oops 2021

December 19, 2021

Looks like I didn’t even do a 2020 post, and 2021 is nearly over.

Congratulations if you got through the last 2 years with a shred of your former self.

Despite all the home schooling and endless lunches and dishes, I did manage to make a lot of small work in the lounge room studio. Also managed to be included in the Kate Derum Award at the Australian Tapestry Workshop and the Christmas show at Boom Gallery.

Here is a look at the work.

( i really must do more of these, I get so self conscious on social media…need to do a bit more recording of thoughts and inspiration…)

Hold On , 2021
27 x 27 cm
Wool, handspun yarn
Finalist Kate Derum Award

This tapestry is a homage to The Lady and the unicorn suite of tapestries. As a first year student at Monash Uni, making an interpretation of the Lady and the Unicorn, Sight, was an exercise that Kate was interested in us exploring. In this tapestry I wanted to focus on elements like the symmetry of the trees, and the floating island that the figures inhabit. I have an over-sized, anthropomorphic cat, and a slightly “pop” unicorn either side of a girl hiding behind a blanket. The blanket is something that signifies comfort and cosiness, something that has become more important in current times. This particular blanket is a nod to the blankets being made near the studio where I work in Geelong.

The banner that the cat is holding saying ”Hold on”, is a positive affirmation, and play on the poster, “hang in there” represented by a kitten awkwardly hanging on a branch by one arm.

This Way, That Way, 2021
40 x 39 cm
Wool, cotton, linen, silk, seine twine, hand spun yarn
Boom Gallery, Geelong

Portraits and Objects, 2021
46.5 x 36.5 cm

Here is the small tapestries I made for the stock room at Boom Gallery

rachel hine artist — Fuchsias and flowers
7.5 11 cm
2021

All these works are made with various yarns, including wool, cotton, silk, handspun yarn, linen and other yarns.

2018

November 26, 2017

hi.

I've been out of action as far as updating the website and generally getting on here to blog.

So here's a little update of what I'm doing at the moment.

here you can see my original drawing, a finished watercolour, and the beginning of my recent tapestry.

Here's how it turned out.I'm pretty happy with it, but i'm going to have another go at it on a finer warp sett, call me bonkers, but I really want her face to be smoother....and a bit less pensive. — Here's how it turned out.
I'm pretty happy with it, but i'm going to have another go at it on a finer warp sett, call me bonkers, but I really want her face to be smoother....and a bit less pensive.

365 Days of Drawing

October 21, 2016

I've been working hard in the studio, and it's been ages since I did any updates. Plus, we all know how social media is eating up all the down time.

Anyway, I just wanted to drop in that I have managed to compile some of my drawings into a little book, that I have just self published, zine style. There's hard or soft cover versions, and they are available through Blurb at the moment. http://au.blurb.com/b/7428081-blark-pictures-of-girls-in-dresses

July Already.

July 15, 2016

This is an installation shot of Weaving Worlds, at The Australian Tapestry Workshop

The exhibition was part of an exchange of skills and understanding.

An installation shot of "Space Oddity" for the Green Show at Boom Gallery.

End of year!

December 14, 2015

It's been a crazy year, but here we are.

Next year I'm looking forward to offering some custom orders, commissions and even undertaking a community tapestry at a local school. Oh, and also getting around to an exhibition.

Thank you everyone who has been such a great support to me. All the book purchases has helped me pay the rent at my studio! It really helps!

Stay tuned

All the best

Rachel

xxx

Boom Christmas Show 2015

November 18, 2015

Studio time

September 20, 2015

I've been working in the studio most days, but the pull of children and other domestic things, sometimes gets in the way.

But, here is a taste of what's been going on.

This is part of an experimental necklace I've made

Over the last couple of months it's been great being able to experiment.

Busy

July 7, 2015

As you might notice on the what's on bar to the right, I've been a bit busy to update what's happening here.

I have been working quite hard trying to create lots of tapestries. Those who follow my instagram acount will know it. @rachelhineartist

Below is just one of the many works I'm making.

Welcome 2015

April 8, 2015

Fairly regularly I think I'm going to stick to some new regime or idea, like this one. 2015, I'm going to try to write proper blog posts about subjects that get in my brain a bit. Ideas I usually bore my friends and family with...Let's see how I go.

In this blog, I have from time to time talked about copying and also about research. More knowledgeable folks than me can articulate these better than I can...I did do my Masters and wrote piles of pages, but, I'm afraid it was so hard, I'd always find myself nodding off.

The gist of my thinking today is, that the two subjects are heavily linked together, for better or worse.

Firstly, let's think about research, and what that really means in terms of the creative person. To me, it's about finding out- finding out about the "thing". Which usually means some reading, from a book, from a library or through an online purchase, which is happily delivered to my door. I rarely look to a Youtube tutorial as a first port of call, and, I'll talk about that in a tick*.

The next part of research is, trying things out either by drawing or making the "thing". Not just once. Over and over, this is where process and practise come into play. Also, this is where discovery and change can happen. This is also where you can become the best at doing the "thing"...therefore creating something with a starting point, and an unknowable end.

What's the link to copying?

In art school, and other academic places of learning, PLAGIARISM, is so looked down upon, that the student can be excluded - thrown out. The threat of this is so real, that usually the student is forced into researching their line of study so thoroughly that this will not be a reality for them.

So, coming back to today, and the overwhelming event of social media and the outrageous trawled picture collecting sites...For folks who have not had the benefit of academic training, how or why would they even know or bother pursuing the model that I just described?

In a time where just about anything is available to -kind of learn- for free, why would any of it seem valuable or precious? When ideas are flung about (as everybody wants to be noticed) freely why would a 'new comer' even know they are copying? When they say they have been "inspired" by someones work, what are they really saying?

The newbie cannot be expected to be able to differentiate between a tutorial, for free, and an achievable finished object made by an artist or designer. If well regarded and fashionable makers do it, how is the newbie to know any better?

While I'm writing this, the last thing I want to do is to discourage anyone from being creative and expressing themselves. Mostly, I guess, one should be wary of starting that new online business, playing with the big girls and banging on about your "inspiration" and originality...if you haven't done your homework. There is always someone who's been around longer than you have. Read more books, done more travel etc.

The solution?

Hopefully, I haven't lost you.

Find your own path. Find a real life expert. Find a book written by an expert. Email people, have real conversations. Work out of a journal, DRAW, record thoughts, names, things to look up later. Enrol in an art course. Learn from every single person who wants to teach you. Look out of your specific medium for inspiration....build a background of research for yourself, so you can stand proud, and completely know that what you are doing is your own.

*Youtube tutorials will show you how to do the "thing" they are demonstrating...so you'll be able to do that...handy for learning how to cast on stitches in a fancy way for knitting...not so great for 'ideas'.