Kim Thittichai: Designing through process

Kim Thittichai: Designing through process

Kim Thittichai is a textile artist and tutor living on the west coast of County Clare, Ireland.

Having worked through most of the traditional techniques Kim finds herself drawn to experimentation and layering technique. She created and delivered her own course entitled Experimental Textiles. What was originally written as a 1-year course, quickly developed into a 4-year course due to student encouragement, which Kim considers her greatest achievement.

In this interview, Kim describes how her introduction to a vast array of materials influenced her development and creative style, and encouraged the urge to experiment with different techniques. We learn how she has grown her artwork and why students are the key to her future.

Kim Thittichai, Pebbles, 8" x 5", 2015

Kim Thittichai, Pebbles, 8″ x 5″, 2015

The tentative development of textile art

TextileArtist.org: What initially attracted you to textiles as a medium?

Kim Thittichai: I have always enjoyed playing and working with textiles, from the dressing up box when I was a child to making my own clothes. I love the feel, texture, and weight and drape of fabric.

When I was choosing which course to do at college in 1975 there was only print, weave and fashion available. Nothing that particularly attracted me. In those far off days, anything related to textiles was mainly seen as domestic, women’s work. This implied there was no particular value in work created by women.

In 1985 I took the Diploma in Creative Embroidery taught by Maeve Edwards at Brighton Polytechnic. We were encouraged to be experimental and this is when I first started working with plastics and distressing fabrics. I was hooked. However, even in the late 1980’s textile art was only tentatively starting to develop.

And, more specifically, how was your imagination captured by stitch?

I love the meditative process of hand stitch. I also love pushing the boundaries of stitch in scale, texture and media. In my early years of teaching, I used builders fencing to stitch and weave fabric and plastic bags into.

Kim Thittichai, Stitching into builders fencing experiment, 2003

Kim Thittichai, Stitching into builders fencing experiment, 2003

What or who were your early influences and how has your life influenced your work?

I saw the exhibition Under Construction: Exploring Process in Contemporary Textiles at Brighton Polytechnic in 1996. The exhibition featured the work of Rushton Aust, Tadek Beutlich, Polly Binns, Michael Brennand Wood, Caroline Broadhead, Sally Freshwater, Clio Padovani. It totally blew my mind. Here were artists, working in textiles, being recognised by the Crafts Council. I can still see the work in my mind now, just fantastic.

Kim Thittichai, Early Vessels

Kim Thittichai, Early Vessels

In 1997 I saw the Embroiderers Guild exhibition Art of the Stitch. The work was fascinating. I was very drawn to the work of Clyde Oliver and Barbara Lee Smith. Both were working in 3d in the most amazing materials, Clyde in slate and Barbara in Lutradur. At this point, I realised there might be a place for me in textiles after all.

Kim Thittichai, Vessel (detail), 2009

Kim Thittichai, Vessel (detail), 2009

Learning the importance of process

What was your route to becoming an artist?

In 1975 I started the foundation year on the 3D degree course, wood, metal, ceramics and plastics at Brighton Polytechnic. What an incredible course. We were trained as artist craftspersons.

All students had to work in each discipline, learning how to work with the materials before we were allowed to design and make anything. I made dovetail joints and learned to carve in the wood workshop, I slabbed and coiled vessels in ceramics, I poured resin and laminated acrylic sheet in plastics and in metal I learned to raise and planish silver and copper. It was a wonderful course. I eventually specialised in silver and ceramics. I learned the importance of process and this has never left me.

Kim Thittichai, 2 ceramic vessels from my degree show, 1979

Kim Thittichai, 2 ceramic vessels from my degree show, 1979

Whilst the course was wonderful, there was no business training, so finding a job or creating our own work in your own workshop was really out of the question unless you were independently wealthy and I wasn’t.

Later in life when I retrained to be an adult education teacher the skills I learned at college stood me in great stead. All my courses teach students how to use materials and process to create their work.

Tell us a bit about your chosen techniques.

I love to explore, the what happens if? My college training taught me to love process, particularly designing through process. I work with various media and many techniques but all will include stitch.

How do you use these techniques in conjunction with stitch and applique?

I am currently working on layers of print on matt and shiny fabrics, cutting back and stitching, just back stitch. Similar to Mola work, using cut out shapes from one print to insert inside a space in another print. I love layering media and process.

Kim Thittichai, Block print and stitch, 2016

Kim Thittichai, Block print and stitch, 2016

Do you use a sketchbook? If not, what preparatory work do you do?

I don’t use a sketch book, I keep my experiments in portfolios or shoe boxes, depending on shape, size or weight. If I use a book it is to make notes. I prefer to work directly with my materials rather than sketch and design first.

I find you can use up your ideas in your sketchbook and run out of your creative energy when you come to make the work.

Kim Thittichai, Newspaper Faux Chenille with stitch, 2012

Kim Thittichai, Newspaper Faux Chenille with stitch, 2012

Clear space and loud music

Tell us about your process from conception to conclusion.

A lot of my ideas come from my experience with materials and the techniques and processes I have developed. I love to develop interesting surfaces on which to stitch.

I also enjoy making my own simple printing blocks developed from my drawings, using the positive and negative space of the designs. Printing up lots of fabrics and then choosing which work best for me. I find that over the years my work is simplifying.

Kim Thittichai, Building up the layers of print, 8" x 5", 2015

Kim Thittichai, Building up the layers of print, 8″ x 5″, 2015

What environment do you like to work in?

Lots of clear space and loud music when I am creating new processes and exploring. Soft music and a clear table when I am stitching. I am still working on the large clear space, I am nearly there. . .

What currently inspires you?

My new environment on the West coast of County Clare in Ireland and testing new products for Vliesleine.

I thoroughly enjoy testing new products from Vlieseline to see what can be done with them in the textile field. Will they distress with heat? Can they be torn or cut? Can they be coloured with crayons or paint? Are they firm enough to work three dimensionally?

Being a creative consultant for Vlieseline gives me the opportunity to play with exciting products and earn money at the same time. I find these experiments lead to new ideas for my work, back to designing through process.

Kim Thittichai, Experiment with Tyvek, 2005

Kim Thittichai, Experiment with Tyvek, 2005

Who have been your major influences and why?

Several members of The Textile Study Group including Gwen Hedley and Ruth Issett.

The Textile Study Group run an annual summer school, the opportunity to work with one of three members. I have attended at least two workshops with Ruth and with Gwen, they have always stretched me, encouraged me to develop my own style. Both have their own methods, each equally efficient!

Ruth Issett

Ruth Issett

My experimental textiles students are a never-ending source of inspiration. Their dedication to their course work in spite of work and family pressures.

Keeping it simple

Tell us about a piece of your work that holds particularly fond memories and why?

Capstones was the first piece of work that encouraged me to believe that I could work on a larger scale. It is approx. 6ft x 3ft.

Kim Thittichai, Capstones, 6ft x 2ft, 2003

Kim Thittichai, Capstones, 6ft x 2ft, 2003

How has your work developed since you began and how do you see it evolving in the future?

My ideas and my work have simplified over the years, taking the essence of the idea and not making it too complicated with lots of techniques. What you leave out is more important than what you leave in.

What advice would you give to an aspiring textile artist?

Don’t expect to be able to earn your living from your work but keep at it. If you love what you do you will find your way. I have taught to support myself, snatching time when I can to develop my ideas. If you want something enough – you can make it happen – eventually.

Kim Thittichai, Coiled bowl with beads, 2004

Kim Thittichai, Coiled bowl with beads, 2004

Can you recommend 3 or 4 books for textile artists?

Stitch Magic by Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn
Colour on Cloth by Ruth Issett
Drawn to Stitch by Gwen Hedley
By Natures Design, an Exploratorium Book by Chronicle Books

What other resources do you use? Blogs, websites, magazines etc.

I don’t have a lot of time for research. The photos I take when I am traveling tend to be my main resource. I try to see at least one big exhibition a year.

I follow a few blogs and I’m afraid Facebook is my main source of market research, it’s a very powerful tool, and horribly addictive.

What piece of equipment or tool could you not live without?

An Iron and baking parchment.

Kim Thittichai, Painted Bondaweb sample, 6" x 6", 2016

Kim Thittichai, Painted Bondaweb sample, 6″ x 6″, 2016

Do you give talks or run workshops or classes? If so where can readers find information about these?

I intend to slow down now that I am living in Ireland, my diary is on my blog.

In July I will be launching my online teaching.

If anyone would like to be added to my database they can email me at info@kimthittichai.com

Where can readers see your work this year?

I will have a stand at the Glasgow and NEC shows in March.

Kim is the author of the following books:

Hot Textiles
Experimental Textiles
Layered Textiles
Reclaimed Textiles

Kim Thittichai (on left) with Jamie Malden of Colouricious

Kim Thittichai (on left) with Jamie Malden of Colouricious

For more information visit: www.kimthittichai.com

Let us know what your favourite aspect of the artist’s work is by leaving a comment below.

Tuesday 19th, March 2024 / 01:10

About the author

View all articles by Daniel

NEWSLETTER FOR TEXTILE & FIBER ARTISTS

JOIN A COMMUNITY OF 60,000 STITCHERS

Share in the creative secrets of the world's most celebrated embroidery artists.

And discover how to create breathtaking art with textiles and stitch.

All Inspiration. No Spam.

Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter

8 comments on “Kim Thittichai: Designing through process”

  1. Elizabeth Woodford says:

    Kim’s incredible work has always drawn me in !! I love her work , her style and her wonderful personality!! I am very much a layers person whether I am working with textiles, paper, organic found objects or beads. I am so excited that she will be teaching on line classes!! I would love to travelt o Ireland to work with her and I plan to see if I can make that happen!!

  2. Cas Holmes says:

    So good to see Kim’s process reflected here and get behind the teacher we all know and love. A wonderful example of someone who is extremely busy carving her creative time out of the ongoing daily work.

  3. Diane Rogers says:

    Have been a long time admirer of Kim’s work and bought her Hot Textiles book years ago.
    Love her 3D vessels and distressed fabrics – so different to my own work but very inspiring to me.

  4. Kim had travelled a wide and varied journey in her experimental textiles quest. This is a wonderful article . Congratulations

  5. Great read, seeing Kim continuing to extend her experimental approach, even more so than when she taught our textile group in Australia. Hope she can return!

  6. Marly McLeod says:

    Kim is an inspirational teacher, extremely knowledgeable but always open to and actively encouraging new ideas and techniques. Plus she’s one of the warmest, most positive people I’ve met.

  7. Kathy Gledsdale says:

    An inspiration to us all

  8. Dear Kim. I just discovered your work and I am so inspired by it. It is current and non objective which I like. I am also a clay person and your pieces on line are incredible, the firgure forms.I belong to the Textile Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I wish you would be able to come to the center to present a workshop. Pat Pauley is presenting one now.She is different than your work.I think the textile artists in Minneapolis, who are very non comformist and current would love to have a workshop with you.I do painted, intuitive art quilts which really are about letting the fabric choose to be in the quilt without planning.It works for me. I am also trying to experiment with the gel plate to print on fabric and haven’tdone too much of this yet. Dina O’Sullivan.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hello and welcome to TextileArtist.org

TextileArtist.org is a place for textile artists and art enthusiasts to be inspired, learn from the best, promote their work and communicate with like-minded creatives.

NEWSLETTER FOR TEXTILE & FIBER ARTISTS

JOIN A COMMUNITY OF 60,000 STITCHERS

Share in the creative secrets of the world's most celebrated embroidery artists.

And discover how to create breathtaking art with textiles and stitch.

All Inspiration. No Spam.

Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter

What the artists say

"Textileartist.org is an invaluable resource. I am constantly sending students there and sharing it with other practitioners".

Nigel Cheney
Lecturer in Embroidered Textiles at NCAD

"The beauty of TextileArtist.org is that whenever you visit you'll discover something that you didn't already know".

Rachel Parker
Textile Study Group Graduate of the year 2012

"TextileArtist.org gives contemporary textile practice a voice; leading artists, useful guides and a forum for textiles".

Cas Holmes
Textile Artist and teacher

"This website is exactly what we need in the textiles world. A fantastic inspirational resource".

Carol Naylor
Textile and Embroidery Artist

  Get updates from TextileArtist.org via RSS or Email

Most Viewed