Homegrown Solace

There are an abundance of benefits gardening can provide. These include physical activity, mental focus and personal creativity - which promote stress relief and positive mental health. I find this such an interesting concept as gardening is a highly accessible activity that has remained relevant throughout the Coronavirus lockdown, with people tending to everything from indoor plants to allotments. My honours year project aims to capture and translate the humble beauty of the garden and convey its ability to bring joy. Looking particularly at late summer and autumn for imagery featuring bright, rich colours, and a variety of plants and wildlife. Exploring my images through a range of approaches has led me to utilise paper collage to effectively reproduce the natural forms and desired mood. Similar to the hands-on practice of gardening, hand embroidery provides a tactile, personal touch to the detailed illustrations from my sketchbook. Contextual research into folk art helped to inform composition and motif design and create a naive-yet-charming design style. I believe in positive and purposeful design and have adopted this as an overarching approach to my work. My designs are digitally printed onto linen as a fairly eco-friendly alternative to screen printing. I have explored the idea of creating utilitarian garments, inspired by the use of aprons and overalls for gardening. These garments are comfortable, durable, and functional, while also being decorative and cheerful. Similar to gardening, they are accessible to all - no matter your age or gender.