Stone butterflies & Silk arabesque

The composition, precision and polishing of stone artwork coupled with the intricate delicacy of the butterfly floral design in ethereal onyx looks beautiful only after hours of intense work. In Florence I stood in a pietre dure atelier looking at their arduous technique for cutting and polishing and the sketches for such designs. The rewards of the law of the harvest are truly only known to those who work in the field so to speak, taking the consistent daily actions which shine after seasons of focused commitment. 

My burnt sienna silk velvet impressed with a French garden arabesque silkscreen
retains an aura of warmth and metallic glow ~ a decorative nod to the great formal gardens of the 17th century  ~ a trio of inspirational links between embroidery,
​gardens and illustrations. All forms of endeavor requiring years of training and thoughtful action to show their best results. 

'He who would do some great things in this short life must apply himself to work
with such a concentration of force as, to idle spectators who live only to amuse themselves, looks like insanity.'  ~ Francis Parkman