Carole Waller handpainted mint cotton shirt ‘Container’

A crisp cotton shirt with a stand up collar, painted buttons at the front and cuffs. The colour is a muted mint green slate grey and white. There is elastane in the weave for a bit of stretch and crispness.

The word ‘Container’ implies the way that cloth surrounds and wraps us in colour and meaning. Images, brushmarks and words are multilayered with colours changing as they are overlayed. Lines of poetry are layered over each other like memories and can sometimes be read – sometimes not. The last line of one of his poems reads ‘Fill your house with delight’ – and I hope this will fill your wardrobe with light and colour.

This collection of original painted clothes and scarves incorporates snippets of poetry and the texture of clay artworks by Gary Wood. The ‘Container’ idea came from Gary’s use of a small square frame which he pressed into clay to make shapes in his wallpieces. I used them as a screenprint in this group of pieces to allow a containment for colour and shape, to bring in texture and structure, and to allow me to make a really dense layering of image and text.

His book, ‘Container is also available for sale on this site. Click here to find it.

Carole Waller handpainted mint cotton shirt ‘Container’

Measurements :

Bust at underarm: 62cm/24”

Shoulder to shoulder: 48cm/18”

Sleeve : 51cm/20”

Wash by hand.

Carole Waller art to wear:

Each garment and scarf by Carole Waller is unique. I handpaint and screenprint each piece at my studio just outside Bath.  My fabrics are like unprimed ‘canvases’ and the paintings evolve as I work, so no two pieces are the same.

I also make bespoke commissions. Although I cannot colour match,  I can promise you a unique artwork. Visitors are welcome anytime, by appointment.

Waller and Wood is our gallery name from the time we had a retail space in Bath between 2015 and 2020. My studio and small showroom is now at our home 4 miles east of Bath on the A4, with good parking and a warm welcome.

The code for this piece is G25

photo : Egle Vasi