inspiration comes to me in many forms. an inner or outer landscape, a poem that confirms or shifts my perspective, resonant words, symbols and energy deeply felt. wherever the muse appears, the use of natural dyes, earth minerals and textiles to create art is a joy making process for me. while sewing is my first love, with collage work, i find great freedom to experiment with shapes and sizes that sewing does not readily allow and a floodgate of new possibilities open up. i love both processes, clean closed seams and raw cut exposed edges, both metaphors for life… switching back and forth stimulates my creative center ever more. the earth mineral collages are made using earth minerals pigments that i blend individually to make custom colors in a base of plant acrylic. i paint multiple layers of mixed colors on flax linen or organic cotton fabrics. once dried, the shapes are hand cut and collaged on wooden panels using natural adhesives. a coat of plant based varnish is applied to the finished work and framed, ready to hang.

arcadia

earth mineral plant acrylic on organic cotton & linen collaged on wood panel

14 x 11 (set in 15 x 12 wood floating frame)

Within Another Life by Barry Spacks

Those whose days were grudging or confused


may come back trapped within another life

as a boulder, or a pane of glass,


or a door that suffers every time it's slammed.

If I return a boulder, love, some summer day


come sit by me and contemplate these horses and these hills.

And if a windowpane, gaze through to see


the meadow on our walks where the brown geese strut.

And if I am a door, come home through me, 


be sure I'll keep you safe.

And if a knotted, twisted rope,


from long self-clenching and complexity,

oh love, unbind, unbraid me then


until I flow again like windswept hair.

note: please hang away from direct exposure to harsh light (natural/artificial) as well as direct heat source and areas of high moisture