Deeson Gallery: Janice Lewis

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I originally trained in East London and worked as a graphic artist for 15 years. I began working with textiles for pleasure 25 years ago, which developed into a small business, ‘Raspberry Studio’, after 10 years. In 2005 my family and I moved to Whitstable, where I now have a purpose built studio to produce unique colourful collections of ‘wearable art’ as well as mixed media, embroidered wall pieces, and glass jewellery for exhibition and commission.

I am inspired by nature, antiques and poetry. My eclectic and contemporary take on traditional crafts combines beauty with functionality to create objects that are unique, practical and collectable.

I specialise in hand made felt using natural materials such as, Merino and Wendsleydale fleece, silk, mohair and other luxurious fabrics and trims. Other techniques used are free machine embroidery where I use a sewing machine with a free machine foot which allows me total control so I can ‘draw’ with the needle and thread, and I often use a soldering iron to melt and cut fabric. Dichroic glass is another area of my work, which with its stunning depth of colour and texture, I create jewellery, many have been described as mini sculptures, each piece a one-off unrepeatable statement.

I am a member of the International Felt Makers Association, Canterbury Society of Art, East Kent Embroiderers Guild & Crafts Council Register of Designer Makers.

My work has been exhibited and sold nationwide, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and has been published in books and magazines. I run workshops from ‘Raspberry Studio’ and other venues.

janice@raspberrystudio.co.uk

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Artist Q&A

If you were a Pantone colour, which one would you be?

Pantone 234c Passion (a rich raspberry pink)

In the studio of which artist - dead or alive - would you like to be a fly on the wall?

Don’t know where to begin, I guess Grayson Perry… fascinating

Tell us something great you've just discovered?

If my daughter uses Aquafresh toothpaste, everything she eats and drinks tastes of soap, which can last for weeks. According to Google it is a build up of too much fluoride, weird!

What 3 words define your art?

Evolving, Eclectic, Vibrant, 

Name your top three dinner guests, famous or not, dead or not...

Rob Lowe, Robert Downey Jr. & Johnny Depp. Delicious!

Which book or film do you wish you'd written?

Well, actually I hope to have one published in the next few years, just in the early planning stages at the moment

What's your favourite journey?

My constant and ongoing journey, as an artist and mother

How would you express yourself if there was no such thing as art?

Hairstylist, florist, anything creative involving colour, texture and form

If you were a superhero, which one would you be and why?

Really not my thing, but it would have to be Cat Woman, as I have 3 cats I adore

Rock or Roll?

Don’t do noise, so it has to be Roll, with lots of Nutella!