The other day I looked around and had a choice. I could finish a number of pieces that are still in process, clean the studio, create new work or drive into the sunset. I decided to let the stitch tell me what to do. There was quilt back laying around from a piece that never did get finished. So I sacrificed that piece to an experiment.

Playtime in black

A starting point

White thread and black fabric gives me a dramatic stage for random shapes.

The colony grows

Drawing more shapes to fill the space expands the playing field.

The colony is subdivided

Adding rounded rectangles in a casual grid subdivides the space.

Texture brings depth

Textural fills add the illusion of transparency.

Nearly finished

Maybe another layer?

Well that was fun. Now I need to go on to finish some of those pieces that are aching for some final stitching. Or not. Maybe I’ll try this again.

Playtime in white

Stitching figures with depth

A piece of canvas folded over some wool batting exaggerates the depth.

Adding a layer of circular shapes

White stitching gives me a guideline for textural fills.

Adding textural fills

Repeating elements like those little circles with antennas bring disparate images together in this crazy mix.

Completing the horizon.

Done.

Doesn’t it feel like the Jetsons could live here?

Another day another distraction

Since I can’t really drive into the sunset this experiment in stitching brings a little joy instead.

Give it a try!

Paula Kovarik, 2012.

OK, I admit I have found numerous excuses not to get back into the swing of working at days end. Too tired, too frazzled, too cold to return to the studio. Preparing for the Exploration show, going out of town, watching election results, crocheting Christmas presents, paying bills. Doing research, etc. etc. etc.

Is it that I am blocked? (maybe) Overwhelmed by the options? (yes, definitely) Intimidated by my expectations? (definitely) Am I being affected by the time change? weather change? mood change? (Yes. Yes. Yes.)

So today I browsed through some older progress shots to restart the engines. This simple black and white composition intrigues me. I may have to take a side street to experiment further with this meadering.