When Valerie Wilson sees people in an old photograph, she wonders what lives those people lived, and why they chose to have a photo taken at that moment in time. She is drawn in by the character written in these people’s faces, their gestures, and posture.
Working with vintage black and white or sepia photographs allows Valerie to imagine the lives of these people, and to choose what details, and colours, best express her vision. Her love of researching the era of the photographs and the clothing styles give her further insight and a glimpse into past lives. Valerie uses these elements as a starting point for a composition that brings these people to life.
As the work is created, fabrics are carefully chosen for their ability to mimic both dimension and texture. A finishing touch is machine stitching to add fine details and depth to the composition. Valerie combines a love of history, and a curiosity about people from the past, to capture character in fabric.
Guests are welcome at the Zoom meeting; please sign up and submit payment in advance of March 14 in order to receive the meeting link in time.