Photography  Embroidered, and sometimes beaded and buttoned...

Embroidery and photography are not typically spoken about in the same sentence; however, since I began experimenting with embroidering on photo prints, this has been my visual language. It was only natural for me to combine embroidery with my photography since those are the two arts I most enjoy, having learned embroidery at an early age. As I stitched on more and more photographs, I learned what images worked best with this technique. After experimentation, I found that the best subjects are from nature as these are more organic and lend themselves to the flow of embroidery stitches.  The technique enhances the image and creates a new portrait of nature. 

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The stitches on these floral images serve to emphasize details or movement in the image such as the curves in a fern leaf or the layers of petals in a rose.  Textures are created with threads and beads are added for dimension. Shapes, such as circles or squares, are sometimes introduced to bring attention to the many forms in nature.  Repetition of stitches provides even more dimension and emphasis.  The bright colors of the threads resonate with the bright colors of the flowers.

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The trees in Nature Embroidered range from monochrome to muted and/or have been processed with a variety of interventions such as overlay textures and layering before being stitched.  The stitches serve to emphasize the trees’ graceful structure or unusual shape.  In winter, when the leaves have fallen, the structure of the tree is even more obvious. The type of stitches adds to the dimension and texture, giving the illusion of depth. Shapes, such as circles or squares, are sometimes introduced to bring attention to the many abstract forms in nature. Some stitches give the impression of leaves or blooms.  Seasonal colors accent what is already evident while other colors resonate to create a totally different atmosphere.