Over the last three months, i've spent much more time quilting than piecing - many works have been getting to that happy state known as 'finished'
In almost every case, the design qualities of the quilting have been a visual representation of what i *needed* to rebalance my emotional or mental state. When i've been low or sad, my quilting has been bouyant and vigorous. When I've been agitated, the lines have been smooth and simple. When i've been irrational, they have been a calm
reinforcement of the top design.
While making the design decisions, i only thought about what each quilt needed to complete it. I think i've been subconsciously choosing *which* project to work on depending on what kind of work will help my mental state. This really is art as therapy, and is a very happy discovery.
Key lesson: it's probably a very good idea to have a variety of projects to work on at any time, so I'm free to select the one that is what i need at the time
1 comment:
I've long thought that we all do that ... or something similar in our work. I know when my intuitive work is what I am doing, its voicing something that I haven't found another way to express, or reflecting something about my life or the way I see it. Remind me to show you the quilt I did in Cheryl Comfort's Class when Alan was in touch with me during the Palmy Symp. It didn't shout at me from the inner self and what it wanted, at the time, but it sure does in retrospect ... to the point that I'm not sure about showing this quilt again publicly (although I have once already). I guess I'd feel mortified if others saw it the way I now do. Of course I'm happy to share it with you ... all in the name of our art I guess.
Looking at your Liberty works of late, I've had that thought too about them being reflections of the inner art of self. Last weekend I wondered how different would Liberty look if I did one ... just thinking.
Then again I did play around with pink and blue liberty to the point that maybe it reflected the balancing act that I see you engaged in at present with the inner self. You seemed happy with the resulting work, as if it was the reflection that you were looking through the fog for, but seemed to be getting frustrated trying to find. Take care of that garden babe! Veronicahxxx
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