work in progress

Just a few of the pieces in the studio with me now. No titles yet, but much sewing/dyeing/embroidery.

each one is part of a series..

december views

Heading to the fair

"memory verse" will be included in the Mid Atlantic Quilt show in Feb.  It's included in the SAQA regional show 'Bending the Rules" More info coming! It's about 26x28" all overdyed and re-dyed fabric, mixed media. And a little poem from Emily Dickinson.Too..

Dress series continues

New art dress entitled "Sackcloth and ashes'' Hand dyed fiber, discharged fabrics, hand and machine sewn, embellished.

About 65" long. 

November color

Because really, in the end nature is the best colorist.

Even the grays are better

A feeble attempt to duplicate.

Have you seen what Jude is working on?

waterdress

waterdress, a photo by Lorie McCown on Flickr.


One of 4 art dresses I've made based on the 4 elements of earth, fire, air and

water.  Made of hand dyed fabrics and fibers, each one took me over 2 weeks

to make. Hand and machine sewn, embroidered and appliqued. This dress is a

bit 'fish' shaped, with positive and negative kelp and fish shapes all over. 

It's over 70" long and wearable. I have made hangers for all of them as well.

Here's a detail shot of the dress..

Maybe a 'wave' dress next..

encroachment

a bit about this piece...

Slowly but surely, the suburbs are coming together, like tectonic plates, moving toward the center. Houses are built; shopping centers are placed on top of hallowed battlefields, erasing all that once was. Abstracting two aerial views of my area, I've synthesized a coming together of the worlds. By enclosing the wild areas of our world, we are corralling the wild into the tame. I am again, striving for a meaningful piece of art, which encompasses my current concerns, as well as striving for an interesting and beautiful piece of art to view.

New work at Studio A

It's always a sense of relief and unbelief to hang a show.  All those hours of work, all that over thinking. Then it's hung, and pray to God it all looks good. My new solo show opens up tomorrow, Sept 2, at Studio A, in Fredericksburg Va.

It's been a summer of extremes, but at least I've made my studio time a priority. Fall is always a busy time with shows, art festivals and such. It pays off to be consistent in the studio.

"Lily"  acrylic on wood  14x14"

Besides pricing, I think keeping the mojo going when all your work seems to be in the 'ugly' stages is the most difficult. Staring at a painting or fiber piece looking for it to start to 'sparkle' is agonizing sometimes.  I feel most insecure about my paintings (today, ask me tomorrow). Maybe because it is what I was trained in, or maybe because painting has been so over analyzed, but it takes me as long to make a good painting as it does anything else.

'Moonrise'   fiber   37x23"

If you are interested in any of the pieces, let me know, I've priced them very reasonably, and have a good supply on my hands. I'm also going to be participating in the Baltimore Inner Harbor Art Festival this month, check the side bar for more information.

up close and personal..

Hand dyed and commercial fabrics. Hand and machine stitched, appliqued, quilted and embroidered. Going 3-d for these latest pieces.

June Library Show

Next up is my show at the Headquarters Library in Fredericksburg. .. Lots of new work going up! Here's a sample..

Acrylic on canvas 36x24"

Mixed media on board 18x18" Paint, fiber, thread, fabric.

..and of course some poetry!

When I kiss your face to make you smile, my darling,

I surely understand what pleasure streams from the sky in morning light,

and what delight that is that is which the summer breeze brings to my body

---when I kiss you to make you smile.

Rabindranath Tagore

a bit of textile history for a friday.

I had the great pleasure of seeing this in person, back in the 1990's. It's enormous. It's about 230 feet (yes) long. It's in amazing condition, considering it's 970 years old, and a textile. The Bayeux Tapestry is really not a tapestry, but a long, narrative embroidery. It documents the battle of Hastings in 1066, and was commissioned and made shortly after that. If you'd like to read more, there is a nice link here.

by the sea

I've taken some better pictures of some recent works..this is hand and machine stitched, appliqued,, beaded and couched.. a detail shot

eye candy

This basket of indigo cloth, I've had for many years, I just can't bring myself to cut it up, but maybe soon it will happen. Until then, I'm happy to just finger it and look at it.

While sitting outside, this little gem fluttered down and landed nearby. A bit gruesome, but such a pretty thing, isn't it?

needle work

While looking through some historical portrait, I see this one of Henry VIII, I like his sleeve treatment, can you imagine sewing all that? I also saw this one of a 16th c. woman.. again the sleeves..

I thought I'd go for some 'holy' work.. will probably be backed with something..haven't decided that yet..

lot's wife

A textile piece in the works..