I have described the technique of rughooking to artists as “painting with fibers”. We use a hook pushing it down through a loose weave backing (usually linen) to make a hole through which we pull up the strip of fabric or yarn held underneath creating a loop.  Then we go back down through a hole close by and pull on the strip again.  Depending on the VALUE, COLOR, TEXTURE AND THICKNESS OF STRIPS  the design evolves similarly to a painter’s brush strokes.

Most of my work has been with strips a bit smaller than 1/4 inch wide.  Since 2014 is the YEAR OF EXPERIMENT AND CHALLENGE, I jumped at an opportunity to spend a weekend in a class led by Roslyn Logsdon in Laurel, MD and use much thinner strips allowing for more changes within the space.  The theme was architecture and I took photos of the barn  across from our lane which I have depicted in several daily squares already.  Time for a larger piece…. 9″ x 12″!  Wow!

Roslyn encourages artists to study a photo, sketch the shapes onto the backing then put the visual away.  Select your fibers (in my case three bundles of brown, green, grays sorted into light, medium and dark) and begin to CREATE the subject you envision.  An artistic interpretation will be the results.  This advice is difficult to follow when the photo is someone close to you, or you THINK too much.  Become the child again and create.

I took her advice to heart only returning to the photo the second day to see where I could add depth by showing light behind the door.  See what you think.   I was so inspired that a second piece was worked up over the last ten days.  But that is for another post.