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Butterflies
& Bugs
After a few years of fish, I expanded my repertoire
to include bugs. Butterflies and beetles can rival | even fish
in colors and patterns. Scarabs are an ancient symbol of a beetle.
It has been found on Egyptian antiquities, representing eternal
life.
Beetle
Arabesque
14"
x 20", 2005. Arabesque
is ornate and often intertwining decoration. Some beetles have
decoration enough without my help, so when I add to them this
is what happens. Click on image for a larger picture.
Cicada
Summer
28.5" x 12.5", 2004. Cicadas
(sometimes many, sometimes few) were, nevertheless, a yearly occurance
when I was growing up. Usually heard and not seen, they are quite
beautiful insects when they just slow down.
Dancing
in Circles
12"
x 16", 2005. Peacock
greens and metallic sheers give this beetle the look of a 1920's
flapper. Can't you see her doing the Charleston? Click on image
for a larger picture.
Exuberance
60" x 45", 2003. FOR
SALE. Color to me is emotion. Butterflies, while fragile,
seem to be an expression of joy in their vibrant colors and ecstatic
movement.
Emerald
Swallowtail
13 1/2" x 10 1/4", 1996. Collection of William and
Meta Carlson.
Gargantua
12"
x 16", 2005. Immensley
strong for their size, beetles are the Charles Atlases of their
domain. This guy just looks like he ought to be holding up a bathing
beauty while he kicks sand in some poor guy's face.
Click on image for a larger picture.
Golden
Swallowtail
11 1/4" x 20 1/4", 1996. Collection of Blair LaBella
Brown.
In
the Spotlight
16"
x 20", 2005. This
guy just loves attention. Here e takes the spotlight on a background
of gold fabric. Click on image for a larger picture.
Scarab
1
4 1/4" x 6
1/4", 1996. Collection of Blair LaBella Brown.
Scarab
2
Collection
of Bill and Meta Carlson.
Large Scarab
Beetles Series
I wanted to work on a bigger scale. So I cleared my work
table and sketched out as big a scarab as my table would allow.
The piecing in these quilts is done from scraps of fabric taken
from old projects. There is almost no cutting involved. I simply
reached into my bag of scraps and pulled out pieces and glued
them down according to value and general shape. According to a
north African myth, Earth was created by a giant beetle who rolled
together a ball of scraps from the makings of the universe.
Fire
Beetle (33" x 49") detail
1 | detail
2 FOR SALE
Life
in the Leaves (33" x 49")
detail
1 | detail
2 FOR SALE
Rolling
Up the World (33" x 49")
detail
1 | detail
2
Walkabout
22" x 25", 2004.
An Australian theme--and fabric--runs through this piece. I was
especially drawn to rich, earthy colors for the depiction of this
stick insect.
Coral
Reef Scenes
(Butterflies&
Bugs | Coral Reef Scenes | Fish
| Flowers | Other
| Portraits)
Coral
Reef I
57"
x 38 1/2", 1995. Collection of Mildred John. Once I started
making fabric collages of single fish, I soon wanted to expand
my horizons into full reef environments. This is the first in
what I imagine will be a long and ongoing line of underwater scenes.
Detail
1 | Detail
2
Coral
Reef II
33" x
46", 1995. Collection of the artist. This scene was put together
soon after the completion of Coral Reef I. I had done so much
research and had so many images "left over," that this
piece fell right into place. Detail
Ellis
Reef
18"
x 144", 1997. Collection of Hank and Binny Ellis. A commissioned
piece, made to fit a specific space between glass doors and windows
on a two-story wall. Though pictured one on top of the other for
space considerations, this reef is meant to be seen stretched
out side-by-side, to create a 12 foot triptych. When hanging in
place, it gives the impression of a giant aquarium.
Up
from the Depths
29"
x 75 1/2", 1999. Collection of the artist. To me, Up from the
Depths is my most successful attempt at recreating the feel of
a coral reef. The vertical composition and the change from dark
to light both work nicely, I think, to give an impression of depth
and distance. Detail
1 | Detail
2 | Detail
3
Fish
(Butterflies&
Bugs | Coral Reef Scenes | Fish
| Flowers | Other
| Portraits)
A-luring
Fan-Fin
16
1/4" x 12", 16" x 20" framed, 1999. Collection of the artist.
Age
of Aqua-Wrasse
14
1/4" x 10", 1995. Collection of Blair LaBella Brown. The "boomerang"
fabric in the face of this fish inspired me to add the additional
accents of red throughout the fish, picking it up in the background
as well.
The
Amazing Flying Blennies
50"
x 36", 1998. Collection of Carla Rice. A cross between a school
of fish and a circus act. I wanted to do a big, bright, and fun
piece. I didn't plan on yellow for the background, but, as it
happened, it was the best choice. I see this as a family of blennies
jumping and leaping in the cross- lights of center-ring.
Brook
Trout
20-3/4"
x 8-3/4", 1996. Collection of Blair LaBella Brown.
Checkerback
Trout
20
x 51," 2003, Fabric and thread,
For a bigger view click
here. For an even
bigger view click here.
Crescent
Moon Fish
20
1/4" x 14 /12", 1998. Collection of Carla Rollins.
Evening
Fan-Fin
15
1/4" x 11", 1995. Collection of Elizabeth Gilbert and Ned Loughlin.
Freckled
Puffer
70"
x 48". Collection of ...
Gup
Commission
24" x 33" each, 2002.
his commission was created for the clients den, which was decorated
in retro sporting-camp style. This piece includes actual fishing
lures, beading, and discs of mica sewn onto the surface. Copyright
2001 by Marc Gup. detail
1 detail
2
Lime-light
Lion-Fish
16"
x 12", 1995. Collection of Cilla Stiles.
Midsummer's
Night Stream Fish
16"
x 11 3/4", 1996. Collection of Paul Rollins.
Ocean-Tide
Grouper
16
1/4" x 12", 1998. Collection of Samuel Allen.
Piscean
Featherfin
15
1/2" x 9 1/2", 1995. Collection of Heidi and Maia Carlson.
Redband
Rainbow
20-3/4"
x 8 3/4", 1995. Collection of Meta Carlson.
Seasoned
Scorpionfish
21
1/4" x 15 1/4", 1995. Collection of Barbara and Donald Green.
Yellow
Streaked Pince-nez
15
3/4" x 11 1/2", 1998. Collection of Thomas Allen.
Flowers
(Butterflies&
Bugs | Coral Reef Scenes | Fish
| Flowers | Other
| Portraits)
When
we lived in Portsmouth, NH, one of my favorite summer evening
activities was to wander down to Prescott Park's beautiful gardens.
Somehow, the colors of the flowers seemed most intense at twilight,
though it was a mid-day walk when I remembered my camera. These
pieces are based on photos taken that day.
Cosmo
folia
11-1/2"
x 15-1/4", 1994. Collection of Heidi Carlson. Detail
Echinacea
and Black-eyed Susans
12"
x 16", 1994. Collection of Sylvia Dyer. Detail
Other
(Butterflies&
Bugs | Coral Reef Scenes | Fish
| Flowers | Other
| Portraits)
Elements
45"
x 45", 1993. Collection of Brenda Hambleton. My quilt guild
had a challenge one year to make a quilt inspired by the elements:
earth, air, fire, and water. Since I was doing portraits in fabric,
I decided to personify those elements. I used my face as a model
for fire. The other faces based on important women in my life:
my mother, my sister, and a best friend. Detail
1 | Detail
2 | Detail
3 | Detail
4
Gobi
Gecko
13
1/2" x 17 3/4", 1997. Collection of Rosemarie Grimes.
Another offshoot of fish; lizards, salamanders, and in this case,
a gecko. More of the great shapes and colors found in nature.
Gryphon
24
X 31 inches, framed. The mythological creature, part lion, part
eagle, part serpent.
Pumpkin
Moon
30
x 50 inches, mounted on stretcher bars. A birthday present for
the clients wife, who was born on October 31--Halloween. He affectionately
calls her the "Pumpkin Queen," thus this rendition of
the moon gazing tenderly upon her patch. After the design had
been completed, the husband informed me that his wife was pregnant.
Collection of Brian and Sumiko Courtney. (an
even bigger picture)
South
End
Pieced
by Susan Carlson, Joan Considine, Wen Redmond, Susan Savory, Lisa
Grey, and Susan Rose, quilted by Susan Carlson. 60" x 72", 1992.
Collection of Susan Carlson. This is a "round-robin" quilt,
added to in stages by all of the members (at that time) of my
fiber group, The Renegades. The only section that is fabric collaged
are my sunflowers in the center, but it remains one of my very
favorite of quilts.
Twilight
70
1/2" x 50", 1994. Collection of Virginia and Robert
Guaraldi. After the success of Elements, I wanted to continue
that colorful and fanciful personification of non-human entities.
I delved into mythology for inspiration, leading me first to planets,
then to the sun and moon. Two friends, Susan (of Susan P. fame)
and her husband Gordon, struck the difficult poses I needed to
photograph. Those images were then manipulated in the computer
to give me a printout to work from (as I had done a year earlier
with Elements.) I see Twilight as a gradual and ever- happening
transition, a giving over of day to night, a balance between two
beings. Detail
1 | Detail
2 |
Portraits
(Butterflies&
Bugs | Coral Reef Scenes | Fish
| Flowers | Other
| Portraits)
California
Dreams
48"
x 63.5", 1991. Collection of Heidi Carlson. A quilt of and
for my sister. We grew up in Maryland, far inland, but Heidi's
heart seemed to be at the coast, with California as the ultimate
destination. She did end up living there for a few years, and
this is my tribute to her endeavor. I included embellishments
of real jewelry and a moon- stone around her neck. Detail
Dain
33
1/2" x 28", 1990. Collection of Dain Allen. Detail
Farmer's
Market
Each
piece 13 1/2 x 33 3/4", 1996. Collection of Portland Public
Market, Portland, ME. Based on the farmer's market held every
Saturday--May through October--in Portsmouth, NH. It's a color-filled
event that I visited nearly every weekend we lived there. Over
the course of 2 years, I took photos with series such as this
in mind. The colors, shapes, and patterns created by the baskets,
crates, boxes, and buckets full of food and flowers were too tempting
to resist.
Detail
1 | Detail
2 | Detail
3 | Detail
4
Harvest
Nymph
19.5 X 23.5 inches. A nymph representing fall. See also
Naiad and Winter Maiden. Detail
Kerouac
22
1/2" x 26", 1993. Based on the cover photo of The Subterraneans
by Jack Kerouac © 1958, published by Grove Press, Inc., 1989.
Collection of Cyndy Rymer. A portrait of the beat-generation writer
and resident of Lowell, Massachusetts. I had never read Kerouac
before deciding to do a portrait of him. In the process of my
research, I was hooked immediately. I did a black and white portrait
to reflect the era in which he wrote. The background is made up
of brief excerpts from his writings--The Subterraneans, On the
Road (© 1955), and Pomes All Sizes (©1992 by John Sampas).
The gray, cross-hatched border reminds me of the nighttime urban
landscapes he describes.
Messier
27"
x 36", 1994. Collection of Wendy Kim and Victor Messier.
Based on a photograph by Xxxxx Xxxxx. The easiest way to think
of value is to think of black and white photographs. They deal
only with value. "Messier" is a good example of using
values to define figures. This commissioned portrait was done
entirely in black, grays, and white. Detail
Naiad
23
1/2" x 19 1/2", 1991. The first in a series of nymphs
representing the seasons. See also Harvest Nymph and Winter Maiden.
Detail
Ramsey
Children
48"
x 60", 1997. Collection of Mitch and Nancy Ramsey. This is
one of a number of commissioned portraits I have done over the
years. I used three separate photographs for the final image:
one for the basic pose and girls' expressions, one for the little
boy's expression, and one for the flowers behind them. Detail
Samuelsaurus
Rex
48"
x 40", 2001. Portrait
of my son. When Sam grows up he wants to be a paleantologist--or
therapod--depending on his mood. Detail
1
Self-Portrait
with Shadow
22"
x 36", 1991. Collection of the artist. My cat, Shadow, was a companion
of mine for 18 years. While still in his prime, I decided he'd
make a good addition to this self- portrait, playing on the theme
of light and shadow.
Snooks
21-1/2"
x 30", 1991. Collection of William and Meta Carlson. Detail
Surprise
Me
45
3/4" x 34 1/2", 1992. Collection of Thomas Allen. Years
ago I threw a surprise party for my husband. It was made even
more of a surprise when his two best friends traveled a few hours
to be there. I got a great photo of them clowning around, being
buddies. It became the inspiration for Tom's (center) next year's
birthday present. The quote above Tom's head is by a favorite
poet of his, Alden Nolan, and talks of friendship and surprises:
"Who know me better than they know themselves, who talk,
but not too much, who say things to surprise me, occasionally."
Detail
Susan
P.
23"
x 23", 1990. Collection of Susan Poulin. Susan is a good friend
and actor, who's face (and hair) seemed to be good subject matter.
Being such an early piece, I was still experimenting with the
process. It was made for a quilt guild challenge that required
hand-quilting. If you paid attention to the how-to section, you'll
know there are bound to be too many layers to easily hand-quilt.
I didn't think ahead about that and this will therefore remain
the one-and- only hand-quilted fabric collage I've made.
Winter
Maiden
22
X 24 inches. A nymph representing winter. See also Naiad and Harvest
Nymph. Detail
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