Interview with Liz NilssonInterview with Liz Nilsson

Longbord,Longbord,54 Kenilworth Square,54 Kenilworth Square,

Rathgar,Rathgar,Dublin 6Dublin 6

20 questions to ask.20 questions to ask. 1. What first got you interested in textiles? Did you always 1. What first got you interested in textiles? Did you always

want to be a Textile Artist/Designer.want to be a Textile Artist/Designer. 2.Where do you get your ideas/source from for your pieces 2.Where do you get your ideas/source from for your pieces

of textiles?of textiles? 3.Do you dye your own fabric and threads?3.Do you dye your own fabric and threads? 4.Is colour more or as important as texture in your work. 4.Is colour more or as important as texture in your work.

What inspires you to use the colour palette that you choose?What inspires you to use the colour palette that you choose? 5.Do you prefer matt surfaces to shiny?5.Do you prefer matt surfaces to shiny? 6.How did you get into using technology in your work?6.How did you get into using technology in your work? 7.Do you do representational work?7.Do you do representational work? 8.How do you start a commission piece?8.How do you start a commission piece? 9.Do clients find you through the craft council/word of mouth 9.Do clients find you through the craft council/word of mouth

or both?or both? 10.Is symmetry important in your work- numbers- balance?10.Is symmetry important in your work- numbers- balance? 11.What fascinates you about circles and oval shapes?11.What fascinates you about circles and oval shapes? 12.Are the pieces of fabric you cut away as important as the 12.Are the pieces of fabric you cut away as important as the

pieces you leave in your work?pieces you leave in your work? 13.When do you decide you have done enough work on your 13.When do you decide you have done enough work on your

pieces of Textiles?pieces of Textiles? 14.Do you do any machine embroidery?14.Do you do any machine embroidery? 15.What stitches do you mainly use in your work?15.What stitches do you mainly use in your work? 16.Your piece ORBITUS has three layers on it, do you layer 16.Your piece ORBITUS has three layers on it, do you layer

most of your work?most of your work? 17.Do you prefer to work on a small or a large scale?17.Do you prefer to work on a small or a large scale? 18. How important is framing to you?18. How important is framing to you? 19. Do you start your pieces with a sketch/drawing?19. Do you start your pieces with a sketch/drawing? 20.How would you describe the progression in your work 20.How would you describe the progression in your work

from when you started to now?from when you started to now?

Answers to my Answers to my questions:questions:

Liz started answering my questions by telling me what she is currently working on. As well as doing her own work for Liz started answering my questions by telling me what she is currently working on. As well as doing her own work for Exhibitions and commissions she gives a 6 week workshop in fabric printing in her studio. She has just recently put together a Exhibitions and commissions she gives a 6 week workshop in fabric printing in her studio. She has just recently put together a slide show of all her work which she kindly showed me which gave me a great insight into where her work had started from to slide show of all her work which she kindly showed me which gave me a great insight into where her work had started from to the present day. Liz is originally from Sweden and she talked about growing up appreciating crafts, which was all around her the present day. Liz is originally from Sweden and she talked about growing up appreciating crafts, which was all around her in her home. Her Grandmother did a piece of cross stitch from 1910 – tablecloth. When Liz was 8 or 9 years old they did half in her home. Her Grandmother did a piece of cross stitch from 1910 – tablecloth. When Liz was 8 or 9 years old they did half the school year learning textiles (knitting & Stitching) and the other half of the year learning woodwork, these skills have the school year learning textiles (knitting & Stitching) and the other half of the year learning woodwork, these skills have stood to her all her life.stood to her all her life.

Liz had a Nanny called Elsa who was into lot’s of different crafts and they would make their own Christmas presents every Liz had a Nanny called Elsa who was into lot’s of different crafts and they would make their own Christmas presents every year using a different theme e.g Pin cushions, table runners these craft lesson’s would take place every Tuesday every year using a different theme e.g Pin cushions, table runners these craft lesson’s would take place every Tuesday every afternoon. Liz started of her career as a Nursery Nurse , then she decided to do a 6 month weaving course, she found this afternoon. Liz started of her career as a Nursery Nurse , then she decided to do a 6 month weaving course, she found this love of weaving from using a loom in a local craft shop where her family spent their summer holidays as a 13/14 year old love of weaving from using a loom in a local craft shop where her family spent their summer holidays as a 13/14 year old girl . Then she went travelling, when she came back she did a year of weaving, a Foundation year in Art college, a two year girl . Then she went travelling, when she came back she did a year of weaving, a Foundation year in Art college, a two year course of painting and life drawing, then a Degree in Textile Design for Industry. Repetition is a big part of Liz’s work it is in a course of painting and life drawing, then a Degree in Textile Design for Industry. Repetition is a big part of Liz’s work it is in a way central to her Textiles, she has always liked circles, cutting out circles from the cloth was an accident. She did her M.A in way central to her Textiles, she has always liked circles, cutting out circles from the cloth was an accident. She did her M.A in London. Interface- Textile Research Centre, Belfast where she did a master class in Reinventing Linen using laser cuts, she London. Interface- Textile Research Centre, Belfast where she did a master class in Reinventing Linen using laser cuts, she just decided to try cutting circles and she really liked the end result. Her work in her M.A show in London was based on Bra’s just decided to try cutting circles and she really liked the end result. Her work in her M.A show in London was based on Bra’s not just any Bra’s Liz made these two massive Bra’s one was 1 metre by 2.5 metre long and the other one about the same not just any Bra’s Liz made these two massive Bra’s one was 1 metre by 2.5 metre long and the other one about the same size. One bra was called “Cow Tit” and the other one was called “Cat Tit”, she told me a funny story of bringing one of these size. One bra was called “Cow Tit” and the other one was called “Cat Tit”, she told me a funny story of bringing one of these bra’s to an exhibition to Kent in her little car and as the bra was so big she had to put it on the roof rack that is a sight I would bra’s to an exhibition to Kent in her little car and as the bra was so big she had to put it on the roof rack that is a sight I would of loved to of seen!! After 4/5 years in Ireland a good way of picking up some work was to print some Table linen/Napkins but of loved to of seen!! After 4/5 years in Ireland a good way of picking up some work was to print some Table linen/Napkins but she soon got a reputation as Mrs.Tablecloth. She joined a group of other craft workers who were contemporary Table top she soon got a reputation as Mrs.Tablecloth. She joined a group of other craft workers who were contemporary Table top designers, glass, ceramics textiles etc and they called themselves “6 X Tables” what a clever name. The Commission work designers, glass, ceramics textiles etc and they called themselves “6 X Tables” what a clever name. The Commission work started in 2003 and in 2008 she did a piece of work which was made into a room divider for the Office of Public Works called started in 2003 and in 2008 she did a piece of work which was made into a room divider for the Office of Public Works called “Rekindle”. “Rekindle”.

She has made an 8 metre frieze for a Youth Hostel in Wicklow. She explained about the process she does when she is doing She has made an 8 metre frieze for a Youth Hostel in Wicklow. She explained about the process she does when she is doing a commission piece- meet the client- Interview the client- guide them into choosing something similar to what you have done a commission piece- meet the client- Interview the client- guide them into choosing something similar to what you have done before. If it is a private client go and see where the place is for your commissions. Then you make two suggestions one before. If it is a private client go and see where the place is for your commissions. Then you make two suggestions one cheaper than the other. You budget everything from materials to labour to cost of hanging the piece. Liz rarely frames her cheaper than the other. You budget everything from materials to labour to cost of hanging the piece. Liz rarely frames her work behind glass. work behind glass.

The “Red Thread” is a presentation she is working on at the moment documenting her work from her very first piece of The “Red Thread” is a presentation she is working on at the moment documenting her work from her very first piece of Embroidery to the present day.Embroidery to the present day.

The Back of some of Liz The Back of some of Liz Nilsson’s work.Nilsson’s work.

Liz Nilsson’s studio and Liz Nilsson’s studio and workwork