Before I get to the point of this post, here’s a quick peek at what I’ve been working on lately. I have a way to go with the stitching in the tree, but I’m getting there. Gaining a bit of distance by being out of the studio has helped to resolve a couple of lingering questions while simultaneously stirring up some new ideas.
©Elizabeth Fram, in process
With that in mind, how do I encapsulate all the rich visual inspiration gleaned from a week in Lisbon? As I revisit my photos and sketch journal, it’s hard to miss the synchronicity between the many varied elements that caught my eye.
Here’s a small taste of what I saw.
Light
Color
Light & Color
Patterns
Passageways
Tiles…
ancient
Azulejos with textile motives, Cuerda Seca technique c.1500-1525
and contemporary
Signs of Lisbon ©1988 Cecília de Sousa, Modeled clay with matt and gloss glazes
Textures
The Burel Factory is “a Portuguese brand, born in Serra da Estrela, dedicated to the preservation and regeneration of the industrial heritage, the deep knowledge of the wool industry that crosses generations, and the unique culture and traditions, its people and its history, that punctuate that same place”. It is a space where history, design and innovation come together, sustainably creating wool fabrics, garments, wall art and items for house & home. Words can’t express the beauty to be found there.
Murals
History
A distaff, needles and a pair of scissors on display in the museum of the Castelo de São Jorge. These archeological items were unearthed in the area surrounding the castle, a sign of the women who lived there.
Sculpture
Homage to Pessoa ©2001 Jean-Michel Folon
And so many
Details
Finally, Innovation
The Dancing Lesson ©1707 Willem van der Kloet (1666-1747)
I have never seen such an innovative way of making art accessible to the sight-impaired. This and the following photos interpret the above tile painting, “The Dancing Lesson”.
Textures interpreting the figures within 3-D space
And describing the dancers’ elaborate costumes
It never fails, being immersed in a new environment tends to shake out of the brain. Given time and distance, the creative well always refills.