The Artist

Susan Napoli

Since 2007 I have lived in Adelaide and have participated in many exhibitions including ones held in the annual Fringe and SALA festivals. My artwork can be found in T'Arts Collective, a gallery in the city where I have been a member for over 10 years.


Colour and pattern are embraced in my artwork through the manipulation of fabrics using painting and printmaking techniques, along with "drawing" onto the surface using machine and hand stitching. Areas are then scratched into or torn away to give dimension.


Background

My passion for textiles began in high school where I was introduced to printmaking. In my art folio I created a series of prints using cut-out stencil printmaking with up to twenty different colours in each piece.


In 1991 I completed a Bachelor of Education in Visual Arts at Melbourne University, majoring in textilecraft and sub-majoring in printmaking.


After learning the various printmaking techniques such as etching, lithography, gum and tusche stencils and photo stencils, I became frustrated with the flat, two-dimensional images and began experimenting with textural materials to create layers. I gradually incorporated more textiles, where I could achieve a greater complexity and depth through multiple layering of fabric, paint and stitch.


As you can see on the home page, I have explored many themes including heritage, antiquity, and cycles of nature through new life, full bloom, decay and decomposition.  My passion for gardening and love of nature had led me to create flowers, fruits, flying insects, birds and rock pools.


My fascination to learn more about my family history is the subject matter of many earlier artworks. My intention was to create art pieces that take on a weathered and aged appearance as though they were fragments discovered from a past century.

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