I originally experimented with using a photo as a guide with machine embroidery in my textiles workshop and wanted to try it again.
My original intention was to create just a thread outline and as I remembered having issues with removing all the paper I reversed the image so that I could use the reverse of the embroidery. Once I’d sewn round the image I started trying to remove the paper, I decided if I got it wet it would be easier which it was! but I stopped before it’d all gone because I really loved the effect I’d gotten. The resulting image is slightly haunting and I think makes much more of an impact than thread alone. I repeated the process with Ray who I’d done an interview with although this time left more of the paper on. Interestingly the pink and yellow inks seem to wash away much quicker leaving a blue/green result (which gets stronger as it dries) the pink and yellow inks also dyed the fabric I was sewing into which creates a nice contrast.
My intention is to use these protraits in my second backdrop which is intended to be much more human and in contrast to the statistics which will hang in front of it.
I chose a photo of myself in a mask at work as I think the current pandemic is obviously having a huge effect on mental health globally. There is likely to be a national/international mental health crisis off the back of this, our mental health system is already severely underfunded and under a lot of pressure which will only get worse without the government properly funding services.
