More Done

Here's a little (6x6) something from December, just back from the 50 under 50 show at the Loading Dock Gallery.Yesterday I mounted this piece. Once it was framed all kinds of editing happened, a whole new layer.Then I took it to the big studio today, and more happened. I lthink it is a slight detour for me, but I like it. It looks like music sounds:This small study is finally mounted. The intersection of painting and fabric, stitch and line, fascinates me.
Today I edged this piece. Done.

The point

This started years ago, as a print on white. I painted into it with watercolors. Then the back became more interesting than the front. Periodically I would stitch into it, then put it back on the "What IS this?" pile. A piece of painted fabric became its ground. I stitched some more. I painted with acrylics.


John McPhee, when asked once whether he didn't sometimes wish to change a published work, replied, "The point isn't to get it perfect. The point is to get it finished." This piece, at last, is done.

small steps

I got to the Big Studio in Lowell for 4 straight hours today. My goal was to get one, possibly two pieces Nearer to Done. To warm up, I dyed some cloth, with backings in mind, tho' I wound up using grey I bought last summer (thinking I'd make myself clothes. O well!)I did get both pieces stitched and backed, plus I worked back into both with color: india ink, instaset dye, and tulle. But my camera truncated those files, so here's what Deer Moon looked like after painting but before stitching:
Here are a few other pieces I've gone back into. I am increasingly interested in how fabric behaves in conjunction with acrylics. These three pieces from last summer, for example. Originally they were sweet, but predictable. Here they are now.Ideas are brewing. Now I'm off to hear Nancy Crasco talk about her work. Should be inspiring.