Tuesday, May 6, 2014

'November' finally here!

"November" tapestry, Kathy Spoering

The 'November' calendar tapestry is getting closer to being done. The slits are all sewn, and it is blocked. I am just waiting for my in-house carpenter to build me the custom mounting frame; then I will mount it and it can join the other completed tapestries in this series, as they wait for me to find a venue to exhibit them all together, and to complete the final three tapestries.

Good news on that front, as well: I am very excited about a design I am working on for the 'April' tapestry. So far, it is mostly in my head, but I am beginning to pull it out into visible maquette format. It will be considerably different from any of the other tapestries, but that is what I want for the April tapestry, so YEA!

I think I am happy with this one. It takes me a while to decide, once done with a piece. I have been too close to it for too long. But I don't hate it, and that is a good thing. In fact, I believe it captures a feel I have for the month of November, and more specifically, a special time and place for that month, quite well. This is an image capturing the full autumn moon as it comes up through the bare trees up on the mountain at our cabin. In the tapestry, I recognize the specific tree; one of my 'friend trees,' just outside the cabin's kitchen door. I have actually woven this particular tree before - or bits of it - in the "Scrub Oak" tapestry!

Back to the studio... there is more work to be done there today, and for that, I am happy and grateful.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

November has a lovely still feeling! I agree that having work to do is a wonderful thing, enjoy.

tommye said...

Beautiful, Kathy!
I love the moon in all her stages. By the way, did you read "Thirteen Moons" by Charles Frazier?

K Spoering said...

No, I haven't read it, Tommye, but I just requested it from my library on CD, so I can weave while listening to it!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the amazing atmospheric depth in this tapestry! The moon really appears to shine, yet it does so from way behind the literal plane of the tapestry.

If you'd care to, would you please reflect upon what techniques/principles you employed to achieve this effect? I can name a few, such as layering branches in front of the moon, and I'm sure there's something about the color choices...

And, even if you prefer not to comment, I thank you for weaving and showing this piece!!

K Spoering said...

Mostly, the overlapping you mentioned, but also, making sure the areas where the lightest lights met the darkest dark areas were nearest the moon, so the eye will go there first. I also kind of 'flattened' the limbs in front of the moon, as no shadowing would occur there. Then I just played with where light might hit branches and limbs as I went. I'm glad you think I captured depth, as that was a challenge in a piece with so few elements to work with.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for sharing how you approached the depth challenge! Very sophisticated, especially as you pointed out, in a piece with so few elements to work with. Wow. Thanks again.

anton veenstra said...

re the stolen work: we should set up a site with work to look out for; I have a work that's gone missing & would love to bring the situation to people's attention.

K Spoering said...

Good idea, Anton. I know of several other missing tapestries, as well. I wonder if the ATA site would accommodate such a thing?

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