Vincent's Flowers

Vincent's Flowers - 33"x23" - 2002

Description: After viewing Van Gogh's sunflowers in an exhibit at the Chicago Art Institute, I felt compelled to interpret his exuberant style of painting into fiber. I was most intrigued with his skies. They seemed alive with color and light ... of hope, possibilities, and optimism.

Technique: A collage of fabric, wool roving, and cut apart "silk flowers" arranged on a hand-painted background fabric. Machine quilting holds all the layers together.

Materials: cotton and synthetic fabrics, polyester thread, fabric and acrylic paint, "silk" flowers (old & new that get pulled apart and cut into new shapes), wool roving, netting. cotton batting

Exhibitions:
2003 Dogwood Arts Quilt Show - Knoxville, Tennessee
awarded an Honorable Mention
2006 Festival of Quilts - "Nellie's Needles" special exhibit

I couldn't resist backing it with Monet's garden fabric. I went on to make a piece titled "Painted Flowers" that has a strong Monet influence ... but that's another story.

I had made a number of smaller studies before making the large one. This one doesn't have the spashes of paint to make it even more "painterly", but this 10"x13" one does.