In the Midnight Hour Painting

I have been layering paint and hand-cut paper in a lot of my works in recent years. I felt like adding another element to the mix. One that signifies strength and bonds. I chose thread because it is a material I grew up around; I learnt embroidery, knitting and crochet from my grandmother. I saw her do it all her life. So while I didn't have time to embroider anything, I decided to amalgamate thread with my signature hand-cut paper pattern. I wrapped the thread around the delicate but precisely cut paper. I used a seam ripper, and a hooked but blunt needle. Both tools I got from my grandmother over two decades ago. I used the needle as one does when sewing, except this was around paper, that bends and can tear. The seam ripper helped loop the thread under and over the paper when the needle couldn't go around the paper. Needless to say, it was a tedious process, but ultimately a rewarding one. This piece the first of its kind in my body of work, and one that conceptually comes together with the process beautifully. Night time is my favourite time. It's when I'm most creative and alert, its when I worked on this piece, and steadily into the night till it was dawn. The hand-cut paper pattern in my work signifies the home, protection, safety. It tends to be white and keeps the colour at bay in a lot of my works. Here the colour has seeped out in the pattern. Taking over, as elements do in nature. It represents a time where I am willing to let myself be out in the open. It is allowing others to come in and see me, and the colours and qualities I possess. Artwork size is 20x30 inches. With mount and frame it will be 28x39 inches. It will be shipped in a wooden crate.