Silk organza, satin acetate, various fabrics, batting, thread.
Terra Incognita (Unknown World) is a massive abyss. It’s fiber art inspired by the unknown world (and creatures) of the deep sea. It’s also thenamesake of my 2009 B.F.A show, which showcased most of the pieces of artwork in this gallery collection.
In this fiber art collection, fabric, texture, and mixed media approaches are used to create an abstract, yet organized way of relating to this unknown world. By exploring the mysterious depths of the ocean, this original and group of art looks at the elements and creatures within the deep sea that evoke mystery, splendor, and fear. It’s a fascinating part of our world - one that seems to be a dark, lifeless, and an eerie abyss - yet it still creates beautiful oddities that insist on living.
The pieceTerra Incognita (Unknown World) is the introduction to this unknown world. It draws you into its strange depths, dragging you further into the intriguing world that is the deep sea. Created from an original drawing and intaglio print, this massive art quilt involves two layers of digitally printed white fabric, all done on a standard desktop printer, not a wide format printer. Free-motion stitching creates another layer of depth, line, and color. Hangs freely by a hidden rod and sleeve, and the edges are double bound using the same printed material.
Kraken gives viewers a partial glimpse of the legendary creatures of the deep sea. It’s a glimpse that’s both dynamic and wild, yet structured and connected. This partial impression is meant to maintain an element of mystery and disconnect from this intriguing world, but it also allows viewers to make their own connections.
Inspired by the unknown world (and creatures) of the deep sea, this fiber art original was created using digital printing (from personal photos of a giant Pacific octopus), layers of textural fabrics, and free-motion stitching. Hangs freely by a hidden rod and sleeve, and the edges consist of a transparent quilters binding.
Satin acetate, pigment, various fabrics, batting, thread.
Colossus is a macro detail image of a giant Pacific octopus. Digitally printed on a single piece of white, satin acetate fabric (with brocade-textured patterning), this fiber art original is meant to blur the lines between strange ocean creatures and extravagant beauty. Free-motion stitching adds another layer of line, texture, color, and elegance. Hangs freely by a hidden rod and sleeve, and the edges are double-fold bound using the same printed material.
Cotton, various fabrics, pigment, batting, thread.
Cryptid references a Cryptozoological term that in relation to the studies of animals and plants whose existence has been suggested but has not been discovered or documented by the scientific community. To shroud its existence, this mixed media fiber art original offers viewers a partial - or caged - glimpse of an obscured deep sea creature. The gridded structure is meant to add mystery to the imagery as well as stabilize and harness the dynamic movements of the entire piece.
This fiber art original uses mixed media techniques, including digital printing from personal photos, screen-printing from original drawings, and traditional quilting techniques. All fabric was white prior to creation. Hangs freely by a hidden rod and sleeve. Edges consist of a black quilters binding.
The Fire-Whirler (Blue) is named after a real oceanic microorganism called Pyrodinium, which means “fire whirler.” As its name may suggest, this intriguing microorganism emits bioluminescent lights. However, this original (along with the others in the Fire-Whirler series) was created without seeing actual imagery of the real microorganism--it’s simply my interpretation and impression of the name.
Created using a variety of mixed media techniques, this fiber art original uses fabric that was once white. The fabric was colored and designed using digital printing from personal drawings and artwork, heavy hand painting, screen-printing, and hand-dyed fabric. The original also uses stitching and quilting as another element of texture, line, and color. Hangs freely by a hidden rod and sleeve. Edges consist of a black quilters binding.
Burlap, lace, various fabric, batting, pigment, thread.
The Star-Gazing Sea-Devil was inspired by the name and certain properties of a deep sea anglerfish named Ceratias uranoscopus, which translates to “stargazing sea-devil.” The name is fitting as anglerfish are horrifying-looking predators that attract prey by carrying a lure of luminous light over their mouths.
This abstract and snapshot impression of this predatory creature uses a variety of mixed media and fiber art techniques, including digital printing on lace (from personal drawings), hand painted tentacles and orbs of light, quilted stitching, and a variety of textured fabrics. This original artwork is a triptych, and it hangs freely by three separate hidden rods and sleeves. The edges are finished and stitched are but raw in nature.
Fissure II portrays the tumultuous sea floor, especially where volcanic activity exists.
This abstract underwater fissure uses a variety of mixed media and fiber art techniques, including digital printing from personal photos, hand painting, hand-dyed fabric, screen printing, drawing, and stitching. Depth is created through these techniques and layers of various fabrics. All fabric used in this piece began white. This original hangs freely by a hidden rod and sleeve. Edges are finished and stitched but are raw in nature.
Cotton, various fabrics, batting, thread, mat board, adhesive.
Colossus II is a fiber art original that portrays a magnified, detail image of a giant Pacific octopus’ tentacle.
This original is printed on white fabric using digital printing techniques. It is then free-motion stitched and quilted to create another layer of line, texture, and color. Colossus floats in a custom fabric-wrapped mat with a recessed beveled edge border that matches the original. It is then finished with a glassless, gold frame.
The Fire-Whirler (Purple) is named after a real oceanic microorganism called Pyrodinium, which means “fire whirler.” As its name may suggest, this intriguing microorganism emits bioluminescent lights. This original (along with the others in the Fire-Whirler series) was created without seeing actual imagery of the real microorganism and is simply my interpretation and impression of the name.
Created using a variety of mixed media techniques, this fiber art original uses fabric that was once white. The fabric was colored and designed using digital printing from personal drawings and artwork, heavy hand painting, screen-printing, and hand dyed fabric. The original also uses stitching and quilting as another element of texture, line, and color. Hangs freely by a hidden rod and sleeve. Edges consist of a black quilters binding.
Satin acetate, various fabrics, dye, pigment, batting, thread.
Pyrodinium (The Fire-Whirler) is named after a real oceanic microorganism that emits bioluminescent light. The abstract image seen here is my interpretation and impression of the microorganism's name and translated name, as the piece was created without seeing imagery of the actual microorganism.
This original was created using white fabrics that have been dyed, digitally printed (using personal drawings and artwork), screen-printed, hand painted, and free-motion stitched and quilted. Pyrodinium (The Fire-Whirler)‘s edges are finished with a tight zig-zag stitch of brick red, and it hangs freely by a hidden rod and sleeve.
As the first original in the “Fire-Whirler” series - and a part of my BFA show - this piece is visually more “raw.” Unlike the others in the series, this piece is purposefully segmented and gridded to draw viewers’ eyes back and forth between the varying techniques and to visually connect it to the other gridded and segmented originals in the show.
Satin acetate, silk organza, white silk, various fabrics, batting, thread, frame.
Abyss is mini fiber art original that features the same imagery as Terra Incognita (Unknown World). However, with Abyss, the tentacles and feelers of the deep reach out of their cage and into the world around them.
This original uses digital printing (created from a personal drawing and intaglio print) and free-motion stitching. The original is stretched over a wooden frame and then framed without glass.
Satin acetate, lace, burlap, various fabrics, batting, thread.
Oceanus Interuptus portrays a dynamic, yet structured and interrupted view of the ocean’s elements. Each square is like a small window into a different world. In this fiber art original, personal artwork is digitally printed on various textured fabrics and then sewn onto burlap to create a large and minimally quilted original. This original hangs freely by a hidden rod and sleeve. The edges are finished and stitched are but raw in nature.
Burlap, lace, various fabric, batting, pigment, thread.
Certias Uranoscopus (The Star-Gazing Sea-Devil) was inspired by the name of a deep sea anglerfish named Ceratias uranoscopus, which translates to “stargazing sea-devil.” The name is fitting as anglerfish are horrifying-looking predators that attract prey by carrying a lure of luminous light over their mouths.
This abstract and snapshot impression of this predatory creature uses a variety of mixed media and fiber art techniques, including digital printing on lace (from personal drawings), hand painted tentacles and orbs of light, quilted stitching, and a variety of textured fabrics. This original artwork is a triptych, and it hangs freely by three separate hidden rods and sleeves. The edges are finished and stitched are but raw in nature.
Fissure portrays the tumultuous sea floor, especially where volcanic activity exists.
This abstract, original artwork of an underwater fissure uses a variety of mixed media and fiber art techniques, including digital printing from personal photos, hand painting, hand dyed fabric, screen printing, drawing, and stitching. Depth is created through these techniques and layers of various fabrics. All fabric used in this piece began white. This quilted original hangs freely by a hidden rod and sleeve. Edges are finished and stitched but are raw in nature.