"a moment of reflection" and "shoreline shimmer"

It recently dawned on me that I had completely forgotten to publish a blog post about two tapestries I completed back in June.

After finishing "Eventide" in early April I thought I was finished with my Autumn and Winter research but it turned out there were a couple of ideas I still wanted to explore. This resulted in the following two smaller works, both based on the Sand O' Wright beach in Hoxa near the gallery:

 

"Shoreline shimmer"
Handwoven tapestry
Materials: cotton, linen, rayon, wool; woven 8 warps per inch on cotton warp.
Size: approx. 1ft (30cm) square, 13" (33cm) including wooden frame
*sold*

 

"Shoreline shimmer", as the name suggests, is very much about light, capturing a sunset reflecting along the water's edge and the wet sand. 

 

(detail)

 

(detail)

 

"A moment of reflection"
Handwoven tapestry
Materials: cotton, linen, rayon, wool; woven 8 warps per inch on cotton warp.
Size: approx. 1ft (30cm) square, 13" (33cm) including wooden frame
*sold*
 

Similarly, "A moment of reflection" explores reflected light but also quiet introspection. It captures a sense of stillness and a moment to breathe as well as the gentle glow and shimmer of a late Autumn/early Winter sunset.

 

(detail)

 

 (detail)

 

As you can see from the details above I had fun with texture!

 

 

Originally I intended to use dark coloured frames to finish these pieces but ended up choosing a lighter, warm toned grey (it's coming out more yellow toned in photos but it is more red/warm toned in real life.) I feel the lighter frame enhances the warmth of the sunset and sand tones and allows the artworks to "breathe" whereas a dark frame felt too harsh and made the artwork look too enclosed.

 

I wanted to have these pieces completed in time for the gallery's 30th anniversary on 16th June and I succeeded in my self imposed deadline. I thought having two new artworks, based on the beach Mum and I both love and have worked from so often over the years, was a fitting way to mark the occasion. I'm delighted to report both tapestries are now sold and hopefully being enjoyed in their new homes. 

Eventide

I'm back with a new tapestry artwork and for the first time ever it's... circular.

 

"Eventide"
Handwoven tapestry
Materials: cotton, linen, rayon, wool; woven 8 warps per inch on cotton warp.
Size: approx. 2ft (61cm) diameter

 

"Eventide" is about seasonal transition, nature cycles and changing quality of light. It marks the end of a day, the end of the season of light and the beginning of the season of darkness.

 

The idea for this artwork developed from a late October walk along the Sand O' Wright beach in Hoxa when I could sense a change in the air and quality of light, in turn affecting the tone and intensity of colours within the landscape. I always enjoy how sunsets take on a wild shade of orange-pink by the end of October in Orkney; it feels very particular to that time of year and marks the beginning of the darker months ahead.

 

(detail)

I spent ages exploring this idea of transition and the flow of nature cycles through reflected light (sunsets) on water and wet, rippled sand but nothing really clicked until it dawned on me the artwork needed to be circular. 

 

(detail)

 

As a side note, people visiting the gallery often ask why I don't create any circular artworks as my Mum often created circular artworks and quite honestly, other than being a different person and artist, it's because I've never felt a reason to do it. In my artistic practice the idea dictates the shape, size and medium of the artwork and up until this point I didn't have an idea which demanded to become circular. Nobody was more surprised than me!

 

(detail)

 

 There are some shimmering blue and yellow rayon threads in the mixes which catch light beautifully and (hopefully!) add to the feeling of watery, shifting light. 

 

Now that I've completed my post artwork admin I'm looking forward to spending some time outdoors collecting and working on some Spring/Summer research as I'm ready to leave Autumn/Winter behind. I always love seeing all the wildflowers popping up on my coastal walks at this time of year. It won't be long until the seapinks come out. Fingers crossed for some good sketching weather! 

In progress...

While the weather was dark and grey at the beginning of this year I was preparing to be bold with colour...

 
My current artwork in progress has some some pretty wild colour blends. It has been a refreshing change of palette as I have largely been working with soft blues and neutral sand tones for the last couple of years. 

However, despite the brightness, there is still a lot of subtlety going on here. I've begrudgingly come to accept that complicated, subtle tonal blending is "my thing."

I'm now moving into turquoise-blue tones and on the home stretch. I had hoped to have had this finished in time for the gallery reopening at the beginning of April (our tourist season runs from April- September) but there was so much admin/prep needing my time and attention that I barely got near artwork for most of March. I have to keep reminding myself that I can't do everything.

Stay tuned for the big reveal, hopefully not too far away!