Studio Insights
Using Color to Reinforce Concepts in Artwork
I have just completed Are we free now? the third work in the sequence of sculptures I’m calling Eternal Vigilance. It is the most brightly colored of the works so far. I’ve been looking for colors that reinforce the concepts underlying the work.
The Circuitous Path from Family Letter to Artwork
People often ask me how I come up with the ideas for my artwork. The path is never a straight line. My piece We didn’t recognize the danger is a good example. It has its origins in a letter I uncovered in some family papers.
Combining Metal Work with Fiber Art in Unexpected Ways
To me, being a feminist teenager in the 1970’s meant not conforming to gender stereotypes. While I loved knitting and other textile-based crafts (and still do), I rebelled against the assumption that girls would take home economics (sewing, cooking) and boys would take woodshop and mechanics classes in school. So, in my senior year of high school, I elected to take small engine tech.
Repurposing Textiles in Artwork to Add Meaning and Reduce Waste
I try to be deliberate about the materials I use into my artwork. When selecting yarn or fabric for my mixed media sculptures, the first things I consider are the color and pattern. I take into account the texture and weight, and how the material feels in my hand as I work with it. There are other factors at play too. Some materials carry history or symbolism.
Silk Fusion in Mixed Media Sculpture
I am rediscovering the joy of working with silk. In this case, silk paper. I made some silk paper for the heads of two sculptures of laughing gulls.