Buttons. I love them! I collected them as a child. My Mother used them in her dressmaking. They are little jewels to be treasured. They come in such a wide range of colour, size, shape, pattern and texture. They can be flat, 3D, matte, shiny, mass produced, bespoke, modern and vintage. I use them to build colour, create depth, add light and contouring to flat surfaces. I express emotion through carefully considered buttons. Explore with me the diversity of a simple and functional object.
CAPTURING THE ESSENCE OF A SUBJECT IN BUTTONS
Shining eyes capture a spirit of children at play in ‘Old Ted’. And a plush velvet nose, soft and fragile, nods to a deep maternal instinct to nurture and protect.
An elaborate jewel celebrates a life lived in ‘Reducing Us To Simply A Heartbeat’.
ESTABLISHING A TIMELINE WITH VINTAGE BUTTONS
Collecting over a period of time and from a range of sources (car boot sales and charity shops are great for vintage treasures) is essential in establishing a timeline within your collection. The natural ageing process softens leather and suede, a maturity capturing the essence of an older generation.
Natural wear and tear produces a rich narrative using vintage buttons.
BUILDING A COLOUR PALETTE
The more diverse your collection of buttons the greater your ability to achieve depth within a colour palette. Subtle variations in colour, tone, age and pattern creates a natural density.
3D Textiles – CREATING TEXTURAL DEPTH
Depth is achieved by overlapping edges and layering flat buttons to produce a textural contouring, creating an upper level to the flat background.
Variation within scale adds a dramatic quality to a design, creating a rich textural depth.
I adore buttons and will continue to collect and use them in my work. For more examples, visit The Natural Collection and The Womanhood Collection by CHRISTINE CUNNINGHAM
