This interview is with local fibre artist Karen Negus. I asked her about her work, experiences, advice, and more. Also included are some examples of Karen’s amazing fibre work.
What kind of artwork do you do?
I consider myself an eclectic fibre artist, primarily working with threads and yarns, geometry, colours, and now fabrics and dyes. I'm known in the community as a Needle Tatter, but I have also done some needle felting and jewelry making.
How did you get involved in the arts?
I have always been creativing in some form or another. I enjoyed tedious crafts as a child, always selecting projects that required detail and attention. I suffered from childhood arthritis, and found myself doing allot of arts and crafts instead of running and jumping. I often taught myself different skills and crafts, and overtime found something I enjoyed doing that I could do with my limitations. I taught myself how to needle tat with the help of a wonderful little booklet with step by step instructions and photographs for left handed people. And now find myself behind a sewing machine and playing with beautiful fabrics. I'm looking forward to playing with everything and seeing what I can create.
How has your work evolved over time?
I basically started out following patterns. Then once I gained confidence in my work, I started playing around with different kinds and sizes of threads, adding beads to patterns, and eventually changing patterns to create new ones. After about 15 years of working with limited patterns, boredom started setting in. So I started to look at the world around me for possible inspiration...but it had to be geometrical and work with circles and arcs. I try to incorporate sacred geometry, like the Fibonacci Numbers, in my patterns, and use colours to enliven the viewer. I also started making larger 'tools of the trade', so to speak. I began making tatting needles from wooden knitting needles, which allowed for the tatting to be made in a larger thread or yarn. Now we can tat with any size yarn, be it handspun or machine spun. This allows for larger wearable items to be made in a fraction of the time.
What kinds of things inspire your work?
Every colour possible to the eye, nature and her natural geometry, and Crop Circles! I absolutely love crop circles.
Where could someone train in this medium?
There are two forms of tatting, the needle and the shuttle. And the best way to learn how to tat is to have a pair of hands you can watch, and walk around if need be. If this is not an option, there are many amazing videos online that teach both left and right handed people how to tat.
Are there any resources you wish were more available for youth looking to enter the arts?
Definitely. Although, I am not familiar with how much is currently available, I can only imagine it is less than what was available when I was a young adult. Creative expression is healthy for everyone. The more we can teach or provide resources for that creative expression, what ever it may be, the happier and healthier people will be.
Where can people go to find more of your work?
I have a little online shop with Etsy, and a facebook page under the title of Tatting for Spirit. Pre-Covid, I took part in most of the markets offered at the Old School Gathering Place, and other local craft markets. I have also have my work hanging in the Old School Art Gallery.
Do you have any advice for young artists?
Find something you enjoy, a skill or craft or something. Something you enjoy creating that truly makes you feel like you're alive and happy. Learn different techniques and tips and tricks, things that will help you with your creative expression. Don't be afraid to try something new and always be open minded for new ideas and suggestions.
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