Wanting Shapes
Several years ago, as I was nearing the end of my work on my Structures series – a series all about lines. Lines lines lines….
Structures were an exploration of connection and boundaries using lines as the primary visual element. For example:
Anyway – near the end of that series I had a yearning for shape to play a more prominent role in my compositions. As you can see from the composition in the lower left hand corner (in the above image). The background shapes were starting to be a major design element.
I love the structures series with all of it’s lines. The thin lines were my thing for over a decade and I was still enjoying what was possible.
I continued to explore what I could do with line for a few more years and I wrapped up that series with an even 200 textile paintings a few years later.
During that time, I also began exploring what was possible with shape. As one series ended, another began.
The Portals Series
I started a new series, which I titled Portals. Portals – Openings – Possibilities – because the foundation for the series was an abstraction of an old fashioned keyhole in a door.
I was exploring and celebrating shape! Specifically a 4 sided-shape with an outline and a tail.
Most of the artworks in the series are under 12×12″ (30x30cm) and many featured hand painted and stamped fabrics – also a departure for me.
Now that I had a shape I could explore overlapping to create depth.
I could explore placement of the shape within the picture plane. Cropping edges, moving the shapes to the edges, etc. It was a different design approach than just placing lines.
And as usual – I focused on creating beauty through simplicity.
This new shape also indulged my love on complex construction. Although the composition below is very simple – sewing it together was a challenging puzzle. Figuring out the order in which to cut and sew the seems is not straight forward.
I love that duality of visually simple yet incredibly complex to create.
Back to Portals
This year I have returned to the portals series, looking to explore these ideas in a larger format.
The very first image in this post is a large textile painting that I have been working on through all of September.
It will be the first artwork I will have created since moving to New Zealand (4 1/2 years ago) that will NOT be mounted onto a stretched canvas.
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