"Textile art" is defined as: arts and crafts that use plant, animal, or synthetic fibers to construct practical or decorative object. How textiles can be used in art has been taken to a new level by Benjamin Shine.
From afar these intricate portraits appear to be painted using the finest of brushstrokes, but take a step closer and the amazing reality is unraveled: they've been carefully crafted out of reels of folded fabric.
These amazing creations each contain 10 to 50 metres of tulle pleated, folded and finally ironed in place to create realistic images.
First the uncut length is piled onto a canvas as a dense voluminous layer. Once entirely covered Benjamin says "I take a deep breath and go for it! "
‘I move the tulle around, pressing, pleating and bunching it to form the basic tones and textures".
‘This initial placement sets up the entire process before I focus on the detail. Then the tulle is bonded to the canvas using a hot iron,' reveals the artist.
‘I always envisaged building a diverse body of work with this medium but subsequently became inundated with portrait commissions!’ he says.
I really enjoyed the interview with the artist and watching portraits come to life. Put the kettle on and sit down and prepare to be amazed.
"To be creative means to be in love with life. You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it.” ― Osho
All images are copyright Benjamin Shine
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