Colours and Covid – Guest Blogger: Maureen Goldsmith

Level 3 Advanced Studies in Experimental Stitch – Class Name: Bachelor Buttons – Blog 8 in a Series of 8

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  Covid Bird – Sketchbook Front Cover © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Covid Bird – Sketchbook – Color Studies and Sketches © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Covid Bird Hand Stitched © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Covid Bird – Stitch Sample in Sketchbook © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Covid Bird – Full Piece © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Covid Bird – Detail – Delicate Hand Stitching © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Covid Bird – Detail – Covid Bird is in Charge! © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Trellis Applique – Hand Stitched © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Shadow Confetti Applique © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Chain Stitch Bird © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Color Study with A Variety of Fabric © Maureen Goldsmith

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  Buttonhole Variations Stitch Sample © Maureen Goldsmith

When I began my research for a wall hanging I struggled to find an idea that I wanted to pursue. Then Wassily Kandinsky, a Russian artist, came to mind. I like the way he used colour and shapes in his pieces. I began by looking closely at his painted works, particularly “Gentle Accent”. Using that piece as my inspiration I began sketching a design that had a mind of it’s own right from the start. It was very different from Kandinsky’s piece. My piece included stylized trees and a variety of birds, one of which quickly developed a personality unlike the others.  

As I was developing a paper version of the trees and birds in my design, this bird started talking to me – actually bullying me, to make him considerably bigger than the rest. At this time Covid was running wild and there was always someone telling us what to do or not do and I got the feeling that this bossy bird in my design was doing the same thing to the other birds. Hence the name Covid Bird! Maureen Goldsmith