Done

I completed my embroidered piece on Friday. I estimate I worked on it about 28 days and just over 200 hours. This is the longest I've ever worked on one piece and also the first time I've worked on only one piece instead of several things at once. (I did make those wool necklaces in tandem, but I consider those a fun exercise.) I'm happy with the final composition but as per usual I feel detached from the work. This happened after I completed both solo show bodies of work, too. It's a strange feeling and difficult to describe. I wonder if it comes from simply becoming so close to one's work after being with it day in and day out and the deep focus that occurs during the process. I may never figure it out, but now that I am feeling it for the third time, I'm at least beginning to accept it as a natural part of my process. Anyway, as I said, I am happy with the piece and I am also excited that I accomplished my goal for the first month here at Nes. I'm now working on a title and accompanying statement and will post those for you when they are ready.

Take a look at the near daily progression on Flickr here.

Thanks for reading.

Progress Report No. 4

Week Four has come to a close...Today I will begin layering knots and detailing the edges and will complete the piece on Friday when it feels done. I'm really happy with what's happening, very excited, actually...I will show the finished piece on Monday! Let's review the last few weeks...

 end of Day One

 end of Week One

 end of Week Two

 end of Week Three

Progress images on Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

So What's It About?

These new embroidered works will explore opposites and duality, landscape and travel, both literally and figuratively. I will create islands or continents, imaginary places born of things that I experienced in reality. As I intuitively build abstract compositions with needle and thread, I will contemplate ideas of internal and external landscapes as well as maps, all based on actual travel and also emotional or metaphysical travel.

satellite images of places I have been

Greece, France, Belgium, Britain, Italy, Iceland

I am working with white to reference the snow of Iceland, honesty, and the beginning of something new. I am using an embroidered knot for its inherent texture, pattern, and layering possibilities, to reference lichen and other similar Icelandic plant life, and to symbolize the act of not forgetting. I am using only one type of stitch, the Colonial knot, as a way to focus and add to the meditative or contemplative process.

This is what I am able articulate at this early stage in the process. As I work each day, the meaning will become more clear to me and I will be sure to share it with you.

To chart the first week's progress, please visit Flickr. I have posted images from each day of week one and next week I will add more.

Thanks for reading.

New Sources

One more thing before I share the new piece I'm working on and explain my Nes residency project--I want to share more about my new sources. I admire natural forms, of course. I have a collection several years in the making of seed pods, branches, and other similar objects back in the U.S. I usually say I'm inspired by the formal qualities of these pieces--I see shape, line, pattern, and so on. But, it was not until now that I am truly looking to the natural world for inspiration. I am not surprised...from images I have seen of Iceland before I got here, I knew. When I read there are over 700 kinds of lichen, I knew. Now that I am here, how can I not be influenced? I went for a long walk the other day along the cliffs and began collecting images with my digital camera. Between these forms, the landscape, and the weather, I have much to look to.

Tomorrow I will show you the piece I am working on!

See more pics on Facebook and Flickr.

Thanks for reading.

Iceland from a Bus Window

standing on a cliff near the studio

I started my residency yesterday...here are a few pics of the setting as taken from the bus as I rode from Reykjavik north to Skagaströnd. Just as I suspected, I believe the landscape and the weather will be my major guides as I make my work. More tomorrow.

 church

 volcanic rock covered in ash and snow

 mountain, perhaps a volcano?

 clouds and sun

Thanks for reading.