Fabric wows and woes...

I have been working on my daily pieces, starting them and then continuing to work on them over the past few days...again...trying to maintain some sense of cohesion and a linear narrative.

At least, that was my intention.

Before this point, I was painting with acrylic and then adding bits and pieces of threads to add some texture.  (See pic below for reference, left to right) Then, I started to add some scrap fabric...then pulled back and just worked with some sequins...then I even cut out my painted image from the canvas paper and attached it to one of my own hand-dyed cotton fabrics.  

Oh...and at some point I started really liking the idea of the face with the eyes closed.

And I started introducing some other color to the progression...adding in pink....

And then...ya'll...I went a little crazy.

Sorry Mrs. Aldridge, by beloved HS English teacher...but I went ALOT crazy.  (I know it isn't a word, but I need this word in my life right now)

I took to painting directly on the hand-dyed fabric...oh, and I dyed the fabric by the way!

Then...oh goodness...then I started working with the fabric like a collage, fusing my fabrics.  

And then...

I started beading.

And...I couldn't stop.  

My hands are currently throbbing and I am trying to stay away from the work space I set up in the living room...cause every time I walk by I see the beads...and they catch the light...and I am trying to stop walking by the stash of hand dyed fabrics that are all spread out in color order in my studio...


Here are some close-ups of the last few works...all those beads?  Yeah, hand stitched on.  One by one...except for the edging, I would create a line of beads and then 'couch' them along the edges;

And here is my current dilemma;  

• On one hand, I love doing the beading and working with fibers again.  
  
• On the other...I feel like the series isn't cohesive...and I want to still paint.

And...I don't think I am sticking to my original intention, which was to explore surfaces, textures and techniques related to that.

And...my hands really DO hurt.  Like...bad.


So today will be a big day, trying to decide how to finish up the series with the final six pieces.   


Stay tuned!