In this episode of NeedleXChange I interview Robert John Hodge.
Robert John Hodge makes cross-stitch work based on Renaissance sculptures, using a CMYK / screenprint-style layering approach and recurring Wingdings symbols.
We talk about being a finalist in the Hand & Lock Embroidery Prize, how the work is technically constructed (layer splitting, tonal shifts, letting the fabric show through to speed stitching), and the bigger ideas underneath it: art vs craft, nostalgia, digital “glitch” language, and how slow, tactile making can transform images that started life as fast and disposable.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:10 – Hand & Lock finalist story + mentor + family cheer squad
00:03:56 – Renaissance sculpture → CMYK layers → Wingdings glitch
00:06:30 – Time-saving stitching: let the fabric do some work
00:09:27 – Hobby → medium (London limits shaping the practice)
00:11:58 – Art vs craft: embroidery as the point, not the punchline
00:14:36 – 90s Windows nostalgia: Wingdings, WordArt energy
00:17:19 – Making patterns: first self-draft + tools/workflow
00:20:01 – Scale, time, and the realities of big stitch work
00:26:30 – Inputs and influences feeding the work
00:30:28 – Process evolution: designing for a “digital” feel
00:36:40 – New “collage” series: smaller, quicker stitched mashups
00:39:16 – Narrative + meaning: stitching disparate references together
Links:
Website: robertjohnhodge.com (https://robertjohnhodge.com?utm_source=needlexchange)
Instagram: robertjohnhodge (https://www.instagram.com/robertjohnhodge/)
Intro music is Cotton Candy by Cospe via Epidemic Sound (https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/3403dx) .
About NeedleXChange:
NeedleXChange is a conversation podcast with embroidery and textile artists, exploring their process and practice.
Hosted by Jamie "Mr X Stitch" Chalmers, it is an in-depth showcase of the best needlework artists on the planet.
Visit the NeedleXChange website: needl.exchange (https://www.needl.exchange/Sign)
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