Artist Statement.

Amy Rose Barnes refers to her practice as drawing, inspired by natural forms, materials and fabric. Commonly observed, but often overlooked, natural Lines and patterns are constructed after being abstracted away from their recognisable contexts and are translated onto paper using pen, oil pastel and acrylic.

Barnes’ draws inspiration from the way fabric and clothing is worn, draped and hung. The presence of the female body is undetectable yet is present through a series of lines that trace the relationship of movement, tension, and ease within the fabric as it clings to, and hangs from the body. Barnes is particularly inspired by burlesque movements and reveals. The details in the folds play with and dance between contrasting themes of emotion, vulnerability and strength that are expressed fluidly through the body language of women, and which radiate through fabric.
The lines throughout her drawings go on to inspire her textile and sculptural installations which have a painterly quality to them. Within her work is the conversation between contrasting textures, patterns and raw materials communicated through a distinctive pale and earthy colour pallet.
 
Balance, gravity and weight are elements that each drawing embodies through compositions with deep contrasting areas of detail, texture and space.
 
Speaking on her work she reveals the meditative and intuitive nature of her process and the depth of her understanding of natural form, stating:

“I am mindful of allowing the drawing space to breathe by consciously creating areas of negative space. It is important that the placement of intense detail and pattern creates an illusion that my hand was never present, as if the lines simply grew/ fell that way (inspired by the growth of leaves, roots and other natural forms that follow their own sense of direction). Through drawing in meditative-like state of mind I am able to let my hand lead the way, to create a natural flow through intuitive lines.”
 
Drawing everyday as part of her practise has been a way for the her to use drawing as a tool to respond and reflect on the self. She talks often about vulnerability which is represented by the fragility of fabric and how it exposes areas of space and light. Both her drawings and installations contain at least three layers of materials or dimensions, the idea of layering the work creates a sense of comfort and new spaces for growth.
 
Barnes has a large collection of specific styles of clothing, fabrics/ textiles, sentimental items and raw materials that all have an association with memories and spaces within the home. The materials are drawn from or physically woven into her sculptural installations. She also has a collection of images from secondary sources of; artwork, nature, fashion, textiles, western interior spaces, trinkets, all of which contain intricate patterns. These images are used as the initial source of inspiration for each drawing. However the drawings quickly take their own unique sense of direction, sometimes as fast as two minutes into the drawing.
The reusing of sentimental materials from the collection is her way of dealing with grief (and other forms of emotional pain) to give them a new form of life. Identifying with the loss of her grandmother she is now able to associate particular colours, patterns and textures with her memories which is a continual source of inspiration and influences the materials she collects. Drawing is the medium Amy predominantly uses to explore her visual language. With it, she is able to reference a plethora of influences and translate her life into a visual archive, continuously evolving with in her like a living organism. 

Words:
 
“Fabric, lace, silk, velvet, corduroy, chiffon, hessian, patterns, lines, shapes, worn, draped, hung, constructed, timeless, dresses, Knick-knacks, ornaments, trinkets, skirts, blouse, underwear, lace garments, kimono, tassels, Alexander McQueen, curtains, memories, grief, language, translation, cushions, Gravity, grace, weight, interior, home, functioning, arrangement, cling, bodies, sexuality, spaces, shape, vulnerability, cushions, scarf, music videos, dance, extensions of the body (limbs), movement, worn, wardrobe, relationship, sadness, process, fashion, images, fictional, transform, textures, identify, contrast, conflicting, transform, Rose, wedding dresses, conversation, falling, hanging, fine details, collections, cabinets, organisation, wallpaper, designs, loss, communication, saying goodbye, style, elegance, mindset, responsibility, shoes, pastels, components, materials, association, drawers, plants, leaves, petals, wings, feathers, seeds, seedy, light, lighting, uniqueness, glow, illuminate, puzzle, fix, film, glamour, stories, tropical, ceramics, China, deep blue, jewellery, pain, honour, collage, box, emotional, attachment, lamp, shade, pairing, jewels, rhinestones, nude, rogue, red, pale, terracotta, grey, escape, raw, topaz ”