Sunday, November 21, 2010

Inspired by a Montana Landscape

The idea for this basket started with looking at the colors in a friend's photo and a postcard of a dried, grass meadow in Yosemite. I was intrigued by the transitions from peach to indigo, and immersed myself in the colors and clouds. I played with the dyed reed as a painter would play with paint, and used more than 15 dye lots, a few of which were decades old.
As I wove, I started thinking about about the darkening sky, and stars. The stars would be woven into a dark, inner basket. Weaving a double-walled construction seemed to be the solution. People ask if I design each basket before I begin, here was a case where the whole concept changed mid basket. (A photo of the "stars" is on my website.)
As I wove a not-quite-big-dipper constellation into the inner basket, I remembered a sci-fi movie I saw where a woman woke up one morning and saw two suns in the sky and realized that she wasn't home anymore. While my hands are busy weaving, my head is free to indulge in making up stories. All I need is an idea to start with, then the curiosity, patience and perseverance to make it happen.
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The title for this basket is "An Alternate Starry Night." For more information and a photo looking into the basket, click here. The basket measures 10.5" x 10.5"
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Last year I wove a basket inspired by a painting by Leslie Baker.
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Here is the other basket inspired by the same landscape in different weather. The soft colors were the inspiration. (Having Kitt show up and be a part of the photo, was a bonus.)
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9 comments:

  1. How beautiful, Kari. Wish I had a spare $4000 in my pocket.

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  2. This has to be one of my favorite baskets of all time... The picture of the detail underneath the photo takes my breath away. Perhaps that could be your next postcard?!

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  3. I really like reading about the process, both physical and mental, you go through to create your work. This one is beautiful, but my favorite is the one you recently completed based on a similar landscape.

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  4. I just added the basket which was based on a thunderstorm sky.

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  5. beautiful! thanks for sharing, I always love to hear how artists in different media get inspired..

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  6. These are magnificent! So glad I stopped by to visit your blog. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Kari. I am so thankful that I know you!

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  7. I enjoy your shares on Twitter - followed you to your blog to find your beautiful work. Just wanted to let you know I stopped by and looking forward to seeing your future art shares.

    Bren / BG_Garden on Twitter!

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  8. I appreciate all of your comments. After writing this I started thinking more about inspiration and how important color is have gone on to post a few more thoughts on my Facebook fan page. http://facebook.com/karibaskets

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  9. I feel so privileged to have found this blog. Such beautiful stories, thoughts and pictures!
    I have always admired/collected baskets and filmed so many landscapes, yet I had never imagined a creative connection between the two. Now I will never forget it.
    Natasha

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