3-5 Light, Martha Ressler

Winter Guest, Martha Ressler

In response to  the challenge “Light” I looked through some of my photos for inspiration.  There was plenty of possible inspiration, as I often photograph light as a subject.

Light casting shadows of this jade plant.
Here light shining through this old bottle on my kitchen window sill was the subject.
And here the rising winter sun was the subject.

This one for example, with the warm light from the old stone farmhouse welcoming a daughter home on Christmas Eve, became a small quilt.

Christmas Eve at my sister in laws house.
Coming Home, art quilt, Martha Ressler

But thinking of “light” in conjunction with “structure,” our overall theme, I was inspired by one thing.

We built our house with a long Southern exposure and 2 foot eves, so that in the winter light would enter the windows, when the sun rides low in the sky. In the summer the eves shade the house when the sun is higher.

I took this picture of our dining room table near Winter Solstice, with light streaming onto our dining room table.

Sunlight streaming onto our dining room table at Winter Solstice.

I wanted to use a sort of Cubist style with all of those angles.  Any kind of abstraction is not my strong point, so I only partially succeeded in this. And I wanted to stick with a limited palette, in which I did succeed.

I call it Winter Guest.

「光」という挑戦に応えて、私はインスピレーションを得るためにいくつかの写真を調べました。たくさんありました。
これは、たとえば、クリスマスイブに娘の家を迎える古い石造りの農家からの暖かい光で、小さなキルトになりました。
でも、全体のテーマである「構造」と合わせて「光」を考えると、ひとつのことに触発されました。
私たちは、南の長い露出と2フィートの前夜で家を建てました。これは、冬に太陽が空に沈むときに窓に光が入るようにするためです。夏には、太陽が高くなるとイブが家を覆います。
冬至近くのダイニングテーブルの写真を撮りました。ダイニングテーブルに光が差し込んでいます。私はそれを「ウィンターゲスト」と呼んでいます。
私はそれらすべての角度で一種のキュビズムスタイルを使いたかったのです。どんな種類の抽象化も私の強みではないので、私はこれに部分的にしか成功しませんでした。そして、私は限られたパレットに固執したかったので、成功しました。

Title Winter Guest
Martha Ressler
Dimensions: 39″ x 29.5″
Material: Fabrics, various
Technique: Raw edge applique

6 thoughts on “Winter Guest

  1. Shadows and light are so beautiful. I love how you have captured them in this work. You could do a whole series using your images

  2. Oh, Martha, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your quilt. So warm and inviting – the colors, the story, and the composition. Brava!!!!

  3. So totally beautiful, Martha and sharing of the light that is reflected by the placement of the eves is a perfect reminder of your commitment to the importance of warmth and light in your family home. I love your piece… and yes, to Cubism! Well done!

  4. Martha, how nice of you to give us a peek inside your home. Your work is well done. I especially like the shade of the plant on the table.

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