Art Show Part Three

My art show opening was such a wonderful experience! It was great to see my friends, family & co-workers who were able to come out & support me. It was fun to meet new people, & talk to a fellow artist about our work. Thank you!

Teri McCan's black & white watercolor canvases are stunning

Teri McCan talking about her process

One of my pieces with their label. So official.

Me, Jude, Julie, Katie Beth in front of my embroidery at the opening.

If you were unable to come to the opening, the show is up until Friday, August 5, 2016. If you play Pokemon Go!, LARAC is a Pokemon Gym. Stop in. See some art. Catch some Pokemon. Have a battle. It's free. The image below is from Advokate, LLC organizer of this past weekend's Pokemon Go!/ Glens Falls Art Trail event.

Pidgey & redwork portraits (image by Kate Austin-Avon)

Or, you could see my work & learn how I create my embroidered portraits at my workshop on Saturday, August 6, 2016 from 1:00-4:00 PM.

Workshop Rethinking Embroidery Designs- August 6, 2016

Happy Stitching!

Art Show: Part Two Point Five

Today is the day! Opening reception is tonight (July 8, 2016) from 5:00-7:00 PM at LARAC. I can't tell you how excited & nervous I am.

I found while getting ready for this show, that framing, hanging, mounting et al is... difficult. Especially when working with something like embroidery which is, usually, displayed a different way. That has been my biggest learning curve while transitioning from crafter to artist.

Getting ready to drop off pieces for my art show. I had to buy an iron. Lol #environmentalportraits #embroideredportrait #idabwells #artshow #embroidery #handembroidery #redwork

A photo posted by Tisha (@aprilsongstress) on Jul 1, 2016 at 8:16am PDT

Being that I am the local one in this show, I have been trying to drum up as much support as possible. I have been very active on social media...

My first art show opens this Friday. If you happen to be in the Glens Falls, NY area, stop in! Opening reception is July 8th 5-7 pm. Show runs July 8th through August 5th. #environmentalportraits #embroideredportrait #embroidery #handembroidery #redwork #whatisart #laphamgallery #LARAC #GlensFallsNY #artexhibit

A photo posted by Tisha (@aprilsongstress) on Jul 6, 2016 at 6:53pm PDT

Opening reception tomorrow 5-7 PM! Meet Teri McCans & me! @LARAC_ARTS #environmentalportraits #embroideredportraits https://t.co/bv3N1oq6Wu

— TishaDolton (@aprilsongstress) July 7, 2016

Preview of tonight's opening! I hope some of you can make it to Glens Falls to see the show… https://t.co/k9356avngw

— TishaDolton (@aprilsongstress) July 8, 2016

Hope to see some friendly faces, new & old!

Preview of tonight's opening! I hope some of you can make it to Glens Falls to see the show @larac_arts #environmentalportraits #embroideredportrait #embroidery #handembroidery #redwork #laphamgallery #LARAC #GlensFallsNY

A photo posted by Tisha (@aprilsongstress) on Jul 8, 2016 at 6:00am PDT

Happy Stitching!

Previous posts on this subject:
Art Show: Part One
Art Show: Part Two

Art Show: Part Two

As I mentioned in my previous post, my upcoming art show, Environmental Portraits features installation, along with drawn, stitched, and painted artworks that explore actual portraiture or present a portrait of our society or place runs from July 8 til August 5, 2016 at LARAC's Lapham Gallery in Glens Falls, NY.

I also mentioned I was in awe of the other artists I am paired with. Check out some of their work below & visit their websites!


Teri McCans

Teri McCans is an artist and firefighter living in Colorado. She is originally from New Jersey, and earned her BFA from the College of New Jersey. She served two combat tours in Iraq, as well.

Enigmatic, Equivocal by Teri McCans

From Teri's website: 

Teri transforms her interpretations into a visual language that is accessible yet befitting the world’s complexity. She finds immense joy when her work connects to those not accustomed to the world of Art. Although her work is influenced from personal narrative; her use of color, shape, and form is universal and recognizable.

Kamilah Campbell

Kamilah Campbell, originally from Philadelphia, she earned her BFA from Clemson University, and her MFA from Notre Dame University. 


The piece below is from an installation at Brozosport College in 2014, where Ms. Campbell taught Sculpture.

Ms. Lady by Kamilah Campbell

From Kamilah's artist statement: 

My work is an iteration of the African-American home where the beautiful and grotesque nature of its interior is represented in a physically and psychologically engulfing surface or space.

Susan D'Amato

Susan D'Amato earned her BFA from the University of Connecticut at Storrs and her MFA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an Associate Professor at the School of Art at Syracuse University.

detail of The Taxonomy of Air; from the Ten Thousand Things by Susan D'Amato

From Susan's profile page at SU:

Susan D’Amato is interested the visual and conceptual relationships between the body and universal forms. She is the recipient of numerous national and international awards and has exhibited her work extensively in prominent venues throughout the United States and abroad.

As you can see, I am in some rather talented company! I can't wait to see the show. & I hope some of you will be able to come. 

Happy stitching!

Art Show: Part One

As some of you know, I am having my first ever art show. I am very excited & more than a little overwhelmed. I mentioned to my friend, Jon, that I was not sure if I should be scared, or flattered, to be featured with the three other artists, he said I should be both. & he is right (as he all too often is).

The show is called: Environmental Portraits & it runs at LARAC's Lapham Gallery in Glens Falls, NY July 8 through August 5, 2016. The Opening Reception is on July 8, 2016 from 5:00-7:00 PM.

Environmental Portraits features installation, along with drawn, stitched, and painted artworks that explore actual portaiture or present a portrait of our society or place.

Hopefully, if you are reading this, you are familiar with my work & are a fan. Over the next few weeks, I will share the work of my fellow artist, Kamilah Campbell, Susan D'Amato, and Teri McCans, with you. I have no idea what pieces they submitted in last year's call for art, but I can't wait to see their works alongside mine.

Here is a taste of a piece I am working on for the exhibition!

Trying to finish ip this piece to move on to the next one in the series. #embroideredportrait #embroidery #handembroidery #redwork

A photo posted by Tisha (@aprilsongstress) on Jun 9, 2016 at 4:25pm PDT

Happy Stitching!

Aprilsongstress @ the Shirt Factory on March 7th

I've signed up for another event! Aprilsongstress Designs will be on the 2nd floor of the Shirt Factory Arts & Healing Center in Glens Falls, NY for Beat the Winter Blues.

Mention what social media platform you follow me on & receive 20% on any in stock hand embroidered item, or 10% off a custom order.


Facebook
Twitter
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Flickr
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Blogspot
Pinterest

Embroidered portrait hoop art by Aprilsongstress

Redwork pillows by Aprilsongstress

Join the event on my Facebook page. I hope to see you there!


Happy Stitching!

Featured on another blog: Jane's Folly

My friend, & fellow blogger, Jane Weston recently asked me some questions about my embroidery & process. Here's a taste...

What was your favorite piece you’ve made?

“My favorite pieces are the embroidered portraits I do of my daughter. She takes great selfies. She’s so funny, sarcastic, smart, creative & beautiful. She inspires me every day.”

 

An embroidered portrait of my daughter, Fiona

 

Check out the whole piece on Jane's Folly.


Happy Stitching,

Embroidered Portraits featured at LARAC 2014

Tonight is the night! The Opening Reception for this year's Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council's (LARAC) Holiday Shop! The reception is from 5:00-7:00 pm at the LARAC Gallery, 7 Lapham Place in Glens Falls, NY. The shop will be open November 13, 2014 through December 24, 2014-

LARAC Holiday Shop in Glens Falls, NY through Christmas Eve*

Aprilsongstress Designs is just one of the many local businesses featured. Stop in & see my display of embroidered portraits, & check out what everyone else has on display!

Check out my Instagram page^

If you'd like to meet me, I will be at the Opening Reception around 6:00 pm. I hope to see you there!

Happy Stitching,

*Image by LARAC: Click HERE

^@aprilsongstress on Instagram

La Catrina por tercera vez (for the 3rd time)

I love this embroidery pattern so much, I did it again.

La Catrina in progress

La Catrina completed

Now what to do with her. The first was on a pair of jeans for charity. The 2nd was on a shirt for me. I could make another pillow. I could confine her to hoop art. But I want to do something different. I guess I'm still searching for my niche in the embroidered portrait world.

Me as La Catrina- Halloween costume 2014

 Happy Stitching,

Happy 1st Birthday Alice!

My SIL & brother's first grandchild (well, only) turned 1 this week. They came up from New Orleans to celebrate that along with Father's Day, & my dad's 68th birthday.

I decided to embroider an adorable picture of Alice that her mother posted on Facebook. I copied the photo in black & white & then traced right on the copy. I did a mirror image & photocopied it at 150% to make the pattern larger.

Picture of Alice & the pattern I made

Let the embroidery begin

I decided to use purple  because it is one of my SIL's favorite colors! Below you can see the embroidered portrait compared to the original pic.

Picture vs. embroidered portrait

My mom made the embroidered portrait into a 11"x12"  pillow sham! I love it & so does my SIL.

Embroidered portrait of Alice Eating a Lollipop, 10 months

Happy Stitching!

Solomon Northup in redwork

I've known the story of Solomon Northup for a number of years. He & his wife Anne lived in Kingsbury/Sandy Hill (Washington County, NY my home county) where they had a farm, before moving to Saratoga Springs. He had ties to the Old Fort House in Fort Edward, NY across the street from my best friend's childhood home. A colleague of mine (Cliff Oliver) is a Solomon Northup re-enactor. I've read 12 Years a Slave more than once. The language is beautiful, & the experience visceral. I highly recommend it.

I was very pleased when the movie adaptation of 12 Years a Slave won Oscars for Best Motion Picture of the Year & Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Lupita Nyong'o). However, I was most excited when it won for Best Adapted Screenplay (John Ridley). To me, this was the biggest win, for it was like Solomon himself won an award for his writing. I cried.

Pattern of Solomon Northup

 Since there are no known images of Solomon, I used a still from the film, with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon, as a basis for my redwork pattern.

 I was working on this embroidered portrait the night of the Academy Awards.

Tonight's #MovieToStitchTo is the #Oscars2014 of course! Embroidering a #12YearsASlave inspired #redwork pic.twitter.com/LEOFlbCk2h
— TishaDolton (@aprilsongstress) March 3, 2014

The final redwork portrait of Somolon Northup by aprilsongstress

I really like how the embroidered portrait came out. Just need to finish up the framing.

Saratoga Springs, NY has declared the 3rd Saturday in July to be Solomon Northup Day.

Happy Stitching!

My kid is a teenager!

Yesterday was my daughter Fiona's 13th birthday. We had such a great day, coffee & pastries at Starbucks in Saratoga Springs, NY, then on to X-Men: Days of Future Past at Criterion Cinemas (awesome, by the way & definitely NOT a #MovieToStitchTo). Next we went to Barnes & Noble for a paperback copy of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green which she has been dying to read (which is saying something, as she is not a big reader, unlike me.) Then had dinner at Denny's (I was very good & had a salad- no mozzarella sticks for me). Wilton Mall & Target filled out the day out. At home , after my run/walk, we watched Mean Girls. You can tell our gift cards were burning holes in our pockets!

To commemorate this momentous occasion on teenager-hood, I give you my latest embroidered portrait of my spunky, fabulous daughter.

Embroidered portrait of Fiona in Batman beanie

This portrait has Fiona's stamp of approval because she likes how she looks in this selfie she took.

Happy Stitching,

40th Birthday Redwork Selfie (but not a selfie)

Wow! It's been nearly a month since I posted. WTF!

Well, I haven't been idle. I've actually completed a few portraits in that time, 4 to be exact. Plus I started working on a historical music program I have had in my cranium for quite sometime. & then there is work, family & friends... Life can get hectic, but 40 is shaping up to be GREAT thus far. Oh, & I've started running. (shhhh! It's a secret. LOL)

Me (Tisha) at my 40th birthday party

Apparently, I suck at taking selfies (per my daughter, & she's nearly 13 so she knows everything). So, Fiona took this pic of me while we were waiting for everyone to simmer down so I could blow out my candle on my awesome cake (see pic at the end).

Redwork version of being 40

Using my usual technique, I made this redwork version of me at 40 sticking my tongue out at my daughter. I'm so very grown-up!

My 40th birthday cake

My bestie, Sandy of Quigley's Cakes, made this amazing cake for my 40th. She was able to incorporate my love of toile, redwork, books, & women's history all in one Tisha cake! Thank you to Sandy & all my friends & family who celebrated with me!


Happy Stitching!

Procrastination Station: Doctor Who

While I sat contemplating tracing out my next large project (tracing is the most tedious part of the whole embroidery project), I came across another project. So, because I am a master procrastinator, I decided to work on that project instead. Cue tedious tracing of 11 patterns...

Why 11, you may ask. Sounds like an odd number of patterns for a project. (Pun intended BTW.) I will tell you. They are Doctor Who patterns. All 11 Doctors as drawn by a few awesome embroiderers. The link to my flickr set is here.

So far I completed 6 of 11. Not bad since the Doctor Who Stitch-a-long started more than 2 months ago. & I just heard about it.

10th Doctor as played by David Tenant

Doctors 10 & 6 were designed by Jennifer Ofenstein.

9th Doctor

The 9th Doctor was designed by Aalia Zaman.

8th Doctor

The 8th Doctor was designed by Jordan Frederick.

7th Doctor

Doctors 5 & 7 were designed by Kristel Carnahan.

6th Doctor

Now, I am not a huge Doctor Who fan, but I have many friends who are, so I thought this would be a fun way to show off my embroidery to them & procrastinate at the same time. Ha!  For more information on this & to get the patterns... check out Fandom In Stitches!

5th Doctor

 More to come as I finish this up. Then I will have to commit myself fully to what I am avoiding.

It's (nearly) Fair Time!

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Summer means lots of things to lots of people, but I think many would agree that "The Fair" is a summer must. No matter where you live, fond memories of local county fairs abound.

For me & mine this means the Washington County Fair on Route 29 in Greenwich, NY. (The fair is technically in the Town of Easton, but as Easton has no post office, or even one, unified zip code, the address says Greenwich. Bear with me, the historian in me is coming out. Let me switch gears again.) It is, arguably, the best county fair in NY State.

Anyway, Mom & I have decided to (gasp) enter some of our projects in the fair! Why had we not thought of this before? Mom has been quilting for nearly 20 years & she used to win awards for her clothes when she was in 4-H. The quilt divisions tend to be pretty competitive, but Mom did get 3rd place in the NY State DAR competition!

The needlework/embroidery/cross-stitch divisions tend to be a bit more open. I have quite a few pieces that fit into the categories. Plus, two more projects I need to complete before the middle of August. All told, we are submitted 6 items each!

portrait of Fiona in progress- based on a selfie

Oh, & Mom has a new blog! Check it out here...

Little Mix project- Jade, Leigh-Anne, Jesy

So I have completed the embroidery portion of the Little Mix project for my daughter. I think they came out just as good, if not better than the One Direction portraits. Now to make them into something. I was originally thinking 4 pillows, but now I am thinking 2 with 2 members on each, or 1 giant pillow. Hmmm...

Well, while I remain indecisive, check them out below!

Fiona chose for Jade Thirlwall to be embroidered in blue, because Jade is her fave, just like Louis is her fave in 1D (I embroidered Louis in blue too. Remember?) Blue is not her favorite color, she just wanted Jade & Louis to match.

Jade before embroidery

Jade after embroidery

Next up: Leigh-Anne Pinnock is embroidered in the same green as Niall of 1D. Leigh-Anne didn't take as long to embroider because of her straight ponytail in the image below.

Leigh-Anne before embroidery

Leigh-Anne after embroidery

The 3rd & oldest member of Little Mix: Jesy Nelson is embroidered in orange just like Harry. The pillow(s) will match the One Direction quilt, using the same fabrics & colors.

Jesy before embroidery

Gathering supplies. Let embroidery commence.

The underside of embroidery

Jesy after embroidery

The 4th member of Little Mix I blogged about a couple of weeks ago: Perrie Edwards. Let me know what you think of my embroidered portraits. Check out my flickr. "Like" me on Facebook. Follow me on twitter: @aprilsongstress

Now on to my next project!