Embrace the Unexpected: The Magic of Artistic Creation
Childhood Imagination: The Genesis of a Lifelong Passion for Storytelling
Letitia Thompson, a mixed-media artist, reveals that her creative spark ignited during her childhood as an only child. Armed with pencils, her imagination transported her to uncharted realms. Today, her artistic narratives spring from a more intimate source, deeply rooted in her immediate environment.
Drawing Inspiration from the Everyday: Nature, Objects, and Personal Narratives
Thompson finds her muse in the local landscape, the cyclical shift of seasons, the wildlife that populates her surroundings, and an eclectic collection of found photographs and ephemeral items. These elements coalesce to ignite what she playfully terms the 'quirky tales' that underscore her creations. Her artistic liberty is born from daringly pursuing the impulses of her hands and imagination.
Intuitive Creation: A Layered Approach to Mixed Media Art
Whether manipulating paper or fabric, sketching with pencil or stitching, or engaging with paint, print, or collage, Thompson's artistic practice is characterized by an intuitive response to marks, shapes, and hues. Her works evolve through successive layers, inviting observers to pause, reflect, and uncover hidden details within her intricate compositions.
Educating and Inspiring: Sharing the Joy of Artistic Expression
A dedicated educator throughout her life, Thompson finds immense satisfaction in imparting her expertise. She guides aspiring artists to cultivate curiosity, embrace spontaneity, and revel in the profound joy that accompanies the act of creation.
Unearthing Narratives: Folklore, Memories, and Chance Discoveries
Thompson’s artistic inspiration stems from her Lincolnshire village, its comforting rhythms, and the rich folklore woven into the landscape. She cherishes the mysterious finds from charity shops and car boot sales—old letters, anonymous photographs, and forgotten keepsakes often ignite the initial sparks for a story or character. The flexibility of mixed media allows her to paint over or patch areas that aren't working, fostering confidence in exploration.
The Freedom of Mixed Media: Crafting Unplanned, Evolving Compositions
She deliberately avoids rigid pre-planning, letting her paintings evolve from spontaneous marks that might suggest a mood or even the form of an animal or a whimsical object. Folklore, fragmented memories, and tales from her grandparents' kitchen table frequently surface in unexpected ways. Her backgrounds often possess a "patchwork" quality, creating a rich, layered effect that hints at untold stories and allows compositions to shift without being constrained by traditional perspective.
Textural Choices: Hand Stitching Versus Machine Stitching
When crafting free-form fabric-collaged embroidery, Thompson favors machine stitching for its spontaneous, graphic linear quality. For her mixed-media works on paper, she embraces the tactile richness of hand stitching. A simple running stitch can unify a composition, and the slightly irregular, quilted texture it imparts effectively contrasts with her bold gel printing. Stitching over printed areas breaks up surfaces, and varied stitch directions add subtle depth. For pieces requiring greater dimension, the three-dimensional quality of hand stitching provides an extra layer of interest.
The Thrill of the Unknown: Embracing the Creative Process
Thompson is driven by the magic of creating something new entirely from her imagination and hands. She finds the most exhilarating part of her process in starting a piece without a clear outcome, relishing the surprises and often gaining new insights into her own motivations later. This constant challenge—the question of whether she can replicate her success—fuels her artistic endeavors, making each new creation both daunting and exciting.
A Childhood Dream Realized: Experimentation and Play in Art
Growing up, art was an everyday part of Thompson's family life, with her parents nurturing her artistic inclinations. Creating art offers her an escape, transporting her back to the 1970s when a few pencils and a cereal box were her passport to the universe. Her studies at St. Martin’s School of Art emphasized experimental and playful approaches, allowing her to explore unconventional ideas without the pressure of practicality. This foundation instilled in her a love for experimenting with unusual materials, even if her early designs, like marshmallow-stitched tights, were never commercially viable.
Nurturing Creativity: Embracing Spontaneity and Overcoming Fear
Thompson aims to instill this spirit of experimentation in her Stitch Club workshops. She hopes participants will gain the confidence to immerse themselves in creative work without overthinking, fostering a joyful and spontaneous approach. She finds that problem-solving and rectifying mistakes often lead to the most satisfying outcomes. The forgiving nature of layering and collaging empowers artists to be courageous and curious, knowing that any perceived misstep can always be covered and re-worked.
Beyond Categories: Defying Labels and Finding Artistic Freedom
Teaching art for three decades, including on an Art & Design foundation course, Thompson derived immense satisfaction from helping students discover their unique creative voices. As an artist, however, she often grappled with self-identification, struggling to claim the title. A significant hurdle was the internal conflict of feeling compelled to choose between being solely a fine artist or a textile artist, leading to the familiar feeling of imposter syndrome. Over time, she liberated herself from these constraints, embracing the freedom to navigate between mixed media, textiles, and painting without concern for categorization.
Community and Connection: Sharing Narratives and Finding Kinship
Working from her small home studio, or occasionally a rented space for larger projects, Thompson values the importance of connecting with like-minded individuals to counteract the isolation of artistic work. Sharing the 'quirky stories' that emerge during her creative process, once a source of embarrassment, has helped her connect with people who resonate with her art and methods. She believes that making and sharing art is vital, cherishing the bonds formed with kindred spirits in her painting, mixed media, and textile workshops.
The Digital Realm: An Unexpected Catalyst for Artistic Growth
Initially intimidated by technology, Thompson has been pleasantly surprised by the integral role the digital world now plays in her artistic practice. Thanks to patient friends and her daughter, her iPad and the Procreate app have become indispensable tools. Beyond creating products for her business, she enjoys combining scanned original artwork with digital collage and Procreate layers. The software's intuitive nature, particularly its selection tool, allows her to blend scanned elements with opaque and transparent digital layers, mimicking her painting style and enabling endless variations from a single artwork. She shares her digital process through a YouTube tutorial titled, 'Procreate for Traditional Artists: Easy Steps for Digital Art'.
Mindful Creation: A Journey of Continuous Evolution
Thompson emphasizes the importance for any creative person to be mindful and aware of their individual creative process. Acknowledging that each artist's working method is unique, she believes that understanding one's own approach to creative problem-solving is key to navigating future blocks or challenges, encompassing both practical techniques and mental resilience. She underscores that creativity is a lifelong, evolving practice, ensuring that the journey of an artist remains perpetually engaging and never dull.