memories – Joni Beach

April 15, 2014October 16, 2014

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.

January 17, 2013

Winter’s Magic~Snow*

One thing that is still magical to me about winter is snow.*** I grew up in the South and rarely had the thrill of playing in the snow as a child. Whenever a few flakes did fall, it was considered an unusual and exciting event, which never lasted for more than a day or two at the most! We were very creative in making the most of even a dusting of the white, magical, icy cold powder–making snow cream, sledding down a hill in a cardboard box, collecting the snow from the whole yard for a small snowman, or seeing who could create the best snow angel. If a few flakes were sighted by the children while at school, no teacher was able to contain the shrieking and running to the windows to watch it in wonder and awe !

Today we are expecting snow here…I begin to feel the excitement of childhood with this first snow of winter. I now live in a place where snow regularly falls during the wintertime, so by spring I am usually tired of the extra bundling up and shoveling the driveway. But for today as the snow begins to fall, I will remember my childhood excitement as I work in the studio on a piece in my Winter series — adding threads to make this scene come alive…