Endless Mystery IV

Quilting the layers together is complete.  The trunks now have their curve and the background has texture.  The ferns and shrubs have some dimension. Paint has been applied to the trunks, the foreground, and the ferns. At the moment I can't get far enough away to get a straight on photo, but here it is sitting on a table.  The next part will be to construct some branches.

This photo shows some of the quilting in the background sky.

Endless Mystery - Part III

A couple of days have been spent stitching down the ferns, shrubs, and padding the tree trunks.  Here is how I construct the ferns first onto a piece of parchment paper.  The leaves are all prepared ahead of time and ready to apply.  I was quite struck by the abstract energy of the rows of leaves and am planning to do this deliberately one day.  Love how those colours look together.

This is the whole piece with the ferns stitched down.  Still more stitching to do on the shrubs.

And here is a close-up.  The trees have more dimension now with 2 more layers of batting.

Endless Mystery - Part II

The title for this piece was inspired by Emily Carr.  She loved forests and trees more than just about anything and at one point in 'Klee Wyck' she says "For all their crowding, there was room between every tree, every leaf, for limitless mystery."

I have spent a couple of days stitching in the tree trunks.  Here is the piece from the back showing the white stabilizer that keeps the piece from getting distorted during construction.

The shaping of the tree trunks begins at the back where the seams are graded and stitched down so that the trees will have the correct rounded shape in the final product.

Here you can see the main structure of the piece taking shape.  The main trunks are all in place as is all the foreground.  There is room to walk right into this forest and become immersed.  

There is still lots to go!  Next will be ferns and shrubs, followed by tree branches.  Before the quilting the tree trunks will get some extra padding to make them stand out.   Here is a close up.

'Endless Mystery' in progress

Endless Mystery - Part I

"Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky."  This is a quote by Kahlil Glbran from "Sand and Foam."  It explains maybe why I am so passionate about trees. 

I'm documenting progress on my latest forest scene; this one will finish about 36" x 60" landscape.


Here is a sketch of the tree trunks with the foreground taking shape.

Here is the background fabric together with the foreground.   The fabric was dyed back in August using various techniques involving sun, salt, and silk dyes as well as procion dyes.  The effect is that of trees in the distance.

And here I am starting to put the background trees onto the fabric.  These trees are burned out of polyester sheer fabrics using a woodburning tool.  That seals the edges and then the trees are carefully free-motion stitched in place using the paper pattern as a map.

Here I am trialing the tree trunks onto the background fabric and moving them around to create different effects.  They didn't stay this way!

Forest Filter Series IV & V

Emily Carr - "For all their crowding, there was room between every tree, every leaf, for limitless mystery."

I like the way sunlight filters through a giant Douglas Fir forest, reflecting colours until the air is saturated. Focus on the miniature world growing on tree bark and branches.

Breathe.

Peace on earth, tiny planet. 

Here are two forest pieces recently completed for a Fibreart Network Exhibition 'Botanical Reflections' that opens in Van Dusen Gardens January 27 - March 15, 2017.  The pieces will also be shown at the CQA Quilt Canada event in Kingston, Ontario, June 14 -17, 2017. 

The rich sculpted surface of these pieces is a result of hand-dyeing, fabric manipulation, thread sculpture, painting, and quilting. Materials include cotton & tapestry fabrics, cotton & polyester threads, yarns, and polyester sheers.  They have been mounted on 3/4" canvas frames and are suitable for shadow box framing with or without glass

. 

Size 12" x 24".

Completed December, 2016

October's Fragile Beauty

My fellow Cyber Fibre friend reminded me that I have a piece in a Fibre Art Network Show in La Conner, Washington, US.  October 5 - December 30, 2016

Ekphrastic  usually refers to a literary response to a work of art.  In this case the artists are responding to the poetry.  See the FAN link below to find out more.

The poem OCTOBER by Jennifer Still was lovely.  Unfortunately I can't post it here due to copyright.

My interpretation of her poem is based upon a window frame view of time's passage and feminine beauty's mortality.  The viewer dreams on as sun sets on rose's dying youth and beauty.  The read thread haunts, vibrates, and energizes.  Insect carry on, completing their life's work.  Cycles of nature, seasons of the soul.

Techniques:  The rich sculpted surface of this wholecloth piece was stitched in a vibrant red thread followed by acrylic paint.  

Here is the link to La Conner, Washington Quilt and Textile Museum if you want to have a look.  

http://www.laconnerquilts.org/ekphrastic-fibre-art-network.html

And here is the link to Fibre Art Network:

http://fibreartnetwork.com/exhibitionsnew/Ekphrastic/44

Here is a detail:

Forest Filter III

I'm showing progress on my newest forest scene. I'm trying to work out design and construction for a much larger piece.  I'm definitely going to move the large tree from the centre of the piece.  Talk about blocking the view!  Still to attach are the branches and moss which will give it more 3D effect.  I'll do a bit more work on the tree trunks too, I think.