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 Biography Gary Clarke Born Tasmania 1953 Married with two children Studied art: Studied at Launceston Matriculation and Art Colleges, receiving distinctions at both. Began work with an apprenticeship as a textile designer with Universal Textiles, Hobart, Tasmania. Apprenticeship served under Rudy Jenny from the “Bauhaus School of Design” Germany. Proficient at water colours, oils, pen and pencil, printing, fabric painting and embroidery.
Other employment: Display and media manager Launceston, interior designer Launceston, manager of an art store Melbourne, Manager of an embroidery store Launceston, Pastor of an AOG church in Melbourne. Writing: Written six books on embroidery and textile art, “Embroidery and Candlewicking” “Cats Inspiration for Needlework” “ Bouquet Bows and Bugs” “Simply Flowers” Candlewicking and Beyond” “Embroidery Illusions” all selling world wide. Co written three books on embroidery, selling world wide. Written for numerous embroidery magazines.
Lecturing: Lectured in most cities in Australia on embroidery as art. Featuring design and composition, colour, tone, contrast, texture, thread, needle, needles, fabric and stitches.
Teaching: Teaching in most cities in Australia at embroidery stores and embroidery guilds.
Designing: Designing for two mail order companies, Australia and America. Designed for machine embroidery America.
Kit design: Design and produce embroidery kits for the Australian and international market.
The Family have now grown up and left home leaving Helen and I at home back in the city of Launceston. Originally a designer I am now known as much for dexterity with the needle. Being a male in a female dominated world has been a great advantage, the stereotype being broken enables one to look freshly at the subject without rules, The line of design and colour are different from a male perspective, evident from the work of such male designers as William Morris and McIntosh. I believe that embroidery is a legitimate form of art and is much underrated, and that the medium of needle and thread has endless possibilities for the artist. Embroidery is seasoning to the eyes, adding colour, tone, and texture to plain base fabrics. An ancient art with a colourful history. Exodus 38 tells us of a man Oholiab, “an artisan, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet fabrics and fine linens”, it re invents its self, changes from nation to nation, from century to century. Embroidery can serve to embellish the practical or stand on its own merit as piece of art for the viewers enjoyment. Regards Gary |
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