Fibers by Ella

Fibers by Ella - September 2017 Scholarship Essay

Fibers—a visual art—is the manipulation of fabric in order to create a final work. Artists dye cotton, silk, chiffon, organza, and many other fabrics using numerous techniques. Some techniques are quite intricate, like marbling which requires a shallow tub filled with a thick liquid that holds dye on the surface. Whenever my fabrics are dyed, I spend months cutting, sewing, and piecing together my work. This sort of dedication is not unfamiliar to me. My ambitious, goal-driven nature drives my dedication in everything I do. In particular, my art has continued to provoke my desire for success. My first fibers piece freshman year consisted of swimming koi fish, intricate cubes, and flowing water, and it represented a tremendous amount of work.
My koi pond project began with a simple sketch of koi fish encompassed by a round body of water. I added 2-D optical illusion cubes created out of triangles in order to trick the viewer's eye into perceiving a three dimensional figure. The project was ambitious, but I was not fazed by my high expectations. As I reflected on my image, I knew marbling my fabric would be the best technique for the water. Once I began the marbling dyeing process, I took my time and paid great attention to detail, which produced a worthwhile result. The gentle dye took to the silk and created mellow ripples and great depth through a range of blues, purples, and greens. Next, I used a dye bath to capture the dark orange hues of koi fish gliding through the water. After all of this, I was able to finish the three-toned blue cotton for the cubes. The greatest challenge of this project was still before me: sewing the cubes together.
Although I had practiced before, the process of sewing the cubes must be done so precisely that it is almost impossible to create the perfect cube. I had to understand that all grand projects will have setbacks, and this was mine. After hours of slow, methodical work, I created the near-perfect blue toned cube illusions. My natural drive to achieve perfection along with my ambitious behavior motivated me through the process. Once completed, I started creating the background, channeling circles on the silk to resemble ripples. The process lasted weeks, but my determination never waned. I spent ninety minutes at a time in the sewing room creating the circles, which gently crashed into one another to create calm ripples in the silk. Soon enough, I was able to layout all of the pieces I created on the background, and I realized that my plan needed some additions. After thinking it over, I added black and brown toned rocks and green lily pads. I finished the project by adding the cubes and stuffing the fish with a loose synthetic material to make them pop off the fabric.
Reflecting on my piece, I am proud and amazed at all of the techniques I was able to include. Although my plan faced setbacks and revisions, my overall piece changed for the better. I embraced each difficulty and moved forward with determination. Overall, I find the piece a good representation of myself. The moving fish are representative of my movement through life and the transitions I am going through. The cubes encompass my ambition and goal-driven mindset. Finally, the calm water symbolizes my level of composure and overall collective behavior. Fibers is a wonderful art form that challenges me to explore a wide variety of techniques. I look forward to continually seeking out similar challenges as I grow.