Have you ever wondered what it takes to create a piece of art that truly captures the essence of a single moment?
Imagine receiving an image from a friend, a snapshot of their world, and transforming that into a beautiful textile piece.
This is exactly what artist Linda Harvey has accomplished in her incredible 100-Day project, turning community images into stunning textile art and compiling them into an inspiring book.
You might be curious how such a massive undertaking is possible, especially for someone who balances a full-time teaching career and a vibrant personal art practice. We definitely were!
Linda's passion for rustic textures and experimental approach to mixed media have made her a standout member of the York textile artists and the Society for embroidered work. Her approach and artwork involves hand felting, free-motion embroidery and layering fabrics to create abstract pieces.
In this interview, we discussed the importance of a daily art practice and the magic of dedicating just 15 minutes a day to creativity. By listening to Linda's story, you'll gain valuable insights into balancing art with everyday life. The significance of maintaining a consistent creative routine, and how to draw inspiration from your surroundings.
Finding Textiles
Linda’s artistic journey did not begin with textiles. ”I did art at school, but then at 16 I left and I did a BTech National Diploma,” she explains. “Lit was a brilliant course that was two years long, and covered everything, textiles, graphics, photography and fine art life drawing. Being 16 and going straight into art college was super exciting. I wasn't particularly inspired by textiles there but I had an amazing tutor who just made me see them differently, so I then specialised and did my degree in textiles.”
Aside from art, Linda has another true calling, “I think I was always meant to be a teacher. So I did a year in London, and then did my teacher training and worked in a fantastic school, a very multicultural school with a brilliant textiles department. I was lucky to work with two fantastic teachers and good friends, and that's where it started, I suppose. I've taught ever since.
I've taught full-time since I was 23. And then I moved up to York, and I've been head of textiles for a really long time. I've been in the same school for probably 22 years. I've got my own textile department there, and I really enjoy it.”
Teaching and Art
Linda feels both her callings draw on each other. “I think they sort of balance each other out in a way,” she says, “Doing my own work, in my mind, makes me a better teacher. But I also think being a teacher makes me a better artist as well because if I come up with a new idea, I want to share it, and I think teaching is that sort of profession where you care a lot about students, but you also share a lot.
When I speak to people who retire, they're always willing to share, even when they've been out of the classroom for many years. I think it's just your instinct to want to pass on your knowledge if you've got it. That's why I enjoy doing process videos and sharing on social media. If I have an open studio, I'm very happy to talk about the techniques and share them or if there's a piece of equipment, I'm happy to send any information, if I can help.”
Returning to Art
Linda set aside art for some time in her life. “I've been a full-time teacher since I was 23, then had children when I was 30, but I went back to work straightaway, full time.
I wasn't really doing much textiles during that time. And then I just thought, ‘I need to be doing something for me as well.’ So, obviously, my priority is always my teaching, but then I came home and thought, ‘I could just sit there in front of the TV, but I'll just get a sketchbook out.’
I was just thinking, ‘I can do 15 minutes. That's easy.’ And I think sometimes, for me, and maybe for a lot of people, it's very easy to waste time. I know I'm very good at wasting time.”
So planning her time and when she can fit in her art is very important for Linda. Like taking the opportunity on a three hour car ride to knit and prepare pieces to use for a free machine embroidery piece she’s working on.
As we pointed out to Linda, there's that old saying that if you want something done, give it to a busy person - Linda agrees!
“Yes. And I think as teachers, we’re very good at lists. We like a list so, I always have a list one the go. I know what I need to do, I know what I need to plan for, and that sort of works for me. When I retire, I'll definitely won't be sitting and thinking ‘what should I be doing?’”
The 100-Day Challenge
Linda likes a challenge and having focus, and that’s what drew her to her recent 100-Day Challenge project, where she turned community images into stunning textile art and compiled them into an inspiring book.
“I really like the idea of it because I really like a challenge. It gives me a focus, and I think I work better with a focus. If I'm just left to my own devices, I might not do as much as I want to do, so this 100-day project was definitely the most challenging, and I just thought, ‘Oh, that's a really exciting idea that could work really well in textiles.’ So I thought I'd give it a go. And then, once I'd started, I don't think I'd realised how long each tiny little piece would take. Each one has lots of different textures on it and I tried to pick things that would push me out of my comfort zone.
I thought, ‘I know it's going to be hard,’ and I don't think I realised how challenging it was going to be! But again, the biggest challenge was time. If I had all the time in the world, it would probably be very different. But in a way, that made it more of a challenge because I thought, ‘I'm not giving up on this, this is what I really want to do.’”
Working with other people was the other factor that brought Linda much joy in completing her 100-Day Challenge. “What I loved about the project is the communication and the collaborative ideas and the chatting that I've had with people who I don't know. I really enjoyed that. That was probably the highlight of the whole project for me, that you share, and you can share things and you don't know what people are going to comment on.”
Timing and Failure
Linda has the following to say to aspiring artists:
“You can't say yes to everything even though you want to. Accept that sometimes the timing’s just not quite right and accept failure and not being accepted for things, whether that's groups or whether that’s open exhibitions.
I’m also a big believer in fate, and I do think it happens for a reason because then you learn from it as well. But definitely, you just can't do everything. I think that's what has been my downfall in the past. Sometimes I say, ‘Yeah, I'll do that. Yeah, I can do that. Of course I will,’ and then you think, ‘Oh, maybe not’.”
About Linda Harvey
Linda Harvey graduated from University Centre Somerset in 1994 with a degree in textiles and surface design. She is a textile artist and Head of Textiles at a York secondary school. Linda is also a member of York Textile Artists and The Society for Embroidered Work, which promotes and supports the best in stitched art worldwide.
Linda’s work is mainly inspired by the places she visits. She takes photographs of anything that catches her eye, as she likes to capture a moment instantly. Her photographs give Linda a starting point from which her work evolves. She will often work on several pieces at a time, as she enjoys an expressive and experimental way of Working.
Rustic textures and the aging process inspire Linda. She is drawn to anything corroded and tarnished and immediately sees how it can be turned into a textile art piece. Colour and texture are the key elements in her work.