Reef 2 / Blue

From the Artist: My work over the years has often used landscape as reference. I continue to explore its subtle color gradations, painting dye on with a brush before pleating the silk. The layered construction of quilts also has a connection to the layers of the earth's geology, which intrigues me. When steaming the silk to set the dyes, I also found (by accident!) that it also permanently set in creases (pleats!). Now I use a smocking pleater to pleat 10" strips of painted silk (which are later seamed together with the pleater), tie them up tightly, and steam them before assembling them into a quilt top.

Techniques: Hand dyed silk, hand stitched, pleated
Culture: American
Geographic Location: North and Central America - United States
Credit Line: The Marbaum Collection, Gift of Hilary and Marvin Fletcher