FEATHERS

Another area that I am thinking about researching and using as inspiration for my work is feathers.

This particular feather found on a walk was a mixture of neutral colours and hues. On first sight it looked very ordinary but on closer inspection there were some very interesting markings especially the river of translucent cream that ran vertically on one side.

There are many textile artists who have taken inspiration from feathers. Here are a few examples of artists who have worked with the concept of feathers.

Janaina Milheiro

According to the webpage homofaber.com Janaïna creates textiles and sculptures from feathers. She actually creates her work using feathers.

She has developed a very personal, innovative approach

She mainly creates work for luxury goods, fashion and interior design

Janaïna Milheiro stumbled upon featherwork quite by chance. At textile design school she was encouraged to collect materials. When the moment came to start her end of year diploma work, she delved into her collection and picked out feathers, using them to create a series of small fabrics. Her journey with feathers then unfolded very organically, through experimentation. “I started to work the feathers by weaving and embroidering them,” she says. “Weaving helped me discover this material.” Following her studies, she presented these pieces at a Paris exhibition dedicated to exceptional textiles, kick-starting her career.

Deborah Kruger

This textile artist uses feathers from endangered birds as her inspiration – not the actual feathers but feathers made from recycled plastic bags. Kruger’s work is extremely colourful and she creates pieces of all scales. I particularly like this red and blue vessel shape that she has created.

Image Credits
Carlos Diaz Corona

Kate MccGwire

Kate MccGwire works with actual feathers to create large scale bulbous, flowing sculptures. She often uses pidgeon feathers sourced from pidgeon racers who gather up dropped feathers. Apparently Kate likes the fact that initially viewers to her work are astounded by it but then when they find out what the work is made from are repulsed by it.

”But are often perturbed and revolted when they understand what the material is,” which is exactly her intention. By juxtaposing the raw materials with the finished artwork, she asks viewers to consider the everyday beauty that’s often overlooked. Www.thisiscolossal.com

Why Feathers Inspire Textile Artists

• Delicate texture & movement – softness, lightness, and motion.

• Symbolism – freedom, spirituality, transformation, nature.

• Textural contrast – airy fragility vs. structural textiles.

• Material innovation – natural feathers or reconstructed alternatives open creative pathway

When thinking about using feathers as a source of inspiration I am not thinking about using the actual feathers. It is the delicacy, softness, airy fragility, transparency which inspires me. Whilst taking the top images I was taken aback by how delicate the feather was.