Deeann Rieves

Painting and drawing work simultaneously as layers build—connecting paper fragments, mark making with embroidery, and smudging with chalk. The boldness of color and contrast collide with sensitive lines, intermingled with subtleties of texture. In all of my paintings, I use a sewing technique called free-motion machine embroidery on top of painted papers and then incorporate those papers as collage. I love the way the stitched lines sit on top of the layered fluid ink washes, embellishing each piece with texture and delicate line. I am drawn to the tactility that sewing adds to the painting process. The nature of thread is strong but intricate; it has a sort of permanence with the appearance of fragility.