February Harvesting
On a recent road trip to Quilted Threads in Henniker, NH, friend Phyllis, a pictorial quilter, captivated my attention by sharing how she ‘paints’ with textiles by harvesting small pieces from lengths of fabric she selects to create the images that emerge in her quilts.
In a process similar to Phyllis’s, I harvest mindfully-selected bits from the bounty emanating from seeds I’ve sown in previous paintings. My current series of CutUps contains multiple snippets from past paintings, some created as long ago as seven years.
I love the harvesting process, both as observer and harvester!
The upper right leaf in the CutUp below comes from a painting made over the course of several days in March 2017. That leaf is all of 1.5″ in length and .5″ at its widest, but it has so much story behind it.
It carries with it wind!
Digging to find my brave spot!
And it’s only one of fourteen harvested snippets on this tiny bit of real estate!
2.5 x 4″; acrylic, ink, oil pastel, watercolor pencil, and collage on card stock
CutUp
2024
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9 responses to “February Harvesting”
This is fabulous Dotty! Love all the harvested pieces and parts and the stories that go with them. Looking back at your previous pieces was a fun field trip.
I think this CutUp is so whimsical and fun. It reminds me of several pieces I’ve done in the past I called “flowers from my imagination.” I’m going to send you some visuals…..as I’m feeling very connected to what you’ve done here.
And, by the way, Phyllis’ quilts are fabulous!
The harvesting is so much fun! I’ve long been pulled in my art and in other walks of life to recognize and celebrate the countless backstory threads that weave into any present moment.
Thanks for looking back at previous pieces; I had fun myself reading blog posts of yore while I searched for the provenance of some of the art from which I harvested bits to create the CutUp here.
Love the visuals you sent—thank you! You’ve got me fired up to create more flowers from imagination.
I agree, Phyllis’s quilts are fabulous!
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Lola: YUP! Harvesting the past, knitting it together with the present, flying it all into the future (and leaving a wake of optimistic mixed metaphors sprinkling magic dust over the universe!)
xo
I am envious of the freedom you exhibit when you create these techniques. The notion of taking from one work and joining it to another is fascinating. It reminds me of the (I believe) Japanese craft of mending holes in old clothes with parts of garments no longer being used, to create a new piece, totally wearable and saved. Quilters cut up old quilts and recombine too. I’m not that brave.
Phyllis, thanks for your thoughtful comment. The practice of taking from one work and joining it to another clearly fascinates me as well! I’m intrigued by your mention of the Japanese craft of mending old clothing with parts of garments not longer being used. While the concept isn’t new to me, I’m curious to find out more about the particulars of that practice in Japanese culture. For me, there is so much more going on than the surface physical action.
Thanks, Sheila! YES! CHEERFUL! This piece is such a tonic for me : )
I agree, Phyllis’s quilts are stunning. I am agog each time I see them.
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