November 28, 2011

New Hooked Wool Drawings

2011 #39, hand dyed wool and egg tempera on linen, 13 x 11 inches.


This new group of drawings all have central images, although they relate to the space around them differently. #39 is balanced, a white square held up by the lines of circle and triangle, its color wryly patriotic.


2011 #40, hand dyed wool and egg tempera on linen, 15 x 12 1/2 inches.


The swooping purple lines of #40 tickle the space around them, humoring the stolid green squares.


2011 #41, hand dyed wool and egg tempera on linen, 15 x 11 3/4 inches.


An open rectangle allows space to enter, as does the deep blue shape. I was inspired to use these colors by a beautiful pastel by Arthur Dove at the Met (unfortunately no good reproductions exist).


2011 #42, hand dyed wool and egg tempera on linen, 12 1/4 x 15 inches.


Lime green circles animate the space as they follow a curved line through a pink semi-circle. The lively colors made me think of old cartoons, like I thought of cartoons in my last group of drawings; then it was Wile E Coyote and Road Runner, now it's the bouncing ball sing-alongs of Betty Boop cartoons. There's something lighthearted in these these works for me; even when the composition is geometric and minimal, the materials seem casual and carefree, the slightly rumpled linen ready to float breezily away. .

8 comments:

  1. I love the lightness and humor of them.

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  2. like so much, particularly the last one. Lively, funny and at the same time a challenge in it's daring colour and composition.

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  3. thanks so much, Susan and Elaine. I'm pleased you see the fun of these.

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  4. My favorite ever is the last one with the little round chartreuse circles. They remind me of osage fruit. Beautiful.

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  5. thanks, Lisa. I love the reference to osage oranges; the circles with their texture do look a lot like them.

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  6. This is a handsome lot but I especially like
    #41. Love those beautiful dark blues and blacks.
    Also that arch allows one into the space in a
    particular way this time.

    Myrna

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  7. This whole series is lovely, but liking Dove, I guess I too am drawn to #41. It has such dimensionality and vigor.

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  8. Thanks Myrna and Julie; I think #41 may be winning the popularity contest. I never know which piece people will like so it's nice to get feedback.

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