“Colour: A Personal Response” is a series of 12 textile framed art works. Having taken the past two years to complete, the inspiration for each work represents my personal response to iconic art ranging from Seurat’s Alfalfa Fields in 1886 to Chagall’s America Stained Glass Windows in 1977. By researching into the life of each artist and incorporating a trademark or ghost image to embed into the pattern, I wanted to, for a moment in time, walk in their lives and capture the spirit in textile and thread. I chose a monochromatic colour that best suited the painting’s emotional appeal and then explored this selected colour with its tints and shades.
Working mostly with silk, cotton and recycled fabrics I designed the pattern, decided on a construction technique, then machine stitched extensively to add texture and dimension. Each piece was mounted by hand onto acid free foam core and framed.
Note: All inspired paintings/paper cutouts are in the Public Domain. All my works are © Sarah McLaren.
Some of the works in my Gallery room at home.
From left to right “Monet in Aqua-Green,” “Modigliani in Magenta,” “Seurat in Yellow-Green” and “Klimt in Orange-Yellow.”
Title: “Van Gogh in Yellow” – February 2016
Inspiration: The Yellow House (1888) and brush strokes in The Starry Night (1889)
“I dream my painting and then I paint my dream.” — Vincent Van Gogh
Techniques/Textiles: Turned under machine appliquéd, machine quilted/Cotton, silk and organza, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 30” W x 24” H
For Sale $1750
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “Seurat in Yellow-Green” – May 2017
Inspiration: Alfalfa Fields (1886)
“Some say they see poetry in my paintings; I see only science.” — Georges Seurat
Techniques/Textiles: Machine pieced, machine quilted, hand painted/Cotton, silk, hand dyed cottons and organza, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 31” W x 25.5” H
For Sale $1450
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “Carr in Green” – August 2016
Inspiration: Abstract Tree forms (1931-1932) and Guyasdoms d’Sonoqua (1928 - 1930)
“Oh, I wanted to paint in those woods. They whirled and swirled and went into deep places and mystery.” — Emily Carr
Techniques/Textiles: Raw edge machine appliquéd, hand painted, black nylon scarf, machine quilted/Cotton, thrift shop finds, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 30” W x 22” H
SOLD
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “Monet in Aqua-Green” – February 2017
Inspiration: Water Lillies paintings (1840 - 1926)
“…as if it were necessary to understand, when it's simply necessary to love.” — Claude Monet
Techniques/Textiles: Fused raw edge pieced, white painted nylon, extensive machine thread painted, bobbin work, machine quilted/Cotton, nylon, organza and thrift shop finds, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 24” W x 24” H
SOLD
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “Matisse in Turquoise” – March 2016
Inspiration: The Creole Dancer (1947) and Christmas Eve (1952) Paper Cutouts
“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while one is working.” — Henri Matisse
Techniques/Textiles: Turned under machine appliquéd, machine quilted/Cotton, silk and mixed fibre, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 24” W x 34” H
For Sale $1300
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “Picasso in Blue” – November 2016
Inspiration: Girl with a Mandolin (1910 - Analytical Cubism)
“To draw you must close your eyes and sing.” — Pablo Picasso
Techniques/Textiles: Turned under machine appliquéd, machine quilted/Cotton, metallic threads and thrift shop finds, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 24” W x 34” H
For Sale $1300
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “Chagall in Violet” – June 2017
Inspiration: America Stained Glass Windows (Chicago 1977) and Bonjour Paris (1939-1942)
“For me a stained glass window is a transparent partition between my heart and the heart of the world.” — Marc Chagall
Techniques/Textiles: Fused raw edge machine appliquéd, machine quilted, couched thread/Cotton, silk, hand dyed silk, organza, metallic threads and thrift shop finds, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 24” W x 30” H
For Sale $1450
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “O’Keeffe in Purple” – August 2017
Inspiration: Flowers close up (mid 1920’s to 1950’s)
“Nobody sees a flower — really — it is so small it takes time — and to see takes time.” — Georgia O’ Keeffe
Techniques/Textiles: Fused raw edge machine appliquéd, extensive machine thread painted, machine quilted/Silk and cotton batik, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 24” W x 24” H
SOLD
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “Modigliani in Magenta” – December 2016
Inspiration: Jeanne Hebuterne with Hat and Necklace (1917)
“When I know your soul I will paint your eyes.” — Amedeo Modigliani
Techniques/Textiles: Machine pieced, extensive machine thread painted, machine quilted/Kimono Silk, cotton and thrift shop finds, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 24” W x 30” H
For Sale $1450
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “Kandinsky in Red” – June 2016
Inspiration: Colour Study, Squares with Concentric Circles (1913)
“There is no must in art because art is free.” — Wassily Kandinsky
Techniques/Textiles: Turned under machine appliquéd, machine quilted/Cotton, silk, organza and thrift shop finds, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 29.5” W x 23.75” H
For Sale $1450
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “Cézanne in Orange” – May 2016
Inspiration: The Card Players (1895)
“I owe you the truth in painting and I will tell it to you.” — Paul Cézanne
Techniques/Textiles: Raw edge appliquéd, extensive machine thread painted, machine quilted, hand painted, hand stitched/Cotton, silk, hand dyed cotton and thrift shop finds, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 27.75” W x 23.75” H
For Sale $1800
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
Title: “Klimt in Orange-Yellow” – July 2017
Inspiration: The Kiss (1908) and The Tree of Life (1909)
“Art is a line around your thoughts.” — Gustav Klimt
Techniques/Textiles: Raw edge machine appliquéd, machine quilted/Cotton, silk, mixed fibres, hand dyed cotton and organza, wool batting. Hand mounted to acid free black foam core, framed.
Dimensions: 15.5” W x 39.5” H
SOLD
Photography: Tony Bounsall, www.tonybounsall.com
Framing: Jane Connor, www.matshop.com
