Embracing Solitude is part of my series, “Transformations”.  This series explores changes we experience with the passage of time. This artwork has a winter theme and is about the quiet times of our lives when we turn inward to regroup and refresh ourselves. The Winter theme is a metaphor for slowing down and becoming reflective. The falling leaves refer to the letting go of issues and the twigs refer to our bare selves or our soul. The orbs refer to a sun or a moon moving across a sky, representing time passing. 

The cotton broadcloth fabrics were dyed with Procion MX dyes in different values of the same hue and overdyed to create a more complex texture. Using fabric paints, the leaf images were stamped on and the orbs were screened on using thermofax screens I created from photos. The artwork was fused to a felt backing and then hand stitch was added to create a gentle flow of shapes, line, and color. 

Flat aluminum slats (removable) are attached to the back with velcro at the top and bottom. Wire is attached to the top slat so that it is ready to hang as a traditional tapestry. 

(You could frame it if you choose to do so by removing the slats. If you choose to frame it, I would recommend that you mount it on top of mat board to keep the edges exposed and preserve the look of a textile rather than cover the edges. And I would recommend to not cover it with glass or plexiglass to keep the look of tapestry. However, it could be framed in whatever style you choose.)