Thursday, November 4, 2010

11 of 24 on the slowworm cloth -- slow wormcloth?

I feel at ease with the squares. My techniques to rule the heap of stuff on a very small table are improving; still the diamonds are dancing, not keeping in line. Yet, my impression is that they are balancing each other, looking not quite as wonky as in the beginning.
I run risks with my way of working, finishing each frame completely including the quilting. There is no way back. The central medallion is more subdued in color than the rest; the reds have sneaked in, the gorgeous indonesian fabric from jude is to blame. But why should this naga offering not contain some fiery parts? This element is associated with the mythic idea of dragons. In asia, they are more associated with the element wood: Green color, thunder, spring, electricity. "The New Year in spring is the time when the dragon rises from inside the earth." The green rust and metal -- brass -- connects this piece to the "copper snake", slowworm, Anguis fragilis, an animal that I love very much.

I once picked one up on a cold summer day and put her into a large pocket, together with fresh leaves to make her feel more at home, and she came alive in the warmth and seemed to feel alright and made no attempt to flee. It was a class trip, and I was 14 years old. The other girls almost dropped dead with horror when I held the animal in my hand. One of the girls -- the most frightful one -- asked me if she might take the snake in her hand, she wanted to overcome her fear, she said. Of course, I gave her the chance.
She flung the snake wide into the shrubs. I looked but did not find her. Oh, I was angry! My snake!

I love snakes, but I wouldn't own one if they have to be fed with mice, that's not in harmony with my vow as a Buddhist to abstain from killing.



I made experiments with overpainted fabric, using my Marabu textile paints as water colors; the left one is a Kaffee Fasset.
The second detail is a print with indonesian pattern. I overpainted this one in green and wine red to make it adapt to the whole composition. I did not show it sooner because I wasn't sure; but it fits in well.

9 comments:

Yael said...

Eva-Maria, it looks so so good! I love it! It is a down-to-earth piece of art! So honest! You preserved your inner child very well Eva - I wish I had this too! You are working spontaneously, deciding which patch to take at the very moment you need it - no plan! You finish each section immediately, even with the quilting - no going back! How brave! And how much you can trust yourself, you just KNOW it will work out - and it does!!
I do admire you!
Now I am going back to the tigers!
Thank you for the chapeau! Coming from you that means a lot!
By the way: I love snakes too!

jude said...

i like your style, there are a million ways to step back. i love your over painting....

ArtSparker said...

Reminds me of a book I read, The End of Mr. Y, in which there were little windows on the side of the central screen, all choices for who you could be and ways to follow. You might enjoy the book.

Els said...

It's really working out great with all these "wonky" little blocks around the centerpiece, Eva. (like that silly girl all those years ago, you can now throw your ruler in the bushes : you don't need it anymore)

Judy said...

I think I could sit with this for hours and just look deeper and deeper into it.
I enjoyed your story about the snake...up until the end and then I too was angry with the girl who threw it into the bushes. How horrible!!

xo

nandas said...

i love the firey parts and see no reason why they wouldn't work in this beautiful tapestry... i wonder if you will make a border? and if we might see more dragons encircling ? or maybe the turquoise color? it is quite a mandala of a piece! that middle piece is so good.

Chris Gray said...

If that Naga gives you any trouble...

...just let it know that I have a Garuda here waiting to deal with it!

:-)

Love the quilt....how quickly you work on it too. Makes me feel like a slacker it the minute...but I'll be back up to speed soon, I'm sure.

x Chris

Celeste Bergin said...

I know it says in your sidebar that your English is not perfect ....but really, it is!
Beautiful! a feast for the eyes

Diane Cransac said...

Oh this is coming along beautifully. I just love how it looks. I think that center looks wonderful with the rest even if it is a bit 'subdued' it seems to balance perfectly to me.