Suburban Wild Series
Master of All He Surveys
The Inspiration
Artwork Details
Technique: Thread Painting
Dimensions: 8" wide x 10" high
Collection: Suburban Wild Series
Availability: Private Collection
Several years ago, I was exhibiting my work at an art show in Arizona. Because I had traveled by car, I brought mostly my thread paintings since they were lighter and easier to transport.
People are naturally curious about how they're made, so I always have a sample available that visitors can touch. It lets them feel the layers of fabric and stitching and even see the back of the artwork. The finished pieces themselves are normally off-limits because oils and dirt from repeated handling can damage the surface.
Late one morning, a husband gently guided his wife into my booth. It quickly became apparent that she was blind. I made an exception and invited her to touch the artwork.
She slowly explored the surface with her fingertips, then suddenly stopped.
"It feels like a cat... and some sort of frame," she said.
She wasn't simply feeling the texture. She was recognizing the image.
She explored several other pieces but kept returning to the cat. After thanking me, the couple quietly left. I remember thinking how wonderful it was that my artwork could be experienced in a way I had never imagined.
Later that afternoon, they returned.
While they stood in front of the artwork, I gave them some space and overheard the husband quietly ask, "Do you want them both?"
"No," she answered. "Just this one."
It was the cat.
As they were leaving with the artwork, her husband turned to me and quietly said, "Thank you for creating art that can be felt."
I've never forgotten those words.
A Memorable Encounter
My cat, Lucifer, loved sitting in the kitchen window. Other than my lap, it was his favorite place in the house. This portrait is how I like to remember him.
Creating the texture of his fur took countless stitches and many hours of work. Layer by layer, thousands of stitches gradually built the softness and depth of his coat.