Crickyn

It’s been a long time since I posted anything stitched and the reverse applique I did post several months ago was not new work. This mixed media piece is brand new, sewn yesterday. The illustration is from an old children’s book on butterflies and moths and the process they go through in all the stages of their lives. It also had a handy list of what each caterpillar eats. This illustration happens to be of a Gulf Frittilary and it’s food, the passion flower. It was inspired by the view from my sewing machine of dozens of Gulf Frittilaries flying around my birdbath and the passion flower they lay their eggs on. One of the most prolific of our butterfly population, with yellow sulphurs, monarchs and black swallowtails as the summer progresses. The piece’s foundation is a vintage linen napkin and other materials are lace, an oil stick rubbing of a leaf, wool yarn and an old sermon with beautiful handwriting. Fun to make just using up whatever is in arm’s reach.

A new work on a foundation of patchwork collage composed of old letters and writing. I adhered the pieces of writing, then painted with acrylic paint, glazed with a metallic bronze and started the entire process again as I wasn’t satisfied with the first layer. The bottom corners are glazed with metallic pewter. The silhouettes are magazine cut outs painted black and adhered with matte medium. I wrote “the dance” over and over with white Signo pen down the left hand side to finish it. Probably graffiti inspired. This is a 12×12 stretched canvas.

Lots more goodies added to the Pisces-Rising website recently so if’n you haven’t visited for a spell, please come by and check it out!

A fanciful portrait of the model from the last ARTpool party who dressed up in a Dali-esque mustache, bustier and circus like tutu. She had a lot of experience being in role and put on a fine show throughout the event. I already used the photo Bob took of her on the runway to make a cigar box purse with (see previous blog post) but when faced with a self-inflicted portrait challenge  her haughty expression came to mind. Really like this girl; in fact, she has spawned a series of mustachio-d lady portraits that you will be seeing in the coming days. For fun, Google Images “women with mustaches” to see all kinds of cool photos of women with fake hair mustaches, penciled in mustaches and real mustaches. Don’t forget, Frida Kahlo went through periods of her life where she dressed like a man and put on mustaches, even had family portraits taken. Perhaps for the ARTpool masquerade ball in March…

I like this shop window photo from the marvelous ARTpool Gallery in St. Pete and I also like this nifty mustache necklace and the colors in the photo. The mannaquin hand is quite lovely as well. Have a great day.