Another Stitched Piece

This piece is inspired by a photograph of my dad from 1938, when he was twenty years old. He proudly stands with his workhorse colt.

The background is a transfer from a photocopy of a fortress wall. I cut out the figure and colt that I drew on freezer paper and ironed it to the linen backing. Next, I spread white acrylic paint on the photocopy and placed it paint side down on the fabric and rubbed the paper so that the paint adhered. This was left to dry overnight. The next day, I used a sponge to dampen the paper and rub it off, leaving the image of the wall.  Then it was safe to carefully remove the freezer paper. This gave me an area where I could appliqué and stitch the figures without having to try to sew through plastic.

This transfer is not perfect, but I decided to embrace the imperfections feeling that a barn wall could have some scars.

The horse and clothes are made from fabrics I dyed with natural dyes.

I don't think anyone will recognize my father from the stitched piece, but I am happy with it. Faces are hard!