(Click on Image for detail.)
My embroidery pieces start as drawings, sometimes with parts rearranged until I am satisfied with the composition. Using a light table, I secure the starched high thread count muslin over the drawing.
Then, I trace the image with an indelible fine-line pigment marker onto the fabric. Often, the drawing details are merely suggested, allowing the thread colors and stitches to define the image rather than the linear drawing.
I use seed stitches in a manner akin to painting brushstrokes to build the surface, modulate shapes and forms, provide texture, and create a sense of depth.
Typically, I use one strand of six-ply embroidery floss to achieve the desired level of detail. Occasionally, I utilize standard embroidery stitches such as a chain, blanket or couching stitches to define the imagery.
