Like many people, I find the work of the Viennese painter
Gustav Klimt irresistible. I love the way he combines realism with highly
abstract patterns, and his work provides an inspirational starting point for
embroidery design.
This is a very simple design which I did as a technical
exercise to try out various ways of stitching the basic geometric shapes that
Klimt combines to make his complicated patterns. Applique is an obvious technique
to use, but rather than finish off each applique shape with a satin stitch
edging, as is usual, I just left the edges raw. The effect isn’t bad, although
I should have spent more time removing loose threads before I scanned the
piece. I also used areas of metallic thread, because Klimt used a great deal of
gold in his work. However my gold thread wasn’t bright enough and I’ll have to
find a brighter, bolder thread to use in the next version
Thr Klimt fish, v. 1