Tree Map

I finally finished “Tree Map” a 38 x 38″ piece made up of 12 x 12″ squares. Mounting, backing, and wiring took some doing. I’d broken my wrist in December, and am still gaining strength in my right hand. (Yes I am right handed!)

But it is luminous as a whole. I don’t know if the photo will really show it, but I’m proud of it.

The materials are fabrics, papers, bits of plastic bags (a manner of recycling), and layers and layers of Mistyfuse, a light weight fusible web.

Tree Map in room

Martha Ressler Tree Map 38 x 38″

Day 30

Yeah!  This is the last day.

I had hoped to maybe get two 12 x 12 squares of the Tree Map finished today, but I didn’t, quite.  They are small, but take extra time because of the hand stitching on them.

I like the look of today’s piece, the central one, the best. I now have my method down, and this one has such an interesting pattern of rot, in the center of the tree, where I guess it would be! I’m using layers of Mistyfuse to hold together thin layers of fabric pieces, cut up plastic bags, and paper. Some of the Mistyfuse layers are painted.

I should note that I haven’t had professional photos of these pieces — just me and my camera in different lighting conditions. When it is done it will look better!

When I started the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge I hoped to maybe complete 20.  In the end I think I did 27, and am pleased. Two of these were crafty items — not really counting as art — but they took up as much time. In the beginning I had a head start, using some pieces I’d almost completed in December.

But then I got into a work rhythm (I hate to use “frenzy”!) and worked long days to complete an entire quilt each day.

I’ve almost kept up with my volunteer, arts organization, work during this time. But some tasks will need to be caught up in February.

Cheers to everyone who participated in this challenge.  And thank you Leslie Saeta for organizing it.

Martha Ressler Tree Map 5

M Ressler Tree Map entire day 5

Day 28

This is the third square of the Tree Map piece. Now I’m going to color shift for the middle three squares.

I got my order of Mistyfuse in just in time yesterday to complete this piece. I’d begun working on another project so as not to waste any time.

I won’t be able to complete the Tree Map for the 30 for 30 art challenge which ends January 30, but I plan to keep posting until it is done. Hate to leave dangling ends! It may not be every day, though, as other work has been piling up this January.

The challenge has indeed caused me to push myself, and I have experimented, as was the intent. I hope the other artists have had the same good experience with this.  Thank you Leslie Saeta for issuing the challenge and keeping up the website.

http://30paintingsin30days.weebly.com/

Day 25

Mother is walking the squirrel, Mrs. Turkey Hen looks for her baby, who is next door trying to learn to read. Meanwhile Banana man checks on the weather, while the children play.

Another one in the series of life in the country, as it isn’t! The title is Curious Happenings, and the size is 15.75 x 33.5 This was a one day piece, albeit all-day! I’m using the same technique of pieces of plastic bags overlaid with tulle, or sheer fabrics. The original photos are printed onto cloth, and the commercial cotton pictures are backed with Mistyfuse and “fussy cut.”

Only five days left!  I might change direction today.

Martha Ressler Curious Happenings 15.75 x 33.25

M Ressler Curious Happenings detail 1

M Ressler Curious Happenings detail 2