lim.i.nal
of, relating to, or being an intermediate state, phase or condition
I create abstract tapestries in response to liminal landscapes I find personally compelling. I respond in particular to evidence of change at all scales - natural or human-induced decay, erosion, renewal, growth; the cyclical shift of seasons, daylight, the tide; the elusive momentary stillness within an ever-changing landscape. I work from recollection, in situ sketches, photographs and notes responding to specific locales in which I have immersed myself through repeated observation.
My designs often start with mixed media drawings and paintings based upon these field observations, along with additional research into the geology and history of the area, which I then develop further digitally. Landscape forms, weather patterns, the evidence of human effects on the countryside, details from both the micro and macro level, and my personal emotional response to a particular environment may all play a part in the final design.
The process of then weaving a tapestry based on my final design is, by its very nature, immersive, and involves creating the pieces solely from that concept, manipulating warp and weft yarns to create artwork as whole cloth. There is no canvas in tapestry, no substrate. And there is no going back to correct design mistakes by simply painting over them.
The hours - tens to hundreds - I spend creating a tapestry serve as a meditation on the landscape that I choose as my subject. Ultimately, I am focused on creating a personal, tangible evocation of momentary place and atmosphere, using the woven form to add to that story through surface interest, light reflectivity, and texture.