Clarity by Susan J. Bowman, Egyptian Cotton, Silk, Handwoven, Hand Dyed, Cherry Rod
Artist Statement
Contemporary abstract weavings have comprised much of my work over the last several years, the result of combining large complex patterns with hand-dyed yarns. Each work studies how pattern and color intersect to create designs that are the hallmark of handmade cloth.
Pixel-by-pixel, I hand-draw basic pattern shapes in Adobe Photoshop®. I add other weaving information and place the final design into specialized weaving software. Thread color choice is an important decision and I often use dyes to create the effect I’m looking for. I work with both traditional and unusual materials depending on my goal and sometimes use a physical property, like wool shrinkage, to achieve interesting texture.
The repetitive, physical aspects of handweaving take time, a process that is quite meditative. Many thousands of yards of yarn pass through my hands on the way to becoming an ordered, stable web. I enjoy all the steps involved in handweaving but nothing compares to the feeling of throwing a shuttle and seeing my design develop into cloth.
I’ve been a weaver since 1985, am a Colorado native and graduate of Colorado School of Mines. I spent my career in the semiconductor industry and an engineer’s perspective is behind many of my choices in materials, design, and color.
