Special sale: Dead Bird Collection- embroidered drawings

I am a BIG BIG fan of symbology, imagery and metaphor. I feed on it like some kind of voracious vampire.

As I was collecting a few books from my personal library to donate to our local community mini library, I pulled out an old book I had forgotten about.

Oh, how I love finding what I need in my personal library! I guess the whole exercise in finding books to donate was actually Universe letting me know I was supposed to find this book today. Sorry! I am not donating this one! It goes straight into my tote bag for coffee shop reading.

The imagery Shakespeare instinctively uses is thus a revelation, largely unconscious, given at a moment of heightened feeling, of the furniture of his mind, the channels of his thoughts, the qualities of things, the objects and incidents he observes and remembers, and perhaps most significant of all, those which he does not observe or remember. -Caroline Spurgeon

Symbols and metaphors play a huge part in my creative process. For example, in my current project, Molly- a true crime analysis, birds (dead birds, bird skulls and live birds as well as forest animals and insects) act as messengers and symbols of the main character’s quest for liberation and redemption.

In dreams, dead birds can symbolize a loss of freedom. Various cultures view birds either as a way the soul is carried to heaven, or, in the case of vultures, ravens and crows, as a symbol of death. [source]

And of late, those of you that know me, know I have been obsessively embroidering my drawings.

—

Why embroidered drawings?

I have mentioned this in previous posts that certain drawings in Molly (in particular chapter headings) are embroidered as a means to reflect the act of connecting the dots and weaving together timelines, evidence and research. The stitches are footsteps on a map. It reflects deep thought and the passage of time. It is historical. Traditional. Sacred. It is about strengthening the fragile. It fascinates me that a medium so cheap and easily torn such as newsprint becomes strong and hardy when layered and sewn together. It can be manipulated and folded, handled, and only gains a lovelier patina. There is something magical in that.

Fundraiser:

I need to stock up on art supplies for my various art initiatives including programming for youth and seniors!!!

Inspired by a patron who reached out for a commissioned drawing (based on a special dead bird collection drawing I made awhile back), I am delighted to announce that I will be reinterpreting this original drawing (that was sold at Salmagundi West) as part of my art supply fundraiser:

Special sale:

So, I am taking orders this week for 18″ x 24″ dead bird embroidered drawings on paper for $125.00 CAD per piece, plus $20.00 shipping.

Note: The birds are my interpretation and usually drawn from photographs sent to me from “my team” (#deadbirdtuesdays) and will differ from the original above but will total 6 on the sheet. I will OF COURSE consider special request (e.g. specific birds, inclusion of insects etc.) The order will take approx 3-5 weeks to complete.