Lynn van Wyk has always found creating to be her happy place. During Covid, she explored using fabric to make art. Now she creates detailed fiber art pieces inspired by the sights, culture, and people of South Africa.
How did you get started designing Textile Art?
Artist creativity has always been my happy place. I was the child who spent her days in her head, filled with imaginary and deep thoughts. Never quite fitting in with the ‘normal’. It took a while to find my ‘happy medium’.
I dabbled in crafty, drawing, painting first on fabric and later in oils and acrylics, but never felt anything really gelled. During Covid lockdown, I started watching and learning about using fabric as a tool for making art, and I was hooked.
I started to learn everything I could find and tried out everything, joining Textileartist.com Stitch Club and purchasing a few Fibre Arts Take Two courses. I discovered that the varied, imperfect, textured, and serendipitous nature of fabric suited my style.
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Where do you find inspiration?
Johannesburg, South Africa, is a vibrant and busy city with a huge eclectic mix of people living and working together. Plus the vastness and varied beauty of the county make my home a very inspiring place to live.
I love the bright, creative mix of clothing the local blacks wear. I love the energy of the local street seller entrepreneur businesses and the friendliness of our people.
My best work always incorporates these aspects, even though I am mostly just an observer of the varied cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
What media do you use in your work?
I use a mix of fabric, stitch, paint, laser cut elements and embellishments. I use collaging of fabrics to built up my backgrounds and an rough edge appliqué to build up an image.
My images are pretty literal and illustrative as I try to tell a story with each one.
Is your work more content-driven or process-driven?
I think my work is more content-driven. I find an image I love and work from there. I often find that the materials give me another direction, and I am happy to follow the fabric’s voice too.
I use a lot of intuitive work to get me out of a creative slump, and that sometimes leads the way to more work.
Do you do series work?
I love working in a series because one idea fuels another, and when I start getting an idea, it doesn’t stop there. But, I am equally happy to work on one standalone piece.
Do you plan your work out ahead of time or do you just dive in with your materials and start playing?
I try to take photos of situations or people that inspire me, but it is dependent a lot on the moment. I use a lot of reference images to interpret what I want the image to show, it takes planning for this sort of image. On a day-to-day basis; I play with materials to keep me inspired and learning.
Are you a “finisher”?
Finishing really depends. If I am trying out ideas or testing a thought, then I don’t finish. Once I’m in the depths of a project; I usually will finish the work. I do have UFOs but I often come back to that box to see if I can still work on the piece or if it is time to disassemble.
Describe your creative space.
I used to have a large bright studio where I worked. We are renovating a smaller house, and my studio will be smaller in the new home, but still a dedicated warm work space with a small “dirty” area for dying and other messy play.
Scraps. Saver? Or be done with them?
I have collected lots of scraps from numerous places over the last few years and only buy plain calico or cotton occasionally. I don’t keep too much of the tiny pieces, as that just overtakes very quickly.
Do you use a sketchbook, journal or technology to plan or keep track of ideas?
I actually have numerous journals happening at the same time.
I love having one for sayings, design, patterns, or illustrations that strike me. I have a journal for research that I am investigating, and ideas for a project.
I do lots of mixed media collage journals when I feel uninspired or feeling agitated or stressed. And I take downloads of notes of things I learn along the way.
I also always have a page open on my computer to store image references and notes I find online.
How often do you start a new project? Do you work actively on more than one project at a time?
I always have more than one project on the go – it keeps me working by having a variety of things on the go.
I like to work on our Textile group challenge, always working on a couple of exhibition items, some fun play things and some learning things.
Do you prefer the kind of project that is challenging and requires attention or the kind where you can get in your meditative zone and enjoy the process?
I love to get in a meditative zone and enjoy the process. I do get overwhelmed when I face challenges and struggle to move forward but it feels good when I have a break through
What part of the design process is your favourite? Which part is a challenge for you?
I love the research stage and the planning stage.
I enjoy the making stage but I need uninterrupted time with no distractions as I need to be fully present to solve problems as they arise.
The biggest challenge is procrastination brought on by fear of starting the making. I have to fight through it every time.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
I think the advice of not worrying about sewing straight, threads overlapping. Letting go of the perfection is what freed me to just play.
The one tool that I use, that I was recommended, was a “Lint roller” to remove all the threads and bits that have stuck onto background when you finish a piece.
Where can people see your work?
Instagram: @Iynnvan_wyk
Facebook: /lynnvan_wyk
Website: www.saidwiththread.co.za
I also exhibit with our Fiberworks SA and with my textile group (TAGG).
Interview posted June 2025
Browse through more inspiring art quilts on Create Whimsy.