Stitching with Nature: Creating Material Magic with the Natural World
Katerina Knight
Batsford Books
About Katerina Knight
For anyone who is interested in the artist, this is her website.
Having left her background in Fashion for a slow art life, we can still see this thread within her practice, yet it ties in beautifully. She graduated from the Royal College of Art with a Masters in Textiles. She works also in editorial Textiles, with a key role for Selvedge. This is her first book to be published. Her practice itself shows a true love of the natural environment, this is something that she weaves into this book as a main basis and also becomes a foundation in her teaching work.
The book in brief
This books focus is in bringing nature to the fore, via Textiles. So I find that it is the nature which gains the most time and respect within this book, as it should. She applies unique techniques to curate especially flowers within textile art practice. From sowing the seeds to creating the final pieces, this is a celebration of the free beauty we all have access to. Calming, settling, a quiet meditation - this book is so many things - art, textiles, wellbeing and of course nature.
Contents:
I will state here a few of my own favourites from the book itself.
The start leads us and informs us
The book begins with the authors own timeline to her practice as it is now. The transition from fast fashion life to the quiet of the country - nature having influenced both of her roles - I love the wording in the introduction here, where she states now she has time to be ‘simply being’. Couldn’t we all learn from that as a value?
Fashion is ever-present yet not overtaking
What I do note, throughout the whole book is that obvious taint of her history in fashion. It is just there, but it acts as a beautifier. This is seen in its obvious state by the way the imagery for the book has been shot - especially the photos where she herself is present.
An interesting decider on the flowers concentrated on
Knight concentrates on four flowers to write about and use as a basis for techniques, yet they are not the obvious choices, which I really appreciate. They are: Lavender, Cornflower, Dalia and Statice. She does not only explain their use, but why they have been chosen. For example on page 35 there is the ‘Why I grow cornflowers’ explanation, surrounding her twenties spent in London with a busy life and how wildflower places became escapes to quieten her life away from the city life. Cornflowers I would say, represent this sanctum of police found for her soul.
Each flower in the four mentions have a certain similar narrative, we learn about the Folklore, the Origin, the real name….even a guide for growing.
A bit of the gardening and a bit of the Textiles..
I love the organic, process led way this book presents itself. You will find bulb advice, planting and sowing advice, dyeing advice…..drying flowers advice…..this is no buy your dried flowers and use them in embroidery practice. No this is about work, work which will pay its value on you as a gift to both your outside and your inside - living.
Other artists
When it is appropriate, Knight brings in another artist. This never feels out of place or surprising, it flows along the pages without a feel of us and them (us being the artist and them being the other artists). Artists mentioned include: Jasmine Linington, Rachna Garodia, Shannon Clegg and Ana Lamata.
Places and connections
Those brought to light in this book include the RSN which feels so natural an inclusion, and more maybe underrated places less heard of, including the Bright Earth Buddhist Temple - obviously all close to the artists own life and values - a true connection is a successful one in my reading, as the writer, this artist will be able to narrate depth in words and feelings.
Points for us
Just like the sunlight which will at times dapple the beautiful nature and earth described, this book is dappled with little lights for us; points to consider, points to think on, be inspired by, to feel, to be, to aspire to. I found myself being very thoughtful on her images - the way they are captured, the story they in themselves tell. Please take time to consider them, even as a first fun without reading all the text at once. Appreciate each part of this book, as it should be.
One last point
Please give time to pages 124/5, read the artists and her inspirations words - take them to heart - then use this book for your own good, as you will it to be.
To buy
Stitching with Nature by Katerina Knight is available to purchase now.
