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Catalogue number: 19
Artist: Sarah Arnett
Title: Small Treasures
Medium: Cyanotype silk napkins
Dimensions: 40 x 30 cm
Imagine the discovery of the cyanotype process? These works celebrate the curiosity, experimentation and joy of making that lie at the heart of Standen's Arts and Crafts ethos. I wanted to explore the excitement of encountering this photographic process for the very first time—collecting objects from around the house and garden to see what traces they might leave in sunlight.
Vintage linen and silk napkins became the canvas for these experiments, transforming familiar domestic textiles into one-off artworks. Fern leaves gathered from the garden sit alongside sewing-box treasures including buttons, beads, threads, pins and small tools, each object chosen for its shape, texture and personal history. Arranged by hand and exposed to sunlight using the cyanotype process, they create delicate photographic contact prints that record every detail.
The finished pieces celebrate thrift, creativity and resourcefulness, elevating everyday objects that might otherwise be overlooked. Rooted in the gardens and domestic life of Standen, they reflect the Arts and Crafts belief that beauty can be found in both nature and the handmade, and that making is as much about play, curiosity and discovery as it is about the finished object.
The exhibition runs until 30 September. Once a purchase has been completed, buyers may choose either to collect their artwork free of charge from Standen House on 2 October, or to have the work professionally packed, insured and couriered by Sussex Contemporary. Delivery charges vary according to the size, weight and value of each artwork and are detailed on the individual product page before purchase.
Catalogue number: 19
Artist: Sarah Arnett
Title: Small Treasures
Medium: Cyanotype silk napkins
Dimensions: 40 x 30 cm
Imagine the discovery of the cyanotype process? These works celebrate the curiosity, experimentation and joy of making that lie at the heart of Standen's Arts and Crafts ethos. I wanted to explore the excitement of encountering this photographic process for the very first time—collecting objects from around the house and garden to see what traces they might leave in sunlight.
Vintage linen and silk napkins became the canvas for these experiments, transforming familiar domestic textiles into one-off artworks. Fern leaves gathered from the garden sit alongside sewing-box treasures including buttons, beads, threads, pins and small tools, each object chosen for its shape, texture and personal history. Arranged by hand and exposed to sunlight using the cyanotype process, they create delicate photographic contact prints that record every detail.
The finished pieces celebrate thrift, creativity and resourcefulness, elevating everyday objects that might otherwise be overlooked. Rooted in the gardens and domestic life of Standen, they reflect the Arts and Crafts belief that beauty can be found in both nature and the handmade, and that making is as much about play, curiosity and discovery as it is about the finished object.
The exhibition runs until 30 September. Once a purchase has been completed, buyers may choose either to collect their artwork free of charge from Standen House on 2 October, or to have the work professionally packed, insured and couriered by Sussex Contemporary. Delivery charges vary according to the size, weight and value of each artwork and are detailed on the individual product page before purchase.