Evening Light - Saving a Memory

Last evening while I was paying bills by the soft light of an old lamp, I was compelled to put the check book aside for a few moments and to merely enjoy the light.  A pencil was at hand, as was some printer paper, and a very quick sketch developed.  A light watercolor wash followed.  Then it was back to the much less enjoyable task of writing out checks and balancing the books.  The sketch was put aside and might have become fodder for the "circular file" since it was rendered on the back of piece of paper that had computer printout on the other side BUT...

It kept being shifted around the studio all day today and I just didn't want to chuck it.  I wanted to remember that moment when the soft light captivated me.  To try to replicate the sketch on watercolor paper would lack the magic of the light filled moment.  Instead I scanned it, printed and overprinted it, reduced the size and auditioned it as a greeting card element and then...

I reduced it again, this time to 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" ACEO card size.

Now I have a set of 6 greeting cards and 2 ACEO limited editions.  After spending the day with this quick sketch, the lamp light will be imprinted on my memory for a lifetime, even if the sketch has a limited lifespan.

Egyptian Figure with Column

Dover Royalty Free Clip Art

Recently my friend loaned me a copy of a Dover publication with royalty free Egyptian images.

Full Figure Fabric Translation of Image.

A couple of days later another friend gave me strips of painter's canvas that were left over from a canvas stretching project. She said she was sure I would do something with the strips. Serendipitously, the rolled canvas strips lay next to the Dover publication on my coffee table. It seemed as if an image wanted to be translated from the book to the canvas. An elongated female figure seemed as if it could be adapted rather easily. I enlarged the figure by sketching it directly on the canvas with pencil and then set about zig zag stitching decorative yarn around the outline of the figure's apparel. I used a rather close satin stitch with heavy duty cotton thread to outline the arms, head and feet, as well as used a straight stitch to define the column. I free motion stitched scallop shapes into the garment and then filled in the face, arms, feet and column with Tsukineko sand colored fabric inks. How the piece will be finished has not yet been determined. I may use batting and backing and quilt it. I may fuse it to a complementary backing and add a hanging sleeve. All that will develop another day--perhaps tomorrow.

Closeup of head, torso, skirt top and part of column.

Closeup of Head

Closeup of Torso

Closeup of Skirt.

Closeup of Feet