Cindy HIckok, Statement
I paint with thread. I “paint” each day, with thread as my medium, the needle as my paintbrush, the sewing machine an extension of arm. With foot on the pedal and tongue in the cheek, I create works that satisfy my desire to express life as I see it.
Inspiration comes from every direction. I find ideas in novels and in the news; in daily conversations; from observations of others in everyday situations; and in current events and timely issues. My journal is my constant companion, and I jot down possible titles and themes for new works. I find that everyday frustrations become fodder for art: silent people in elevators, telephone conversations in public, gentle disagreements between spouses, misconstrued statements.
My art career began with an apprenticeship in mosaic, where I learned that by placing one color of tile next to another I could allow the eye to blend the colors. Now, many years later, I place one thread next to another and allow the eye to mix colors. In my finely detailed and carefully planned compositions I work exclusively at the sewing machine, stitching rather than tiling or painting. I stitch on water-soluble fabric, which is later dissolved leaving only the thread.
Many of my works are twists on much-loved paintings. We like to think that dolls in the toy store come out to dance at night when no one is present to watch; likewise, I like to think that figures from paintings step out of their backgrounds as well, I imagine what they might do--enjoy a meal, have a rest, or engage in conversation with their peers.
My goal is to create a piece that will be enjoyed by others as much as I have enjoyed the process. Mine is not an is-your-cup-half-full-or-is-it-half-empty question. My cup runs over.
I paint with thread. I “paint” each day, with thread as my medium, the needle as my paintbrush, the sewing machine an extension of arm. With foot on the pedal and tongue in the cheek, I create works that satisfy my desire to express life as I see it.
Inspiration comes from every direction. I find ideas in novels and in the news; in daily conversations; from observations of others in everyday situations; and in current events and timely issues. My journal is my constant companion, and I jot down possible titles and themes for new works. I find that everyday frustrations become fodder for art: silent people in elevators, telephone conversations in public, gentle disagreements between spouses, misconstrued statements.
My art career began with an apprenticeship in mosaic, where I learned that by placing one color of tile next to another I could allow the eye to blend the colors. Now, many years later, I place one thread next to another and allow the eye to mix colors. In my finely detailed and carefully planned compositions I work exclusively at the sewing machine, stitching rather than tiling or painting. I stitch on water-soluble fabric, which is later dissolved leaving only the thread.
Many of my works are twists on much-loved paintings. We like to think that dolls in the toy store come out to dance at night when no one is present to watch; likewise, I like to think that figures from paintings step out of their backgrounds as well, I imagine what they might do--enjoy a meal, have a rest, or engage in conversation with their peers.
My goal is to create a piece that will be enjoyed by others as much as I have enjoyed the process. Mine is not an is-your-cup-half-full-or-is-it-half-empty question. My cup runs over.
