Michael Kidner Textile Brief

Figure 1: Michael Kidner, Colour Column (no.4) 1972 

I was interested in using Michael Kidner’s work as an inspiration. I have been asked to interpret his imagery by looking in particular at his use of colour. This is a new dimension within my own work as it is in direct opposition to my figurative work.  

However, the response must be adaptable to a commercial end use, such as wearable pieces, accessories or interior textiles.  The response can also become one off exhibition works or a series of works. ​

In the beginning of this project, I lacked research on Michael Kidner’s work.  However, after  series of sketchbook drawings, I found my own strengths: Figurative & Narrative, I took on researching the inspirations behind Kidner’s work.

Figure 2: Sketchbook Drawing

I tried not to be too figurative with my drawing and more about the colours and marks based upon the work in Figure 1.  ​

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I started looking at colours and Kinder limits his colour pallet but uses trickery such as pixels and lines to give the appearance of more colours.  

Figure 3: Sketchbook Drawing

My series of sketchbook drawings shows  a display of delicacy and transparency.  The use of watercolours helps give this effect in a more natural way and to twist his pixelated and lines effects. Kidner’s work is known to give a sense of endlessness, so the circles here represent this. ​

On reflection: I believe that the subject is not one to be developed further for my textiles work.  I am more invested into developing a projection of my abstract feelings rather than copying abstract techniques he uses. ‘Unless you read a painting as a feeling then you don't get anything at all'. (TATE 2015[online])​

This development moved into floral in an abstract way.  It also is based on nature, which continues the opposition to abstract that I was hoping to demonstrate.