I create a range of art
from painting to fabric puppets and dolls. My painting is in a scratchy
linier style mostly using pen and ink and acrylic. I often use images
native to New Zealand such as insects and birds which often have human
characteristics, conveying themes of humans fragility and what if
scenarios.
The textile and object art I create, is a mix of fantasy creatures such
as the Tripus, which is a cross between an octopus and a cat, and old
world characters loosely based on Victorian carnival characters.
I use some vintage fabrics and found objects in these works such
as the tripus mouths were found at the Supershed (dump shop) and lots of
the dollies dress fabrics comes from my great aunt's sewing box.
My dollies are a bit of a reaction against mass produced "fashion
"dolls. As they are all individual characters that reflect my
imagination and aspects of human quirks and historical oddities rather
than plastic clones that are churned out today. They are soft to the
touch rather than hard and sterile, made from scraps of fabric from
garments I've made rather than cluttering up the earth with new
materials. (recycling rather than throwing away).
Tertiary
qualifications
2003-2004
Design and Arts College
Diploma of Fashion design.
1996-1998
University of Canterbury
Bachelor of Arts (Majored in Art History)
Shown in four group exhibitions from 2000 to 2005
Up coming Art Exhibitions
Gothic Punk Art Exhibition 2006
Dolls and pen & Ink drawing by Carmel McSherry
