Acrylic, beads, and thread on fabric

I love to explore the interplay between found pattern (in this case, on fabric) and a painted image. The bright orange and red ginkgo pattern fabric was the basis for this piece. In painting the portrait, letting bits of the fabric's pattern remaining exposed, a narrative of strength and resilience began to emerge. An abstract interpretation of ginkgo leaves was embroidered directly onto the piece, incorporating subtle beadwork. It was only after painting and embroidering the work that I researched symbolism around the ginkgo tree, and the story of this portrait was cemented. Ginko trees in Japan survived the atomic bombing at Hiroshima - an extreme example of their tenacity, with their seeds serving as powerful examples of nature recovering after a disaster. The woman portrayed here is "Still Standing," and the viewer can draw from their own experience to fill in the details of the challenges she has faced.