Improv Tapestry

Improv comedy I'm familiar with, jazz improv I've heard, but now I'm convinced this piece I've nearly finished must qualify for Improv Tapestry.

First there was this.

That was a sample and a long time ago. I liked it so much I mounted it on a canvas and here it is in my living room.


Then there was this.

The working title was Donut Man and I never came up with anything better so Donut Man stays. Thanks to my friend Nancy, I decided to add wedge weave and that's where the 'improv' aspect begins.

Connie told us not to plan too rigidly, this piece has to go where it wants to and it certainly did. The whole experience was hair-raising.

And now there is this, a morning's work away from completion, perhaps Thursday.

I think I've looked at it too long. Donut Man needs to rest, I'm too tired of it to judge anymore, but I will say this:

The combination of the two styles - wedge and ....traditional? ( I call it 'normal', insert laugh) was quite the journey. Here you can see the meeting of the two.

Once the back of the warp is woven (you don't think I'll waste all that tan seine twine?) I'll cut it off and get it photographed (no garden snapshots here).

It's all a long way off, but then Donut Man deserves a rest.

Garden Faces

It had been too long since I'd posted a face in the garden so a week ago I posted this image on Facebook.

8 x 10 inch picture frame, self portrait in blue

Yes I realize there wasn't much garden growing but hey, it was January. It reminded me what an epiphany it was when I realized every photo I took didn't have to be professional to be interesting. In fact this idea is what lead me to the title of my blog, Growing a Tapestry.

"Weed Mediation", 3.5 x 8 inches

I believe I was looking through a magazine at the library showing art objects put outside for photographing, completely on purpose, a shocking idea for a 1974 photography major such as myself.
Not allowed.
But then, why not?

"Exposed" hiding among the iris and lamium

And so faces in the garden began. You'll notice I use a very inappropriate tapestry loom, the spare picture frame in my basement. I do not recommend it unless you want very wobbly edges and surprises, and I do.

nearly finished, more silver hair to add...

I love the freedom of this decision after years of fretting and wondering, are my pictures good enough? After awhile, which is more important, the tapestry or the photo?

All artists know the answer to that one...

p.s. don't worry, there are times I do follow the rules and am fortunate to have a very good professional photographer in town to call upon, when needed.