Kathleen Farnsworth

In the past, I had a love affair with batik fabric and had an extensive collection of curated pieces. I created functional art and paired them with my handmade ceramic buttons to create truly unique pieces. For 12 years I was successful at selling in local shops on the coast of Maine, and summertime was by far the busiest season. The artist in me was singing and people loved my stuff! After a while it was hard keeping up with demand. After all, I was a one woman show. I spent my days and nights producing and quickly found myself in a rut of making the same things over and over. I was making art for the masses, and not for myself. The thrill was fading, but I was making sales. Something had to give, as I was longing to slow down and spend more time designing. I was living in the shadow side of my Artist and the Prostitute was convincing me that I had to keep my nose to the grindstone and tough it out.

The winter brought contemplation. I researched workshops designed to grow as an artist. I found botanical printing and shibori fascinating. The more classes I took, the more excited I became about taking my work in a new direction, creating my own fabric using these methods. Could I allow myself to play with no particular result? The Saboteur was rearing its ugly head and trying to convince me that I had no time to play. I had to produce! Pushing through this was my only way out. So I did. The light side of the Prostitute was showing me I could do this.

Cosmos on the Water is one of my most prized pieces. It represents faith in myself and the courage to step out of a very comfortable place to grow as an artist. Could I combine the two methods of shibori and botanical printing? The Engineer emerged to help, and the Prostitute showed me that I could do it. I started with arashi shibori; wrapping fabric around a pole and compressing at one end before dipping in indigo dye. Next, Cosmos flowers were picked and placed randomly on top of the finished arashi piece and put into a heat press to transfer the images. Voila! It worked! I was amazed at what was possible while playing. My inner Child was delighted to see the Cosmos flowers dancing on the water!

My current work of shibori and botanical printing is forever expanding and I am seeing great sales once again. My confidence level has soared, and I feel free and comfortable in letting my Child play and create. I am making art for myself and feeling truly aligned as an artist.

Cosmos on the Water 2022 15” x 15” Arashi Shibori & Botanical printing 225. sewinganotion@fairpoint.net www.sewinganotion.com