Spirals
by Ellen Nepustil
I am often asked if I have a favorite symbol, or what inspires me? If given a blank page or canvas or screen, how do you get started? What’s the first mark you make?
Ever since I can remember, I have drawn spirals. I have doodled spirals for years as a kid in school when listening to a lecture. Or when I was supposed to be working on an assignment which I had already finished in the first five minutes and had to look busy for another ten minutes!
Recently, I started to wonder why the spiral? Why not a circle or square or even a polygon? Is it the continuous movement, the ability to keep drawing them over and over without lifting my pencil? Is it the mathematical sequence seen in nature? Whatever the reason is, I have found spirals in my clothing, my jewelry, in my artwork, and in the shells I collect when walking along the beach several times a week.
Shells inspiring spiral designs
The following pictures are detail shots from fabric that I have created. I start with white fabric, then add color via chemical dyes or indigo. The first is a rayon scarf that I printed using a silk screen. On the silk screen, I drew different sized spirals with wax. Once dried, I pulled thickened dye through, leaving the base color wherever the wax was.
Spiral printed fabric made into scarf
Next up is a detail showing spirals from stamps that I carved. Stamped spiral detail here.
Stamped spirals
I also use washable glue as a resist when working with indigo. This fabric will became a purse or jacket very soon.
Lastly, this teddy bear was made from one of my absolute favorite shirts that I bought from an artisan clothing store and then wore out. I loved it so much I upcycled the fabric into a teddy bear!
Teddy Bear