Transitioning from a fashion designer to an artist using textiles Dutch artist Carry Doorn considers her art “as a way to transform everyday materials into poetic and meaningful creations.” Her three-dimensional toile pieces consider “what is our place and how do we relate to our environment and the world around us?”

Firstly, where did you grow up and where do you live now?

I was born and raised in the city of Utrecht, located in the middle of the Netherlands. Now, I have been living in Amersfoort for over 25 years, a beautiful historic town with plenty of forests and sand drifts nearby.

What is your background in textiles?

 A few years ago, I made the switch to a full-time career as an artist. Before that, I was a fashion designer. I studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Utrecht, where I graduated with honors in fashion and design. Later, I worked for various major brands in the fashion industry.

I have worked in different fields, as a freelancer for sportswear labels and as a designer for various styling agencies. Later on, I focused on designing sustainable women’s and interior textiles collections under the name “evagodiva!”

Creativity, passion, sustainability, and authenticity played a significant role in my designs. In these times of mass production, I wanted to bring back craftsmanship. As an independent international designer, I created and sold collections under my own label, eventually crafting highly exclusive and somewhat daring special dresses for festive women and brides. Additionally, I designed unique interior textiles.

 Throughout my entire career, I couldn’t resist making and selling art regularly, including paintings, ceramic art objects, and exclusive clothing pieces. My passion for art and textiles continued to gnaw at me, and ultimately, I decided to follow my heart and fully focus on creating Fiber Art. My love for, knowledge of, and sensitivity to textiles are now reflected in my artworks.

How do you describe your work?

My work has a layered and transparent appearance. I achieve this by building my art with delicate, translucent, and colored layers of textiles, using materials such as organza silk, tulle, or thin metal mesh. The light that falls on my artworks creates unique shadow effects that move and change as you walk by, producing an intriguing, fascinating interplay between the forms and colours of the artwork.

I consider my art as a way to transform everyday materials into poetic and meaningful creations. With my artworks, I invite viewers to perceive and experience their surroundings in a different manner. My wish is that each time you look at my work, you discover new layers and associations of your own. My goal is to encourage people to use their imagination and be inspired by the beauty of the ordinary.

 As an artist, I reveal my own emotions, thoughts, and stories through my art. My works serve as a visual translation of my inner world, where I express my perspective on the world. I play with colours, textures, and shapes to convey the depth and complexity of thoughts and feelings that I perceive and experience in the everyday. 

I strive to explore the question: What is our place and how do we relate to our environment and the world around us? I am fascinated by the formation of our identity, which we begin to define and delineate early in life through habits and patterns.

 My textile works serve as a visual reflection on these themes. Through my use of materials, colors, and textures, I try to explore the complexity of our identity and the quest for our place in the world.

I believe that art is a powerful means of communication, a language that transcends the boundaries of words. My goal is to create resonance in the viewer and invite them to discover their own meanings and emotions in my artworks. I strive to evoke a sense of wonder, reflection, and connection.

What techniques do you use in your work?

In my 3D works, I utilise plexiglass panels or welded steel frames covered with canvas. I construct the artwork in various layers, incorporating transparent tulle, metal mesh, or organza silk. This can result in both figurative and abstract images, such as expressive faces or graphic shapes. The materials I employ include acrylic paint and airbrush, brushes, scalpels, scissors, and a sewing machine, as well as hand embroidery and stitching with diverse threads and yarns.

As a textile artist, I am fascinated by the possibilities of fabrics and their natural movements. Currently, I work a lot with the texture of tulle, giving materials color and shaping them through cutting, slicing, and molding techniques. Moreover, I create manual drawings on fabric and then follow these lines using a sewing machine or hand stitching with threads of various thicknesses. The selection of thread is carefully coordinated with the colors and textures of the artwork. My goal is to achieve a harmonious interplay where the threads move fluidly and blend seamlessly with the overall design. It is a process in which I collaborate with the fabrics’ inherent desire to fall and move.

Similar to waves in the sea, my artistic process follows a natural rhythm. I allow the fabrics to flow freely and take the time to discover their own forms and structures. I emphasize the unique characteristics of each fabric, letting them move and integrate in their own way. It is like a dance between my creative intentions and the intrinsic properties of the materials.

In my work, new forms and textures emerge, shaped by the layering and interaction of the fabrics. I play with contrasts between light and dark, between crisp lines and organic shapes. Each creation reveals a story captured within the fibers of the fabrics—a story that speaks of movement, form, and changes in our nature as human beings.

How do you create a piece?

I find great joy in embracing the Art of the Unexpected. The idea I have when embarking on creating a “new” artwork sets the initial step and sets me in motion, only to let go and allow “it” to happen. In that moment, unexpected discoveries spontaneously arise, and the flow takes over.

The various materials I work with, along with shapes and colors, engage in a symbiotic relationship under my hands. The material dictates the direction, the movement, and becomes the narrative. The process of development towards the ultimate synergy in the artwork often unfolds differently than I initially envisioned, creating surprising turns and unforeseen paths. My desire is that these works emerge as pieces in which one can immerse, pieces that can astonish and touch, and ignite the imagination.

I know this is a hard question but how long does a bigger piece take?

 The time it takes to create an artwork varies each time. Whether it’s a large or small work, it doesn’t really matter. Sometimes, an artwork can come together quickly, while other times, it unexpectedly takes more time. It can come to life within a few hours or it can take weeks before it’s “finished.” The work is complete when it makes me happy and I don’t quickly tire of it.

Since my studio is in open connection with the living room, the artwork is also visible to observers who live with me or visit. Naturally, this leads to many reactions to my work. Based on these responses, I can determine whether an artwork resonates or has not fully come into its own.

What are you most proud of in your art career so far?

 I am incredibly happy and perhaps a bit proud that I dared to make the transition from a fashion designer to an artist. Moreover, I am proud of the success of my once beautiful and thriving store and studio, ‘evagodiva!’.

Although the word ‘pride’ doesn’t always suit me when it comes to my work, I am proud of my son, Koen. Mostly, I feel joy and gratitude for being able to pursue the work that brings me so much happiness. It all sounds quite idyllic, but I must admit that it can sometimes come with stress and hard work, making it challenging to stop working. My passion keeps me moving forward and motivates me to constantly challenge myself and push further. It’s a positive aspect, but occasionally, it can have its negative sides too. I am learning to understand my boundaries and when it’s better for me to stop.

Do you have any advice for aspiring textile artists?

For aspiring artists, I can say: “You have always been an artist. Believe in yourself and continue to develop by constantly exploring what you want to express. Don’t be discouraged by negative thoughts that may arise or by what others might say or perhaps think. You already belong, always!

I was told that I shouldn’t mention my past as a fashion designer in the art world. Also sometimes, galleries prioritize younger artists over older ones. Then there’s the notion (maybe a little voice inside yourself?) that there are already so many artists, and nobody is waiting for you.

Don’t let this discourage you. My past and experience as a fashion designer are the unique elements that actually make me special as an artist. Every artist has their own story and perspective. Your art is valuable and can have a profound impact on others. Trust your own path, be authentic and don’t let insecurities hold you back, especially if they are imposed upon you. Your art deserves to be seen and appreciated. Stay in the flow. Go for it and keep believing in your talent and passion!”

You can see Carry’s work at:

“New Stories” at Gallery de Ploegh, Amersfoort 13 August – 20 August 2023 https://www.deploegh.nl/

“BitterSweet” at Gallery De Kunstberg, Woudenberg, 28 October 2023 – 13 January 2024

Art Fairs 2023 / 2024

Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam, Netherlands | 01 – 05 November 2023

Affordable Art Fair in Singapore | 09 – 12 November 2023

Affordable Art Fair in Brussels, Belgium | 07 – 11 February 2024

www.carrydart.com

www.carrydoorn.nl

https://www.instagram.com/carry_doorn/