Ask the Expert: 5 Questions for Ruth Woods, Author of ‘Finding Form with Fibre’
After reading Ruth Woods’ new book, Finding Form With Fibre, which profiles the work of 14 talented Australian artists and offers different techniques for working with plant fibers, I immediately headed outside to gather plant materials that I could transform into an artistic piece.
What is your favorite plant to work with?
“You can use all types of vines ….Ivy, Kudzu, grapevine, Jasmine, Virginia Creeper, Clematis and so many more,” Ruth wrote in an Instagram post.
I have many plants that I like to work with so it all depends on what s available usually in my garden or my neighbors This is a wine growing area in Australia so I use grapevines from my neighbor s garden I also use a lot of...
...New Zealand flax because it s readily accessible as I have several in my garden Flax is strong and fibrous and is a great weaving plant I also like Kniphofia which has a long leaf and soft fibres to work with it s really nice on your hands
“Daylilies are great because you can pick their long leaves when they are dying back from the new leaves; this means that they are already dry and ready to use. I try to pick these early in the morning while they are still moist with dew, because then I can use them straight away.”
Is there a particularly easy plant to work with?
A display of what Ruth calls “practice projects” (pieces that are more about play than product).
Top tips for creating with plants?
Every plant is different so there is no one rule that fits all But generally you pick the leaves and let them dry out first so there is little shrinkage Once the leaves have dried you can rehydrate them just enough so they are pliable but you don t want to over soak them as they will swell up...
...again then shrink One basketmaker told me that if you leave your plant fiber on the grass overnight the dew will moisten the fibre enough and then you should keep them wrapped in a damp towel so they don t dry out This tip might not apply if you live in the tropics or a very dry arid area
A ‘practice project’ you recommend?
For these “practice projects,” “I used bark and fine twigs that I found on the ground in a park. I just used a simple under and over technique that you might have used at school but can be very effective.”