New Embroideries on Paper/Wood

I've been spending the last few weeks working on this new series of embroideries on paper.  I like the contrast of the delicate thread and thick watercolor paper, and the way my planned and carefully pre-poked holes lead to chaotic floats of thread.  I also recently picked up some birch veneer on a whim and started some ideas in a new direction.  Again the material contrast is driving my exploration, and the contrast between the organic, naturally formed patterns of the wood and traditional geometric embroidery designs which act as a nature analog.

Emergence IV (Ithsmi),  20" x 16" Thread on Paper

Emergence V, 20" x 16" Thread on Paper

Emergence VI, 20" x 16" Thread on Paper

Sample, 10" x 8" Thread on Birch Veneer

New Studio Explorations

After finishing all the work for my thesis this fall I've found myself a bit at loose ends, which is a good thing, as it's allowed me time to explore several different directions.  I've been doing some more weaving, using similar imagery that I used in the rusted work, but using naturally dyed yarns instead.  Here is a small sample I wove using some wool I dyed at the end of the summer in Pittsburgh. The green comes from goldenrod treated with Iron.

Dappled (Green), Wool, 14" x 24"

Dappled (Green) detail

  I've also been working on more embroidery on paper pieces, completing a couple larger ones. 

Emergence I,  Embroidery on Paper,  20" x 16"

Emergence I detail

Emergence II,  Embroidery on Paper,  20" x 16"

Emergence II detail

Finally, I've been going through some of my early rusted woven samples that are beginning to deteriorate past the point of being able to show or even move easily.  I've decided to do some rust printing with these pieces, essentially taking an impression from the rust surface.  The printed linen on the left below will survive much longer than the original woven piece on the right.  I think this impression will be the first step in a layered  piece, and I plan to experiment with some embroidery and applique on top.

Impression, in progress

Emergence

I've updated my website with images from Transient Structures.  Besides the woven work I also showed some studies for a new body of work I'm just beginning entitled Emergence, which involves embroidery on paper.  Using the long, chaotic floats and the abstracted natural imagery of my weavings as inspiration, these new pieces are more direct and immediate since they aren't restricted to the grid of the loom.  There is a lightness to this work which makes them seem as ephemeral as my weavings, even though they are constructed out of much stabler materials and will far outlast the rusted work.