Gallery Reception Thursday, October 2

If you missed the opening reception for my current show at the Amherst Town Hall, I will be hosting a second reception next Thursday, October 2, from 5:30 pm - 8 pm in conjunction with the First Thursday Art Walk.  Stop by to say hello, check out some of my latest work, and peek into some of the other local galleries while you're in town!

I'll be hanging a few new pieces for the duration of my show, which ends October 30. 

Can't make the reception?  The Town Hall is open 8 - 4:30 daily.  Be sure to catch the pieces hanging in the stairwell on  the 2nd and 3rd floors too!  Access is immediately to your left as you enter the building.

Starry Night Over the Pioneer Valley

Storm Horse

Gentle dawns and sultry sunlit afternoons catch viewers unawares, drawing them into the present moment and providing respite from our busy minds. Reflecting different moods and times of day, my landscapes and flowers range from the pale stillness of early morning to the passionate rich blues of evening.

Exhibit - September & October

Time of Day:  Art Quilts by Elizabeth Sylvan

September 2 – October 30

8 am – 4:30 pm

Amherst Town Hall

4 Boltwood Avenue

 

Artist's Reception:  Thursday, September 4, 5-8 pm

Gentle dawns and sultry sunlit afternoons catch viewers unawares, drawing them into the present moment and providing respite from busy minds.  Reflecting different moods and times of day, these landscapes and flowers range from the pale stillness of early morning to the passionate rich blues of evening. 

My one-of-a-kind art quilts are intended to delight the eye and quiet the mind while exploring value, color, and natural themes.  An art quilter for 17 years, I use fiber to capture that moment of solitude when the observer feels connected to the world.  My small wall-hangings recall universal images and symbols:  the sun, moon, mountains, birds, trees, seasons and water, mixed with a touch of the whimsical.  I use raw edge applique, and have also been known to use found and recycled items such as driftwood, dryer sheets, and the foil wrappers from gold chocolate coins!

Autumn Sunrise With Birds is done!

So, the autumn sunrise with birds quilt is finally done.  This has definitely been one of those projects that runs away with you.  Once the quilt develops a mind of its own, there’s not much to do but follow its lead.  With this one, the stitching just seemed to go on forever.  On top of that, I always spend too much energy worrying about whether a commission will meet the expectations of the client.  That makes it harder to work on it as it gets closer to being finished.  But, tackling one small section at a time seems to have finally done the trick, and I’m happy with the results!  I’m especially fond of the juncos and the foreground – time to go shopping and replenish my supply of leafy browns and greens! 

Iris Summer

So, since I'm having a busy month anyway, I thought I'd finish this one this morning.  One of the pieces in my exhibit at the library sold and I need to ship it tomorrow, and of course I wouldn't want to leave a blank space on the wall.  The largest flower features hand-coloring with Inktense colored pencils.  Gotta love purple!

This one's available on my etsy site here.

Phoenix Quilt Layout

Moving right along, here's the phoenix quilt layout.   Still need to cut out the last two birds, but I'm getting a bruise and callous on my thumb, 'cause I use right-handed scissors in my left hand. 
Everything is fused in place, and I'll be stitching down all the raw edges and adding a small border.

Phoenix Quilt

This is my other current project - a quilt inspired by a favorite Quilter's Newsletter Magazine cover from back in 2006.  I'm designing my own blocks, with a similar layout but featuring birds instead of fans and scrolls.  Here's my basic block design, and the cover of the original magazine. 

some birds will be red, some gold, some pink, some orange, the background blocks will be blues and purples

I've got a ways to go, but I'm having lots of fun!

Artist in Residence at the Jones Library

For the month of June, I'm the artist in residence at the Jones Library in Amherst.  Samples of my work are on display in the atrium, and I'll be there in person on select days, working on some of my current projects.  Stop by and take a look!  The glass ceiling is gorgeous. The room was a tad bit warm when I hung my quilts today, but the staff were fantastic!