My Warm-up: An Exercise in Textures

8/24/2025

Original sketch (apx 5" x 3")

While my machine and needles have been silent for the last couple of years, my hands have not been still. One of the things that I have found out about myself as an artist is that, for me, it is more often than not, all about TEXTURES.

My ceramic work focuses much more on texture than shapes and glaze colors. My foray back into painting was a bit lack-luster because I couldn’t bring textures with a brush like a can with clay and layers of fabric and threads. (yes, I know it is possible, but not what I wanted to explore - but I love Anslem Kieffer et al!) Even my photography usually focuses on the textures around me more than the subjects involved.

Getting back to fiber required that I warm-up my known ideas and increase my repertoire. I decided to not start with a photo this time , but instead work from a very small sketch that I did last year. I thought that would give me more freedom to explore by having less of an expectation when I started. I used the sketch just as a composition that I could add texture to as I explored and practiced! I tried everything again! Couching years, weaving fabrics, layering fabrics, slashing, free-motion, hand stitching grid stitching, and anything else I could think of!

I am not sure how I feel about the finished project (apx 46" x 32") mostly the color and composition make me itchy, but they were not my focus.Working on this warmed up my machine and hands, and my brain again! Here is the sketch, the finished piece, and many close-ups of the textured areas.