Category: Life

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In the Studio~Spring at Last!

Finally Spring has arrived here in the mountains, though the threat of a freeze has not passed. Still the days have become warmer and even the birds seem happier! I have begun some of the yard work necessary after a long cold winter and look forward to the colorful flowers of summer…

In the studio, I have continued to work on new pieces. Here is the the latest in the Visions of Spain series~Flamenco Swirl #3.

Flamenco Swirl #3, 13 1/4" x 21", rayon and metallic on cotton, © 2014 Joni Beach.
Flamenco Swirl #3, 13 1/4″ x 21″, metallic on cotton, © 2014 Joni Beach.

 

These pieces began with a simple line drawing to capture the figure and movement of a dramatic flamenco dancer.  The excitement, sounds, and visions of this experience will never be forgotten! This piece is a reverse of Flamenco Swirl #2~~the figure is done using a “reverse applique” technique.

Flamenco Swirl #1 is on exhibit currently, so this photograph was taken in the gallery. This first figure was created using bright red dotted fabric with a familiar ruffled hem to accent the swirling movement of the dancer.

My memories of this dance are expressed in this piece…

Flamenco Swirl #1 on Exhibit, 19" x 15 3/4", rayon on cotton. © 2014 Joni Beach.
Flamenco Swirl #1 on Exhibit, 19″ x 15 3/4″, rayon on cotton. © 2014 Joni Beach.

 

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Spring Yellow~Hope

In March, winter has a hard time leaving the area where we live. One day it will be sunny and warm with signs of the hope of spring.ylFlrs

A few days later winter’s blanket of white will cover the newly budded flowers and trees.

yllFlrsSnow

But through this transition, ultimately spring will arrive and summer will follow…A recent art quilt, which is now on exhibit, also shows the brilliance of a yellow flower. For me I always think of these as signs of hope and a celebration of life!

The inspiration for this piece was a photo that I took in a backyard garden that captured its colors and shape from a different angle~the bottom side~ with the sunlight shining from above.

A Different Perspective, rayon on cotton. 45" x 45", © 2014 Joni Beach. Pieced, free-motion quilting. applique, threadsketching.($2000)
A Different Perspective, rayon on cotton. 45″ x 45″, © 2014 Joni Beach. Pieced, free-motion quilting. applique, threadsketching.

I enlarged the image to the desired size to use as a guide. The composition was pieced by cutting fabric pieces and gluing them into position. Extensive free-motion quilting was used to construct the design and add depth and texture. The edges were finished with a facing. I also sign and date each wall-hanging in the lower left-hand corner, using free-motion threadsketching.

A Different Perspective and other contemporary textiles may be seen in the Art Gallery. Enjoy these signs of spring…hope…and a celebration of life!

 Several pieces are available through Eucalyptus Massage Center Gallery. 

*I would love to hear what inspires you and are your reminders of hope?

 

 

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Visions of Spain

Visions of Spain is a new series I began this summer, which are expressions inspired by the amazing country of Spain. Its sights, sounds, art, history, vistas, food, and music…In this piece, The Present Through the Past, one looks through an arch of a Roman Aqueduct and gets a view of the wonderful city of Segovia with the snow-covered mountains in the background.

The Present Through the Past (Roman Aqueduct, Segovia), rayon and cotton on cotton. © 2014 Joni Beach. Applique, threadpainting, free-motion quilting. ($975)
The Present Through the Past (Roman Aqueduct, Segovia), rayon and cotton on cotton. © 2014 Joni Beach. Applique, thread-painting, free-motion quilting.

On this piece I enlarged one of my photos and printed it in black and white in a few different sizes. Sketching the desired size onto interfacing to use as a guide, I used 3 photos as inspirations and to compose the design. Here is a picture as I began to cut and place the pieces of the center scene. 

PiecingSegovia

After the center was pieced and some of the details were thread-painted, I began cutting and placing the stones, surrounding the middle.

StonesForSegovia

I experimented and improvised to discover what the materials would do and which fabrics would give shading, depth, and the look I wanted. 

photo

 After the arch was pieced, it was put in place on the interfacing around the Segovia scene. Additional free-motion thread-painting and  quilting added to the texture and gave the scene more details and dimension. I added a facing to finish the edges and liked the results for this wall-hanging.

See this piece and others in this series, Visions of Spain, in my website Art Gallery!

Available Artwork May Be Purchased Through: Eucalyptus Massage Center Gallery