Q&A with Tamara Williams from RubyKite
Location: London
Discipline: Textiles
Biography:
We have collections in both galleries and specialist boutiques across the UK and take part in craft events such as Beautiful & Useful and Craft Festival. We are members of Find a Maker, The Craft Council and Design Nation, championing contemporary design. We were proud to win the 2022 Modern Makers Award for best fashion brand, as well as The Luxlife perfect gift award for 2023.
We are excited to be exhibiting our art scarves at the nationally and internationally recognised Bluecoat Display Centre in Liverpool as part of this year’s Winter Exhibition. And we are also exhibiting at the 2023 Festival of Craft in Farnham.
Please describe your creative practice/process:
We create contemporary mixed media paintings and printmaking on plaster; exploring unique textures that translate beautifully on to silk and cashmere scarves and accessories. Every colour story is printed in more sustainable small batches to create wearable art that enhances the original artwork by creating a distinctive 3-d effect with a signature chalky palette. The Intricate marks become hugely abstracted when scaled large over each piece.
What are your influences and motivations?
My design background informs and influences all of our work, from a love of composition and visual space, to the energy and freedom of abstract line work and textural layers. Ideas are inspired by nature and always start with drawings, with the landscape around my studio near the River Thames being an especially strong influence. The colours change through each season and are inspirational in so many ways.
Does your work have a particular colour palate, or link to a particular styling?
Working with plaster to create distinctive marks and colours on silk and cashmere. All our work has a strong emphasis on texture. I love exploring unusual printmaking techniques, with intricate textures that become hugely abstracted when scaled large over our scarves. Most of my original art uses plaster as a print medium, which creates a signature palette of chalky, natural tones which work well on silk and cashmere.
See RubyKite’s work at MADE London from 3 – 5 November.
RubyKite, Rockpool silk bag, Silk 21cm x 17cm, £35
RubyKite, Rockpool double sided long silk scarf, Silk, 184 cm x 16 cm. £65
