Recently finished a small series of four paintings inspired by the birds of my childhood — Sparrow, Starling, Great Tit and Dove. The birds that were always somewhere around the house and in the yard. They are all acrylic on canvas with handmade embroidery and ink pen elements. 20 × 20 cm each in wooden frame
These sit in their frames like they never left the courtyard. The embroidery gives them weight, keeps them tethered to the place. I keep objects that have been somewhere, and your birds feel like that, still watching.
Thank you for seeing the embroidery not just as texture, but as something that keeps memory anchored to a place. And yes, these birds stayed with me — wherever I am, they remind me of home.
The embroidery adds such a tactile quality. I spend so much time trying to capture texture in a single frame, and you built it right into the piece. Those childhood birds stay with us, don't they.
I really liked that you brought up the tactile side of it. I think embroidery became a way of speaking about identity for me — and about trying to stay connected to my homeland, especially now that it’s occupied and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to return to it again. There’s something in stitching by hand that feels close to preservation of memory. And yes… those childhood birds really do stay with us somehow.
Beautiful work , the cross stitch adds an extra dimension
Thank you ☺