time. I juggle between large pieces and smaller ones. I like being able to switch things around, so I can change techniques and positions. When a project finishes, there are often one or two already in the pipeline. At the moment, for example, there are three.
How does a new work come about ?
I always start by drawing with an idea in mind, a word, a feeling, an emotion that will guide me during my drawing. Hence the self-explanatory abstraction. I remind myself of my mindset as I draw. And I don’t try to calm that emotion or that idea, no, I go right to the end, I even try to give it a shape, to give it color, movement, to make it concrete, real. So, for a new project to come along, I try to remember phrases, words, reflections, about what’s around me.
What different creative media do you use in your work ?
I use acrylic paint and cotton threads. I like this mix. You can find texture, relief, contrast. I like it when my work makes you want to be touched. When I see a hand approaching one of my paintings, I do a little dance of inner joy.
What plays in the background while you work ? Silence ? Music ? Audiobooks, podcasts, movies ? If so, what kind ?
The background music varies.
I like silence and just concentrating on the sound of the needle passing through the thread. It’s meditative, almost therapeutic. After spending a few hours in silence, I like to watch a film or a true-crime series. Prick your needle 10,000 times and watch a series about serial killers, it’s a bit weird but you get used to it. I’m a big fan of history and archaeology, so I also watch a lot of documentaries.
Can you tell us about the inspiration and process of one of your works ?
I often start with a first version with a hoop. I need to see if the “small” version can inspire a larger one, if I enjoy it. It’s out of the question to do a painting, a large format and not appreciate the process. So, hoops are a good test.
There’s one I particularly like. The one with the waves and triangles. I like its meaning: life isn’t always easy, it’s far from being an advert for washing powder, there are sharp points that sting well. But maybe if we could create a pretty, colorful river, the little triangles would bounce off somewhere else and leave us alone for a while.
Which part of the design process is your favorite ? Which part is a challenge for you ?
I love choosing colors! It really is my favorite part. Colors bring pep or softness, cheerfulness, depth to the rest of the room. It’s a kind of finishing touch, but one that starts at the beginning.
I like the framing part a little less. It means it’s the end, and after working on the big pieces for over 50 hours, it’s always a bit of a feeling to say it’s all over.
How has your work evolved over time ?What triggered new ways of working or styles of your designs ?
Moving to Malta changed a lot of things.
Discovering another culture, new landscapes and new traditions has clearly had an impact on my creativity. In fact, at the start of my expatriation, I ran out of steam. And then in Malta, I couldn’t find as much material, so I had to adapt, and in the end, that helped me a lot. The large formats would certainly not have seen the light of day anywhere else.
So, in the end, thanks to the lack of inspiration, I’ve been able to open up and try other things, and enjoy myself.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and interested in your work ?
Sharing my work keeps me motivated. I’m always curious to hear feedback. I love discovering other artists. I like to exchange ideas with them, even if we don’t work in the same field. I also need to keep observing, and I love going for walks. What keeps me interested is certainly my curiosity.
How do you know when a piece or project is finished and needs no additional work ?
When I have no more room on my fabric.
When I slide the fabric into its frame, leave it in a corner, walk past it a few times, and don’t try to add little drawings and make it part of the deco.
What is on your “someday” creative wish list ?
The “someday” creative wish list is very long. I’d like to try linocut, calligraphy, vegetable dyeing, tufting, do lots of diy to spice up my house, painting, collage …
Where can people see your work ?
I’d love to be able to say: “You can come and see my work at my exhibition in this great museum or on the wall of X “, in the meantime, check out my Instagram account @YesOrKnot.
Interview posted May, 2024
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