Temari 1st Eight Spheres

• Temari, my first eight spheres. Pass on by any and all noted errors, please.  One begins where one is. When forms begin to emerge on the work table that you thought would never  amount to much, but surprise you anyway, now it’s time for a singing something celebration.  I’m delighted with this new beginning. So far all range from 2.5” to 4.5 ” diameter. Small and potent .   Geometry has caught my attention, again. 
  

Beaded Temari 5 x 3 Floral Dodecahedron

This new Temari grid is beaded over a floral tapestry upholstery fabric. Two separate grids layer across the ground fabric. The use of the skin that makes the sphere as a third grid pattern really appeals to me.  Small glass seed beads are hand sewn into the surface of the skin using the eye as the placing device rather than perfect measuring. Yes there are places where the “points” meet perfectly and places where they don’t. I like the variations as they allow me to see imperfections and appreciate how the beauty still becomes dominant.

Matrix of Dirt

This new sphere is 14” diameter. The theme of this design has the dicotyledon form of seeds that go into the ground, joined together by the star form found when one cuts through the circumference of an apple. There are three basic geometric grids that define the spaces. They are dictated by the truncatedicosahedron geometric solid .     What is dirt? What activities are going on under the soils surface? Winters hibernation process prepares the simple seed for its next stage.  Energy and growth, both unseen until sunlight and water cast their spells every spring. I can see this same process taking place within myself as I move through the years cycles.

Beaded Temari 3

This sphere is made using a geometric  form called icosadodecahedron.  A combination of pentagram and equilateral triangle.  The surface design grid is translated from a pattern used in the world of Temari.  It is 7” in diameter. Hand made form and beaded directly into the surface.

Mustard Stars

The newest sphere, 8” diameter. The blending of structure and pattern from the realm of Temari feels like a perfect fit for my long and fruitful association building geometric spheres. What an amazing evolution this has become. Each one unique and yet a simple variation on a few basic structural components. The fade across the mustard stars really pleases me and the depth it creates has my eye and brain humming. All the various stages to completion are included here, just in case you’ve wondered about the how of it.  

Traditional Women’s Bag Set

These two bags are the traditional personal kit every woman needed to carry her essential gear. The smaller, 7”x4.5” is a belt bag made using the lower leg hide from a deer with red wool trim, antique trade beads and antler button closure.  The larger bag, 10”x7” is made from the lower leg hide of an elk. 

New Directions-Temari-The Learning Balls

Learning a new medium. Temari is a traditional art form from Japan. It uses thread  wound into a sphere and then marked with a geometric grid. Using the under-structure of these lines, a design is embroidered over the surface. These balls are 3” to 4” diameter, so small and brilliant is their world. It seems that diving even deeper into the realm of detail and calculation and relationship of elements is the heart of this new direction. The challenge so far is centered around acceptance of errors in the process of learning, and spending more time and focus on setting up the under structure so that what comes after and covers this structure becomes more balanced. The avenue of searching for perfection is alive and well. It is the search that stirs the juices.

Dodecahedron Temari 1

The newest dodecahedron is 8” diameter. I translated a design structure from the world of  Temari. I love the under-over idea of separate patterns holding space on the same sphere.

Canopy Dweller

The newest circle painting, a Poison Dark frog flying through the philodendron canopy. 34” diameter. Small and perfect the frog seems to defy camouflage rules but I guess when your body is toxic to others, that’s quit enough.

The Curvature of Imperfection

Geometrics again take the front line. Spring green and sky blue surround the vesicular form of the three fold goddess. A  great feeling to be playing with beads and color once more. The intense color palate excites me.

The mix of cut beads that sparkle adds a secondary visual dimension.  My hiatus into painting for the past 10 months has enlivened the color field I think. This sphere is 8” diameter. The icosahedron form is comprised of 20 equilateral triangles making a form with gentle peaks at the apex of each corner. More and more honey keeps pouring forth. My cup runneth over.