Of Dog's Ears and Seascapes

In looking back at my now-and-then postings over the last year or so, I noticed that I was under the misapprehension that I had written about the pieces I had completed. I live with them for so long as unfinished processes that I feel I must have told their story. So today I am taking a step back in time to remedy the situation.

In 2016 I finished this piece in the series I have been working on using raw-edged applique, hand sewn to a background.

It began with a piece of snow-dyed fabric that hung on my design wall for a while until I saw a direction to take. Perhaps all my weekly walks on the beach help me see water everywhere and led me to add some water to it, and playing with various orientations brought me to the What If moment of trying to change the traditional landscape orientation from horizontal to vertical. I had also been reminded that being able to change perspectives is a great gift that was only reinforced by trying to see the world through the eyes of a then six-year-old grandchild. And changing perspectives can also help you see the essence of things, and sometimes the truth of things. 

So I dyed and printed the fabrics and began happily stitching those undulations in the middle. When I got to the lighter blue on the right (perhaps the sky) and the light brown on the left I felt the need for more texture and so the stitching became a bit more complicated.

Both of these fabrics were printed with oatmeal resist and I wanted some subtle texture--and it is indeed subtle. I wondered whether it was worth the effort but I have finally decided that it adds just a touch of shadow texture that is enough.

I also fused some brown shadowy pieces to the main curved piece to give it a bit more definition and finally added beading for a touch of that water/sand sparkle. The piece (28 x 20") is called "Seascape."

As I write this, I am also thinking of those of my artist friends who believe you should never explain anything about your work, even or especially the process, that the viewer should be allowed to approach it fresh with no preconceived notions or limitations. And this is indeed what happens when a piece like this hangs in a gallery (and it did make it into the Regional Juried Exhibit at the Newburyport Art Association in Newburyport, MA!). But I often find it enlightening to hear a bit of the story behind a work. And, as I read over my comments here, I realize that even more is happening in this piece for me that I have not discussed, so there is still plenty of room for each viewer to connect with it in his/her own way.

Oh, and the title of this post: I had been meaning to write this all week but there was no time and this morning when I finally had a morning at home I was procrastinating with a variety of tasks that got more frivolous until I found myself brushing the dog's ears and realized I was looking for ANY excuse to not sit down at the computer. 

And if you are still reading--and not off brushing your dog's ears, thanks for the company!

I am linking this to Nina's Off the Wall Fridays.