I found myself thinking about circles this week.
I hadn’t planned on using circles in the large tree-based quilt I’m working on now. But, as I put together panels of intricate limb shapes, with a LOT of pattern, I just felt the need for a resting place from all that activity. Circles do just that.
And these are big circles. I created them informally with a little loose randomness by pouring the paint.
While that paint was drying I took a look at some of my smaller collaged works to get some insight into circles. (This is one of the many things I enjoy about creating the small collages, alongside larger quilts. They are a chance to work out patterns and ideas.)
Circles work well together. In Beside the Quiet Morning, the pattern begins with the circular pattern in the photo of water. I picked that up with the large circle top left, printed as a relief print. (I think I used a wooden embroidery hoop for that print image.) Then, the few smaller circles are like bits of light energy. I enjoy having them just pop up here and there in a work.
In Taking a Deep Breath I’ve mixed up sizes again. And in this composition the large circle plays a connecting function. Imagine this same work without the large transparent circle. It’s just disjointed parts. But the circle works to hold the parts together. Circles are natural connectors.
In The Pull of Water, the circles are not linear but solid. Circular solids are very pleasing shapes to me. They connote lots of natural elements. The earth. A water drop. The moon. A moon reflected. I enjoyed slicing the circle shapes and interspersing other patterns into them.
While I’ve been writing, the paint has dried. Here’s part of the poured paint panel with stitching:
May you find ways of holding things together and creating shapes and images that please you.
. . . . . .
For all the artmakers: Happy creating
For all the art lovers: Happy appreciating
Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi
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