Shelley Rhodes

Shelley Rhodes, Reworking/Weathering Sample. Hand-stitched cloth with thread.

Shelley Rhodes, Daily Sketchbook Pages. Mixed media on paper.

Shelley Rhodes, Entangled. Beach plastic, fragments of cloth, and fishing line.

Shelley Rhodes, Exempli Gratia. Mixed media, with offcuts of polyester.

Shelley Rhodes, Stitched Diary. Double-sided piece with hand-stitched words.

Shelley Rhodes, Mixed Media Sample. Plaster, wax, machine, and hand stitch on cloth.

Shelley Rhodes, Blanket Collection. Mixed media on wool blanket.

Artist Statement

I observe and respond to small details in the environment and everyday things I encounter. I am drawn to distressed, worn surfaces, altered over time and will often ‘weather’ work as part of my practice. I re-use materials: found, salvaged or discarded, including remnants and offcuts, thus embracing the Japanese ethos of Mottainai.

I print, draw, make marks and stain paper and fabric before fragmenting and reassembling, so that the work bears all the marks and scars of repair. Simple stitches echo drawn marks and threads bind and hold elements together.

My daily sketchbook practice helps me to notice, experiment, select and edit. I am interested in presentation and my training in graphic design emerges in the form of order, layout, grids, multiples, repetition, and use of text.

I am the author of ‘Sketchbook Explorations’ [2018] and ‘Fragmentation and Repair’ [2021] published by Batsford.

Available For

Courses
Talks
Writing articles
Exhibitions
Collaborations

Location

North West England

Member Since

2007

Email

shelleyrhodes1@gmail.com