Artist Statement
In my work, I am interested in the connections between self, place, emotion, and time. Seasons, light, atmosphere, dreams, and memory intrigue me. I try to capture ephemeral, fleeting moments or feelings through the use of color, line, and texture in fabrics and mixed media. Nature and landscape are a continual source of inspiration and point of reference. I use different dye techniques such as batik, shibori, color removal, and rust printing. Dimension and texture are added with tucks, layers, and hand stitching. Mixed media approaches include painting with textured acrylics, monoprint, graphite, color pencil, which are combined with my dyed fabrics. More recent explorations include exploring the use of vintage weaving equipment or tools by needle-weaving and/or incorporating as the hanging device. Many of the processes I choose to use, like weaving and stitching, are very slow and contemplative—encouraging introspection—while others, like dyeing and painting, are more spontaneous and unpredictable. I try to find a balance between them.
In my work, I am interested in the connections between self, place, emotion, and time. Seasons, light, atmosphere, dreams, and memory intrigue me. I try to capture ephemeral, fleeting moments or feelings through the use of color, line, and texture in fabrics and mixed media. Nature and landscape are a continual source of inspiration and point of reference. I use different dye techniques such as batik, shibori, color removal, and rust printing. Dimension and texture are added with tucks, layers, and hand stitching. Mixed media approaches include painting with textured acrylics, monoprint, graphite, color pencil, which are combined with my dyed fabrics. More recent explorations include exploring the use of vintage weaving equipment or tools by needle-weaving and/or incorporating as the hanging device. Many of the processes I choose to use, like weaving and stitching, are very slow and contemplative—encouraging introspection—while others, like dyeing and painting, are more spontaneous and unpredictable. I try to find a balance between them.
All images ©2003-2025 Karen Henderson.
All rights reserved. Contact artist for permission to use images.