Sharon’s Take it Further Challenge for April is about change:

How do you see change?

I suppose I see it as essential to being. Everything that is alive changes all the time. The elements are constantly shaping the earth. Whether change is slow and subtle or dramatic and unexpected, it’s a given.

Part of change is growth. One of of my favourite Bible verses is about being transformed ‘from glory to glory’ (2 Cor 3:18). And part of it is decay. They are the warp and weft of life – inextricable, sometimes indistinguishable.

I’ve thought a bit about external change in my life as well. On a small scale I crave it – that is, I dislike monotony and have to work hard to focus on one thing for very long. I often rotate tasks for 15 or even five minutes at a time to create variety and stave off… not boredom, exactly… I don’t lose interest, but I get very restless. On a larger scale – we have been thinking for ages about a big change (moving house) but we are terrible at making decisions, so actually effecting a major change like that is such a challenge that inertia tends to prevail.

But I think the line of thought that will result in a TIF piece is that creative processes are change – the transformation of cloth and thread into embroidery; skeins of yarn woven or knitted to become fabric; the potent alchemy of dyeing; the turning of an idea or a vision into a tactile, shared object. And that as we create, we also change.

And my favourite change words – metamorphosis – variegate – refashion – worn – and begin…

layers of paint

TIF Challenge April 1
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6 thoughts on “TIF Challenge April 1

  • April 12, 2008 at 9:52 am
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    This is how I feel about change, but I’ve come round to thinking that the difference isn’t about the scale of the change – it’s the actual decision making. If you choose to move from one piece to another after 15 minutes that’s probably good for you and your work , but it isn’t a decision that is going to have any major impact. Deciding to move house is a different kind of decision entirely – you can never be sure of what your are deciding. Will it be the right decision, will it have financial / stress related implications? Life will not be the same after you’ve moved, even if it is the world’s smoothest transaction and deciding to make that change is the issue not the change itself, I think!

  • April 13, 2008 at 5:00 am
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    Your work is absolutely beautiful! I hope you enjoy my book. 🙂

  • April 14, 2008 at 7:42 pm
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    That is a really wonderful texture on the piture> I have been using foils today and then using a hot gun to break down the surface again in a similar way.

  • April 15, 2008 at 6:46 am
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    I’ve been nearly overwhelmed by change in my life lately so this was a really interesting take on change. I’d never thought of the creative process in that way and after all the bigger things going on around me this is something I can get to grips with and exert some control over. Your post has set my mind buzzing in all sorts of directions – many thanks!

  • April 18, 2008 at 5:11 pm
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    I agree with your take on change Fiona. I’m exactly the same, I like to jump from one thing to another and that’s why I’m such a Jack of all trades…
    I’m disappointed not to be going to Liverpool and I was hoping to bump into you somewherethere! I’ve taken on the IT job for our EG and will probably worrying you for this, that and the other for a while.

  • April 18, 2008 at 5:12 pm
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    I meant to say this photo here is stunning!

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