Layering

Liz Eakins

May 2016

The majority of Liz Eakins’ works are intricate treatments of layers of Japanese handmade paper that have been burned, stitched, squeezed, and tied into shape. Rich textures, patterns, and occasionally strong colours demonstrate Eakins’ expert working of the material. Voids in the lace-like paper are filled with shadows and contrasting positive space, while precise stitching dots the delicate surface. Eakins’ mark making is deceptively imprecise. Measuring and careful placement of the human hand is evident, but burning paper is not something that can be entirely controlled; each stitch is not identical to the other; crumpled paper cannot be tamed to exact dimensions. The result is the beautiful expression of randomness in patterning and the presence of a human hand.

A resident of Creemore, Liz Eakins graduated from the Ontario College of Art in 1986. Her work has been exhibited throughout Ontario and can be found in many private collections.