Blog
Updated 8 January 2021
Everyone who has ever taken a craft class will find Sky Carter's story inspiring - and her woven wall hangings have a beautiful, textural quality that can only come from the handmade. Find out how she made the leap into a creative career.
Tell us about your creative journey – how did you discover the wonder of weaving?
My creative journey started like many frustrated artists who don’t realise they are artists; scribbling stuff on paper in the living room, ripping up stuff, sewing stuff, gluing stuff, then blindly trudging off to an unfulfilling job. Once I confronted the fact that I had my priorities all wrong I nabbed myself a studio, quit work and went for it (and yes it was a very, very scary move to make!)
In my studio I started by exploring abstract expressionism using oil on canvas, I studied Colour Design at ISCD (International School of Colour and Design) as well as other courses here and there and just played around until things started to fall into place and I was painting up a storm! I naively thought I would paint forever, then one day I saw a wall hanging in the background of a TV show. I didn’t really think about what I was doing, I just ran into the kitchen, turned a cardboard box into a loom and have not looked back. You could probably say it was an epiphany. I had some success with painting but with my textile art practice I was getting very strong feedback and was soon picked up by Art Pharmacy, an amazing avenue for emerging and unrepresented artists. It is great to be part of an initiative that brings the artist together with the general public (not just the art savvy punter) which is something I feel strongly about. I am also looking forward to showcasing my work at The Other Art Fair in September in Sydney….. it looks like I will be weaving till my fingers bleed!
How are your woven wall hangings made – what is the process from conception to completion?
The conception of a woven piece is often based on a material I am excited by. I love collecting and foraging for things and when I come across something that strikes a chord I begin to gather other elements that work together with that material. Then the look and feel of the piece starts to take form and I will start to have an idea about the composition and size. I then choose a loom that will give the right effect to the piece. I have many and varied looms, from table top to freestanding with many of them being makeshift and handmade. I especially love using cardboard and in my free form weaving workshops, I teach using cardboard or my bamboo looms that I designed. I rarely sketch my works out, which is a reflection of my need to just get on with it, once I have a palette together and a vision - I can’t delay! When I commence weaving things evolve organically and intuitively and often they end up in a different (better) place to where I originally conceived them.
What materials do you use, and what do you love about them?
My studio is full of materials that range from the usual suspects like yarn to things like hazard tape and lots and lots of fabric. At this point I think I have attempted to weave just about anything that is flexible enough and have experimented a lot. I love it when an unexpected and perhaps somewhat unsexy material looks beautiful when it’s woven. A great example of this is that plastic packaging string stuff you can buy at $2 shops, it looks awesome in a weaving, but otherwise it’s kind of nasty! Cotton string, foil backed denim and metallic fabrics/threads are favourites at the moment. I love mixing shiny things with raw and natural elements, they just work beautifully. I also dedicate time to getting off the beaten track to find treasures and I have a stash of amazing retro spools of yarns of all types, some dating back to the 50’s, colours that you just can’t get in this day and age.
The fact that a lot of the materials I use are unorthodox led me to design a range of weaving tools made from bamboo which can be used to emulate my free from style using chunky materials. I think one of the reasons that I love weaving so much is the feel of the materials against my fingers so I particularly love weaving with elements that feel nice, soft and earthy. The textural component of my works is very important and people are always drawn into my pieces and get very ‘touchy feely’ with them. My works seem to transcend the notion of ‘you’re not allowed to touch art’ and I love that.
Craftsmanship and artisan-made items are experiencing a huge revival. Why do you think this is?
In my immediate world I am confronted daily by people who have an increasing awareness of the importance of having a creative outlet and a hands on experience that is not based around touching the modern surface of a device or squinting at a computer. There is a real romanticism about delving into the creative crafts of the past and for the most part they are easy and more and more accessible thanks to, ironically, avenues like You Tube and ‘How To’ blogs.
There is also an obsessiveness about knowing the origin and authenticity of things and I think this has led many makers into becoming the origin! The wonderful thing about this is people are now thinking ‘local’ which is great for artisans and makers and helps make pursuits like mine viable. This New Craft Movement is a global phenomenon that is only going to grow and will be recognized in years to come as a distinct art movement of the 2010’s, it’s exciting to be part of that.
What do you hope one of your pieces will add to a home?
A woven wall hanging adds warmth and texture to a space and often a missing element that you never knew was missing in the first place. They are a great way of breaking up the monotony of framed works on a wall and look amazing mixed in with more traditional styles of wall art. The wall hangings definitely have personality, particularly ones with a more organic feel, so my woven creations add some instant personality to a space that needs a ‘lift’.
Do you have any tips for placing or hanging a weave in a home?
OK, not for the kitchen (unless you have an amazing extractor fan) or the bathroom (too wet and steamy), but the rest of the home - go for it! Not surprisingly I have wall hangings in my living room and bedroom, and spare room and hallway. They are particularly lovely in the bedroom due to their soft comforting look and feel; there is nothing cooler that a woven creation above the bed. I feel they lend themselves to any living space in the home and look great next to other artworks and lamps. The sculptural effects of a wall hanging really add a nice dynamic to a room. I am very excited that people are starting to embrace nontraditional art for their home and that things like wall hangings are becoming the new norm.
What would you say to encourage others to take up a creative pursuit such as this?
Weaving is not rocket science! It’s just something to do with your hands at a very basic level that can be taken wherever you choose. There are so many crafty and arty workshops around that acknowledge the need for a quick creative fix and don’t require hours and hours of commitment to see results. I think this is why I was so drawn to weaving as a technique, in the beginning it was not beyond me. Although it can be a time consuming activity, for a beginner, small pieces can be whipped up in a weekend and all of a sudden you have created and completed something! And that is very satisfying.
Find Sky at skycartercolour.com.au or follow her on Instagram @skycartercolour
Meet the maker: Sky Carter
Photography – Denise Braki. Styling – Nicole Valentine Don.
Everyone who has ever taken a craft class will find Sky Carter's story inspiring - and her woven wall hangings have a beautiful, textural quality that can only come from the handmade. Find out how she made the leap into a creative career.
Tell us about your creative journey – how did you discover the wonder of weaving?
My creative journey started like many frustrated artists who don’t realise they are artists; scribbling stuff on paper in the living room, ripping up stuff, sewing stuff, gluing stuff, then blindly trudging off to an unfulfilling job. Once I confronted the fact that I had my priorities all wrong I nabbed myself a studio, quit work and went for it (and yes it was a very, very scary move to make!)
In my studio I started by exploring abstract expressionism using oil on canvas, I studied Colour Design at ISCD (International School of Colour and Design) as well as other courses here and there and just played around until things started to fall into place and I was painting up a storm! I naively thought I would paint forever, then one day I saw a wall hanging in the background of a TV show. I didn’t really think about what I was doing, I just ran into the kitchen, turned a cardboard box into a loom and have not looked back. You could probably say it was an epiphany. I had some success with painting but with my textile art practice I was getting very strong feedback and was soon picked up by Art Pharmacy, an amazing avenue for emerging and unrepresented artists. It is great to be part of an initiative that brings the artist together with the general public (not just the art savvy punter) which is something I feel strongly about. I am also looking forward to showcasing my work at The Other Art Fair in September in Sydney….. it looks like I will be weaving till my fingers bleed!
How are your woven wall hangings made – what is the process from conception to completion?
The conception of a woven piece is often based on a material I am excited by. I love collecting and foraging for things and when I come across something that strikes a chord I begin to gather other elements that work together with that material. Then the look and feel of the piece starts to take form and I will start to have an idea about the composition and size. I then choose a loom that will give the right effect to the piece. I have many and varied looms, from table top to freestanding with many of them being makeshift and handmade. I especially love using cardboard and in my free form weaving workshops, I teach using cardboard or my bamboo looms that I designed. I rarely sketch my works out, which is a reflection of my need to just get on with it, once I have a palette together and a vision - I can’t delay! When I commence weaving things evolve organically and intuitively and often they end up in a different (better) place to where I originally conceived them.
What materials do you use, and what do you love about them?
My studio is full of materials that range from the usual suspects like yarn to things like hazard tape and lots and lots of fabric. At this point I think I have attempted to weave just about anything that is flexible enough and have experimented a lot. I love it when an unexpected and perhaps somewhat unsexy material looks beautiful when it’s woven. A great example of this is that plastic packaging string stuff you can buy at $2 shops, it looks awesome in a weaving, but otherwise it’s kind of nasty! Cotton string, foil backed denim and metallic fabrics/threads are favourites at the moment. I love mixing shiny things with raw and natural elements, they just work beautifully. I also dedicate time to getting off the beaten track to find treasures and I have a stash of amazing retro spools of yarns of all types, some dating back to the 50’s, colours that you just can’t get in this day and age.
The fact that a lot of the materials I use are unorthodox led me to design a range of weaving tools made from bamboo which can be used to emulate my free from style using chunky materials. I think one of the reasons that I love weaving so much is the feel of the materials against my fingers so I particularly love weaving with elements that feel nice, soft and earthy. The textural component of my works is very important and people are always drawn into my pieces and get very ‘touchy feely’ with them. My works seem to transcend the notion of ‘you’re not allowed to touch art’ and I love that.
Craftsmanship and artisan-made items are experiencing a huge revival. Why do you think this is?
In my immediate world I am confronted daily by people who have an increasing awareness of the importance of having a creative outlet and a hands on experience that is not based around touching the modern surface of a device or squinting at a computer. There is a real romanticism about delving into the creative crafts of the past and for the most part they are easy and more and more accessible thanks to, ironically, avenues like You Tube and ‘How To’ blogs.
There is also an obsessiveness about knowing the origin and authenticity of things and I think this has led many makers into becoming the origin! The wonderful thing about this is people are now thinking ‘local’ which is great for artisans and makers and helps make pursuits like mine viable. This New Craft Movement is a global phenomenon that is only going to grow and will be recognized in years to come as a distinct art movement of the 2010’s, it’s exciting to be part of that.
What do you hope one of your pieces will add to a home?
A woven wall hanging adds warmth and texture to a space and often a missing element that you never knew was missing in the first place. They are a great way of breaking up the monotony of framed works on a wall and look amazing mixed in with more traditional styles of wall art. The wall hangings definitely have personality, particularly ones with a more organic feel, so my woven creations add some instant personality to a space that needs a ‘lift’.
Do you have any tips for placing or hanging a weave in a home?
OK, not for the kitchen (unless you have an amazing extractor fan) or the bathroom (too wet and steamy), but the rest of the home - go for it! Not surprisingly I have wall hangings in my living room and bedroom, and spare room and hallway. They are particularly lovely in the bedroom due to their soft comforting look and feel; there is nothing cooler that a woven creation above the bed. I feel they lend themselves to any living space in the home and look great next to other artworks and lamps. The sculptural effects of a wall hanging really add a nice dynamic to a room. I am very excited that people are starting to embrace nontraditional art for their home and that things like wall hangings are becoming the new norm.
What would you say to encourage others to take up a creative pursuit such as this?
Weaving is not rocket science! It’s just something to do with your hands at a very basic level that can be taken wherever you choose. There are so many crafty and arty workshops around that acknowledge the need for a quick creative fix and don’t require hours and hours of commitment to see results. I think this is why I was so drawn to weaving as a technique, in the beginning it was not beyond me. Although it can be a time consuming activity, for a beginner, small pieces can be whipped up in a weekend and all of a sudden you have created and completed something! And that is very satisfying.
Find Sky at skycartercolour.com.au or follow her on Instagram @skycartercolour
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