I’ve been working on twig-filled images in the studio this week.
That’s interesting to me.
Sticks, twigs, branches: I like them all.
In my home in the living room, I have a beautiful ceramic vessel built by my daughter when she was in grad school.
I love this vessel. And I love the way its massive, organic form contrasts with the simple twigs we found to insert into it.
Twigs are like that. They are interesting in themselves, and also play nicely with other forms.
TWIGS ARE INTRICATE
Captured in a photograph, their overlapping shapes just draw me in. I want to look into and beyond the patterns.
TWIGS CAPTURE COLOR BEAUTIFULLY
Here is the section of the piece I am working on that I transferred to fabric then enhanced with acrylic washes.
I like the purple shadows in the background. I like the warm tones of the wood pieces.
TWIGS INSPIRE ABSTRACTIONS
Because I like to mix and match photographs with other surface design methods, I’m inspired when the images I’ve captured can translate to abstract pattern.
I respond to this fabric section. It speaks well in the work with the actual twigs and branches. But I haven’t tried to recreate the shape of twigs and branches realistically. Their overlapping patterns provided a starting point.
TWIGS CREATE STITCHING PATHWAYS
Here’s a little detail where my quilting stitches have been inspired by the shapes in the photograph.
Doing this stitching work by machine becomes a way for me to experience the complexity. As I am going back and forth along the lines of the twigs and branches, I am amazed at the complexity of the shapes. I would never think these up on my own. I then enjoy combining the twig-inspired stitches with simpler, linear patterns in nearby fabric sections.
As I was writing this post I looked back over some artwork on my website. It looks like I’ve been interested in twigs and branches in various forms for a while now. Here is a piece I created several years ago as a paper collage.
EARTH STUDIES VII, VIII AND IX
Because this composition is built from monotype printed shapes on rice paper, the images have been simplified. But I can see that I was still interested in the vitality of stick images.
(SECOND PANEL OF THE TRIPTYCH)
More recently, I have explored branches, twigs as part of whole tree forms. Here’s a detail of “Discerning What is Real,” an art quilt inspired by trees and water near my home.
One last great characteristic of twigs and branches: you never run out of models. After virtually every rain storm our old oak tree provides me with interesting new material. Right in the driveway. Then I run for my camera!
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To learn more:
The first blog post I wrote about the work I am describing tonight was July 24. It describes the concept of the project. HERE
Earth Studies VII, VIII and IX is on my website HERE
“Discerning What is Real” is on my website HERE
For all the artmakers: Happy creating
For all the art lovers: Happy appreciating
Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
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