Tapestries / Tapestry Art

Artists Describing Their Art:

Ulrika Leander - My subject matter is primarily related to the inspiration that I find in the colors, shapes and movement in the natural world in all its forms my work is about expressing and conveying the feelings of joy, peace, and tranquility that come with the contemplation of Nature. I use a traditional weaving technique while constantly striving to extend my ability to capture nuances of color tone and structure. I work with a vertical tapestry loom together with the highest quality tapestry yarns from Scandinavia. I explore and develop my ideas through the medium of watercolor. When I reach the point where I feel that I am ready to commit to devoting 5-6 months or more to transforming my ideas into a tapestry, the outline of the water color design is traced and then digitally enlarged to the full size of the final tapestry. This enlargement provides the map for guiding the hand-weaving process while the watercolor provides the guide for the selection of the yarn colors and tones. During weaving, multiple fine threads of varying thicknesses are blended to achieve the delicate variations in the color tones of the watercolor. ...

Tom S. Hageman - May 1968: I finished my studies with a paper entitled, "The Art in the 21st Century," in which I concluded that modern art ought no longer defy or deny the ancient'classical' tradition, but needs to search for a synthesis between the two traditions. In my series "Revelations" I searched for this synthesis in combining traditional skills with contemporary insights. This theme of searching for an integration and synthesis of traditional and contemporary art would continue to inspire me throughout my career and would find expression in my work in many different ways and forms. In 1970 I lived in Turkey for a year and traveled through Teheran (Iran), Kabul (Afghanistan) en Lahore (Pakistan). My life in Turkey and my travels in Asia made a deep impression on me which in turn influenced me in my work. My memories of Turkish bathhouses, Persian tiles, Afghan coffeehouses and Mogul gardens inspired me and I worked on integrating classical Asian styles and techniques in European techniques and thereby developing my own personal style in my series "Manuscripts." In the beginning of the eighties I felt the desire to return to the European tradition of'skimming light captured in oils.' But in working...

Libuse Mikova - Liba Mika Mika studed the University of aplied arts in Prague, where she has got her diploma as academic painter. She created her artistic works in Czech Republic, mostly in her studio in Prague. She combines the best artistic czech tradition with the artistic ideas in France, Peru, India. Liba "Mika" Mikova travelled throught the world and different cultural traditions appeared in her Art. She exhibited her works in France, Austria, England and Czech Republic. The works of Mika are in state and private collections In Europe and U.S.A. Her early career in Prague was created by professor Antonin Kybal,The university of applied arts in Prague, author of Modern Textile Designer, inspired in her a lifelong dedication to the magnificent mediaeval, but now unfashionable,art of Gobelin Tapestries....