'Meet The Artist' (No:52) | Richard Box | Embroiderer & Painter

Summary

In this engaging video, textile artist Richard Box shares his artistic journey, transitioning from painting to textile art inspired by Constance Howard. He highlights his creative process, emphasizing naturalistic themes like animals and landscapes. Box details his techniques, including fabric sourcing, PVA glue application, and stitching methods that focus on tonal values rather than colors. He draws on color theory from Impressionism to achieve realistic tones, demonstrating the interplay between painting and fabric art. Richard's insights encourage creativity and experimentation, making his presentation a valuable resource for aspiring textile artists.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Richard Box is a textile artist who began his career as a painter and transitioned into teaching.
• 🌸 His work primarily focuses on naturalistic themes, including animals, flowers, and landscapes.
• 🧵 Box uses various fabrics, often sourced from charity shops, and employs PVA glue to secure fabric pieces before stitching.
• ✨ He emphasizes the importance of matching tonal values in his stitching, using zigzag stitches to secure elements.
• 🌈 Box uses glitter threads in shadows for depth while applying matte threads for highlights to avoid unwanted shininess.
• 🪡 He incorporates layering techniques in his art, often adding beads for intricate details.
• 📏 The sewing machine is used as a drawing tool, where he traces images and applies primary and secondary colors to create depth.
• 👀 Box draws inspiration from Impressionist techniques, using color mixing to achieve natural-looking browns without using brown paint.
• 🔄 His textile and painting techniques inform one another, creating a harmonious relationship between the two mediums.
• 🤗 Box encourages viewers to explore their creativity in textile art and emphasizes experimentation and layering.

Q & A

What was Richard Box's initial focus before becoming a textile artist?

Richard Box initially started as a painter when he was at art school.

Who inspired Richard Box during his teacher training course?

Richard was inspired by Constance Howard, the head of the embroidery department at Goldsmiths College.

What are the main themes present in Richard Box's artwork?

Richard's artwork primarily features naturalistic themes, including animals, flowers, and landscapes.

What materials does Richard Box use in his textile art?

He uses various fabrics, including those sourced from charity shops and car boot fairs, as well as PVA glue for securing them.

How does Richard Box secure fabrics in his artwork?

He cuts the fabrics, glues them down with PVA glue, and then secures them with zigzag stitches.

What technique does Richard Box use to create texture in his artwork?

He employs a technique of using glitter threads in shadows and tiny zigzag stitches in various tonal values to create texture.

What does Richard Box say about using colors in his work?

He prefers to use primary and secondary colors, inspired by Impressionism, to create depth and richness in his pieces.

How does Richard Box relate his painting techniques to his fabric work?

Richard's painting techniques, such as glazing, inform his fabric work, and he finds that the two mediums influence each other.

What advice does Richard Box offer to viewers regarding textile creativity?

He encourages viewers to explore their own textile creativity and enjoy the process of making art.

What type of commission did Richard Box recently receive?

He received a commission for a landscape piece that incorporates themes of spring and autumn.