Today I spent a full 8 hours in the studio working on a deadline. Actually I finished the project in just about half that time and then decided to press on (no pun intended) to wrap up the rest of small projects looming . I am exhausted. I have become so unaccustomed to doing anything for 8 hrs a day!
I also have started the stitching phase of my latest work. As many are aware I have been applying surface design with dye, paint and wax on fabric for a decade now which allows me lots of wonderful choices when I design new work. Earlier this week when I was designing the current piece there was some sadness as I came closer to the end of what had turned out to be a dynamic fabric in my stash.
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aftermath
©carol larson 2009
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Normally I design a yard or smaller. Yet this piece which I designed 2 years ago was over 3 yards long. At that time I co-wrote an exhibit proposal for the Art Cloth Network. My partner in crime and I chose “quake” and its many manifestations as the theme for this exhibit.
For the first time I planned and labored rather than spontaneously painting seven layers of dye and four of paint. As I sought to create such an illusion of despair and destruction I kept on day after day on two large pieces, neither of which was selected for the exhibit! To this day I believe it was my poor photography that undermined me. As you can see this is a pretty dull shot taken with an old point and shoot camera.
The fabric itself is stunning and intriguing. The second piece, a jacquard woven damask tablecloth is not nearly as beautiful. The cotton sateen has been incorporated into several pieces and is now less than 1/2 yard. And I am sad. It is not like I can order another 5 yards online.
I know some nit-wit is going to tell me I can just re-design another piece of it but that is not how I work. Why go backwards when there is so much more to learn and explore?
No, you can't go back. But you can photograph sections of your best fabrics, up close, and digitally manipulate the images if you want, print on fabric, and have access to "some" of that luscious fabric forever!