DIFFERENT YARNS
26 May 2023
Here is a video (also on my Instagram) in which I am shaving on the frame. When I say "on my frame", I mean the wooden frame on which I stretch and work the canvas. Later, when I use the term "frame", I am referring specifically to the border or frame that the finished work is given.
Throughout the process, I do several cuts and shaves. First, immediately after I tuft a colour, I trim the sides to reduce tension. This also ensures that when I shoot adjacent threads, the sides don't blend together.
While tufting, I carefully shave and cut the whole piece. When the whole piece is finished (as shown in this video, still on my frame and not yet glued), I continue cutting and shearing one more time. At this stage, I concentrate on areas where there are potential risks while shaving. Because once it's gone, it's gone. But at this point, while my work is not yet glued, it provides an opportunity to fix any mistakes if something goes wrong.
Then comes the gluing of the canvas, followed by another round of cutting. This is where I refine the details - I make sure I have straight lines, smooth surfaces and the right amount of pressure for clear or sharp edges. I spend hours perfecting these nuances.
But at some point you have to let go. This is a challenging but intriguing aspect of working with this material. It is organic, always moving and I never have complete control over it. So there is a delicate balance between wanting and maintaining control and letting go.
I never trim the edges. Not on the frame, not after gluing. First, a frame goes around it and once it is in place, I trim all the edges. This ensures that the artwork fits the frame seamlessly.