My work tends to be a synthesis of memory and observation.
Sketchbooks are essential not just for recording information but as a vehicle for exploring ideas. Quality of surface has been a driving force behind much of the work and I often use mixed media grounds with contrasting aspects such as velvet on scrim.
A fascination with travel and a fusion of past and present is a
recurring theme. Carpets and pathways have always held great
appeal. I particularly like old worn kilims where colours and patterns indicate an essence of their previous owners.
My current work responds to an ongoing interest in pathways,
but this time close to home. It has developed into an intimate study of walks from my home and the random changes and daily rhythms that etch themselves into the fabric of the path. Pathways merge into carpets to form cloths of mark and memory. — Jean Littlejohn