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Carole Waller Interview
#Lovelocalsupportlocal Interview
Carole Waller
Carole Waller is an artist who paints unique contemporary clothes-Art to Wear.
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She has perfected the art of painting directly onto silk, making a wearable and washable painting with incredible richness of mark and colour. Her silk clothes are contemporary, stylish and timeless.
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Here, Carole talks about here career, latest fashions - especially for Mother's Day, and how the business has adapted during the pandemic.
For those who aren’t familiar with your work, how would you best describe what you do?
I paint fabrics of various types of fabrics and make one off pieces of clothing and scarves - I had a gallery in Bath until the middle of last year - WallerandWood - and as soon as lockdown is over I look forward to being able to greet clients and visitors to our studio showroom just outside Bath where Gary Wood and I live. He makes wonderful stoneware ceramics. My clothing pieces are made by Ali Andrews in Trowbridge with whom I have worked for 25 years and I love the fact that handmade slow fashion has now become important to people. My pieces are not cheap - but they are about intensive and made with absolute integrity . They are also timeless - clients tell me they share them with their daughters!
What, or who, inspired you to become an artist and when did you realise that this passion could become a living?
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My mother was an artist and worked from a studio at home - so I always know it was thing - she also inspired me to believe in myself - and continued to mentor me (ie . to tell me exactly what she thought! ) until a week before she died at 87!
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The simple but extensive European travel she insisted on all through my childhood to see cave paintngs, temples and art galleries got under my skin and gave me a built in library of reference at an early age - even though I did not appreciate it at the time.
Are there any particular trends, colours, items you are working on at the moment?
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How to make work which is QUIET is my next challenge - My work tends to be very bold and colourful but I am yearning for a bit of black and white currently.
Are there any particular items you feel are perfect for Mothers Day?
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I have just made some really fine soft wool shawls which are lightweight but cosy and very soft - and there are some lovely small silk neck scarves which would be lovely gifts for Mothers Day. Every purchase comes with a guarantee that it can be exchanged at a later date if the recipient does not like the colour …..I can post things gift wrapped to your Mum .
What do you love most about Bath?
Its proximity to wonderful countryside - and the Roman Baths - especially the orange drain.
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How are were do you spend your downtime?
In my garden - I’m a terrible gardener but its big and a hillside so its wonderful to be in. My practise has been to go away in January to think about a Spring collection - and for the last 4 years it has been Barcelona, Venice , Rome and Florence . This year it is Batheaston - and the trees which I see every day all around me. I have come to appreciate my immediate surroundings in a completely new way.
What are you looking forward to most after lockdown 3.0?
Going to the sea and having a pub lunch.
