The World
2018, DMC floss embroidered on cotton,5.5” x 4.75”
embroidered tarot art
I look at these works as hand-embroidered paintings, which are created with DMC floss on cotton twill fabric. The vibrant quality of the surfaces are created by mixing the fibers of the floss and that gives these works a presence that belies their small size. Each of the embroidered pieces takes four to six weeks to complete, and that is one reason for their small size, yet I also feel the intimacy of closely viewing these pieces creates a different kind of connection with the viewer.
This series explores the inner worlds of the imagination and subconscious mind, rather than recreating the physical world. The imagery in this work is informed by the archetypes of the tarot. I have been intrigued by these archetypes, which embrace ideas about human existence as both physical and spiritual beings. What also draws me to these symbols is the way they are so open-ended and subject to personal interpretation. The viewer is free to interpret them according to their own journey through life. My versions of the tarot have evolved from my interest in pulp science fiction illustrations, medieval illuminations, old wood block prints, comic books, and the hundreds of images I look at each week.