Hello and welcome to the latest artist interview here on the blog.
This month I’m thrilled to introduce you to an extraordinary textile artist Alice Kettle
Alice has work in 23 International public collections. The V&A museum in London says of Alice’s work
“Alice Kettle has established a unique area of practice in stitch, consistently and on an unparalleled scale”.
I first became aware of Alice’s work back in the late 1980’s when I was graduating with a textile design degree, also specialising in stitched textiles. I have followed her work ever since and in October of 2021 I was blown away when I had the opportunity to see her astonishing body of work “Thread Bearing Witness” in Glastonbury. Created in response to the tragedy of the refugee crisis, the work comprises three enormous embroidered panels depicting hazardous migration across land, air and sea. The sheer scale and ambition of her work is astonishing to me.
Little did I know that a couple of months later I would unexpectedly bump into her in the middle of a muddy field in the depths of rural Somerset! We discovered we lived in neighbouring villages and since then we have had the pleasure of visiting each other’s homes and studios, and to get to know each other.
So let’s dive in and hear about her approach and practice.
I initially did a painting degree at Reading, followed by a postgraduate textile art diploma at Goldsmith’s University in London. When I started using textiles as my medium there, it felt like coming home.
AG: What inspires and motivates your practice? Are there particular themes, emotions, or experiences that motivate your work?
AK: Yes, absolutely – people! The work tells stories and mixes autobiography, with folk-lore and mythology, and also contemporary events.
Often it is a poem or something I have seen that triggers a thought. Mostly the work moves from one to the next. It is almost always figurative.
AG: Talk us through a typical day in your studio. What does your creative routine look like?
I am fortunate to have a large custom built studio at home so can easily get to work. I don’t think there is a typical day, it varies according to the work I am doing. But in one way it is simple, I start stitching, take a look back at the work every now and then. I work in reverse, stitching from the back, so have to turn the work from time to time to see its progress. I take a break by having a walk around the garden, then do more stitching, or deal with admin in between.
AG: Do you have a favourite tool that you couldn’t work without?
My sewing machines definitely.
AG: As an experienced artist, how do you keep inspired?
AK: My work is very laborious, it takes weeks and months. But this is a good thing since it allows my mind to freewheel. I have so many thoughts and Ideas that I am thinking about the next piece all the time. This means there is no lack of inspiration. The issue is more struggling to get the ideas realized.
AG: Do you have times of creative block when you become ’stuck’ in your practice? If so, how do you overcome this and get moving forward again?
AK: Not really, I just am hyper critical about the work and always wish it was better or different.
AG: What are your feelings about the business side of being an artist? What advice do you have for emerging artists in terms of promotion and marketing?
AK: I hate this part. My advice for emerging artists is just to work hard and get your work out and about as much as possible.
AG: Looking ahead, what are your artistic goals and aspirations for the future? What’s next for you?
AK: I want to continue to make large scale narrative works.
AG: And lastly, what advice do you have for aspiring artists who are just starting their creative journey?
AK: Enjoy what you are doing, if you have to earn money through other means that is fine, you are buying yourself a creative space.
And finally, just for fun – give us three things you love, and three that you loathe 🙂
Love: Thread
Swimming
My daughters
Loathe : The government
The government
The government
Thanks so much Alice for taking the time to answer these questions and give us an insight into your practice.
You can follow Alice on Facebook here or on Instagram here
Her website is https://alicekettle.co.uk/
