The Art of Unconventional Domesticity

An artwork idea I've had for a long time -- and the acquisition of unexpected art supplies that brought it all together.

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In an interesting series of someone who knows someone who knew someone, I came into possession of a bundle of art supplies -- a whole assortment of paints, pastels, pencils, papers, sketchbooks, and other assorted materials. So much of it would not have been supplies I would have bought, because a) art supplies are not cheap, and b) one could really get carried away with investing in new mediums and supplies instead of focusing on a more narrow skill set. So, this has been a wonderful gift (though I paid a modest amount) to allow me to explore the use of new paper types, mediums, and instruments.

This treasure chest of art supplies belonged to a gentleman whom I wish I could have known. He was an artist and into books, philosophy, and travel. What wonderful conversations and insight I'm sure he could have shared. In an odd way, I've felt grieved at the loss of a never-was-friend but honored to put to use the art supplies I've been entrusted with.

In a box of papers, sketchpads, and sketchbooks were several paper pads with aged pages and an envelope with text written in pencil on the front -- "12 handmade watercolor paper".

In these aged pages, with unique yellowed edges, I finally figured out how to piece together an artwork idea I've had for a long time.

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For over a year now, I've been periodically creating artwork using fabric. These are mixed media pieces using small pieces of fabric cut out to create an image and then thread with a sewing machine to create "blending".

I wouldn't consider myself to be necessarily "domestically inclined". I don't like cooking, don't have/like kids, do keep a clean house though!, and never felt inclined to learn sewing. I can manage a button and have sort of figured out a basic hem (though that blind hem is my nemesis!). But I had an idea for an art piece using fabric a while back, bought a sewing machine, and have been doing new fabric-mixed-media pieces ever since. I credit my years of sewing velcro straps in orthotics & prosthetics for my ability to use a sewing machine.

My forever-to-come-together art idea: A fabric piece that is also a recipe.

It's an unconventional way to bring elements of domesticity together in art. It's quirky. And that's what I like. (Maybe it's also a subconscious way of me trying to attain some level of gender norms...who knows)

My grandmother's pie recipe has been my idea. We are fortunate to have Nunner, my 101-year-old grandmother, with us still, and thankfully she could double check me on one aspect of the recipe I had written down. I'm quite honored to have put her pie recipe into art form.

The aged pages of the paper pads I acquired were perfect for "setting the scene" for the art piece, giving it a vintage feel.

Using tracing paper to write out the recipe in pencil, I could arrange the tracing paper pieces with the pie pieces to achieve the right layout before using a light-pad to write it out with a calligraphy pen.

The plate with piece of chocolate pie is truly a mixed media creation. The plate paper is a smooth texture for a "plate" look, backed with canvas for the stitching portion of the process, with water-soluble pencil and chalk pastels for the shading. Fabric pieces create the pie crust, filing and meringue. And acrylic paint for the fork and highlights on the pie piece.

Adding the thread "blending" for stitching the fabric pieces down and texture.

Lots of time spent in arranging the elements with tracing paper to get the right layout.

I went with spiral bound pages for the ingredients list and recipe instructions to create the feeling of pages torn from a recipe book. And a small detail to enhance the composition was adding shadows under the edges of the plate and pie plate with an acrylic wash.

Displayed in my kitchen! Maybe it will inspire me to cook...maybe.

I absolutely loved this whole artwork process. The slowness of it coming together from an idea for many months to finding the right materials that brought it to life to the multi-step process to put it together. Both calligraphy and creating an image from fabric pieces are slow processes. It felt good to lean into that and to reflect on the intentionality of cooking and sewing, appreciating elements of domesticity in a little unconventional way.