2025 Grad Show

Susan Mitchell

Fibre

susanmarymitchell.art

I am a treasure hunter pursuing wonder. I work across the mediums of fiber, paint, dye and ceramics. My art is process driven as I follow my curiosity as a child at play, embracing random effects and paths in my explorations. Nature is my inspiration in color palettes, texture, and flowing forms. I usually paint on wet cloth, allowing for watercolor effects in the drying process. I can then cut, stitch or add other fiber embellishment to the work, drawing on my background in fiber arts.

Wonder 1 1.4 m wide x 3.1 m high Acrylic on fibre

Wonder 2 2.2 m wide x 1.4 m high. Acrylic on fibre, with organza, netting and wool roving stitched on for added texture. The work is displayed in the corner of the room so it wraps around your field of vision allowing you to be enveloped in wonder.

Wonder 2 Detail Image This detail image shows some of the additional fibre that has been stitched on for added texture.

Wonder 1 Detail image The process of painting with diluted acrylics on wet cloth allows for the paint to migrate somewhat in the drying process. In this piece, the work was also bunched for additional random effects as it dried in the sun.

Wonder 1 Process photo The painting is left to dry in the sun, causing watercolour effects to happen as the acrylics migrate on the wet cloth.

Wonder

These two works are painted on a wet fabric in a process that allows the paint to migrate during the drying process. The large scale contributes to the feeling of awe and wonder.

Art photos from POTTERY

Using pieces of my hand thrown and altered shaped pottery, I placed a small tea light in the base of the vessels and shot photos in the darkness.

Swept Away Photo art from a fibre work, shot on an angle.

Memories 1 Photo art from a rust dyed cloth and charcoal. This work was done in the summer at a family cabin with an old wood stove. Stove plates were used in the rust and charcoal process.

Memories 2

Immersed Photo art from wet cloth painted with acrylics work.

Lost in the Maze Photo art from a fibre work of cloth, acrylic paint and wool roving.

Enter In Photo art from an acrylic painting on lightweight canvas by artist.

Art Textures

When I have finished a painting or fibre work, I again ‘treasure hunt’ for areas that intrigue me. I then play with capturing the wonder of that texture, colour, or pattern.

Forest in the Mountains 41” wide x 63” high Acrylic painted on cloth, with fibre and bark

Mountain stream 23” wide x 54” high. Acrylic paint on cloth

Colour Play Acrylic paint on light weight canvas

Fibre Work

I create like a child at play, exploring what a medium will do.

Inspiration 51” wide x 62” high excluding base. Materials: cloth, fibre, thrown and altered ceramic vesssel

Inspiration

This fibre art work, referencing quilting is my homage to the fibre arts and crafts artisans that have been passed knowledge down through the centuries to my time and place. It was primarily inspired by a screen-printed remnant fabric made and given to me by my classmate Jonathan Creese. I used that patterned piece as the base for my own inspiration. Using one of my handmade vessels to symbolize ‘humanity’, the gifts of cloth and thread rise to form this unique work.

AUArts Grad Show F2088110-E6DA-4DA9-9316-092C608E926A

Peace This art photo is taken from a larger painting done on fabric with added fibre texture stitched on.

Moonlight This art photo is a cropped section of an acrylic painting done on wet interfacing allowing the paint to migrate like a watercolour. I used light effects.

After the Storm Art photo taken from cropped section of an acrylic painting done on wet fibre.

New Beginnings Art photo taken from a cropped section of an acrylic painting done on wet cloth.

Beauty Art photo taken from a cropped section of an acrylic painting done on wet fibre.

Photo art from fibre works

Once a fibre painting is done, I treasure hunt with my camera looking for sections that work as cropped areas, sometimes photographing with a different perspective or lighting.