May 21, 2014

New Hooked Wool Drawings


2014 #8, hand dyed wool and egg tempera on linen, 15 x 12 in.


I've been enjoying the all-over compositional strategy for my hooked wool drawings; I like the energy that comes from forms that cross the surface, moving the eye around and through.


2014 #9, hand dyed wool and egg tempera on linen; 2 panels, each 14 x 8 in.


The jump across panels moves from painted to hooked surface; expectations are flipped. The downward blue triangle is similar in color to the blue on the left panel, moving the eye from upper right to lower left.


2014 #10, hand dyed wool and egg tempera on linen, 13 1/4 x 16 1/4 in. 


The visual energy of this piece is quite different from the two above. Here, the focus is all in the center, a condensed idea of shape and movement. Looking at this, I began thinking about how it would look with those lines reaching to the edges, the orange rectangle moving across the surface. When I began this series of hooked wool drawings, all the images were small and centered, like sketches on a page, so I have a kind of loyalty to that idea, but it may be that it doesn't satisfy me as it used to. I suppose I'll find out in the coming months....


6 comments:

  1. I love seeing these pieces. The way they look and their tactility. It seem a little peculiar to me because I have really no interest at all in those early 20th C. abstracts at Yale that you posted recently. I feel like the totally abstract work is a little beyond me personally right now. I'd LIKE to work completely abstractly, because the colors and shapes are so delicious on their own, but every time I try, I just go totally wild and make a complete mess with no structure, and lose my interest immediately. So I just so far stick with images that directly reference physical phenomena. I guess that doesn't quite define it as precisely as I would like, but I'm sure you know what I mean. Maybe if I try to talk it through--to define it better--it would be possible to make that leap.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Erik, your comment is interesting. I love abstraction, but I'm like you in that in my painting I need to stick to an object that exists in the real world. But working in different mediums---textiles, prints, drawings---has allowed me to explore the non-objective side of myself.

      Delete
  2. looking at these with morning coffee my first response was delight. these are playful pieces full of energy and movement predicated on a serious intent. quite wonderful. I look forward to see if you go out to the edges or stay centred but I always look forward to what you're doing so will wait and see. As usual!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like these immensely. The last one is exciting.

    ReplyDelete