Needle painting –
the art of “painting” with a needle and thread
– is one of the most complex forms of hand
embroidery. Realistic needle painting is an art
mastered by Chinese embroiderers in Suzhou, China.
In this region of China, embroiderers create the
most amazing masterpieces by hand using tiny silk
threads.
I recently had
cause to be in contact with Chunhua
Mao, the founder
of Su
Embroidery Studio, and he graciously sent the
photos of some of the needle painted works at his
studio that caught my eye. I asked if I could share
them with you. You see, if you’re like me, you
will be filled with wonder and delight when you see
the detail and beauty of these embroidered pieces.
To think that they are worked completely by hand
with such accurate and perfect detail! It boggles
the mind!
Embroidering
animals has been a constant fascination of mine, and
lately, the topic has been the subject of a small
“debate” between me and a friend. We’ve been
discussing the merits of realistic vs. stylized
animals depicted in embroidery, and how to achieve
realism. Though there are a couple points we don’t
agree on, what we do agree about is that
embroidering an animal and making it look real is
really, really difficult. It takes time, patience,
and practice. And more practice. And a still more
practice. If you peruse the catalog
at Su Embroidery Studio, you’ll come across
quite a few needle painted animals, and oh my! Are
they a wonder to behold! This squirrel immediately
caught my eye: the perfectly realistic coat, the
fluffy tail, the glint in the eye, and how the
imagined light source reflects on the critter. Have
you ever seen a squirrel embroidered with this type
of detail?
Look at the
squirrel a little closer and and you’ll see the
layers of shades of silk thread that make up his
coat and his face. The embroiderers use strands of
silk that they separate into tiny strands of
filament, to achieve this kind of detail. Master
embroiderers sometimes separate the threads to the
point that the thread is barely visible to the human
eye. On the Su
Embroidery Studios website, you’ll find plenty
of articles that discuss Suzhou silk embroidery and
the ways the artists achieve these realistic
results.
You can see in this
little fellow’s eye the amount of shading in that
glint alone. You can also see how accurate the
direction of the stitching is around the eye, below,
and above it. When the embroiderer moves onto the
squirrel’s coat, notice that the stitches become
more irregular. The embroiderer does not stick to
the standard and more regular long and short stitch
– to achieve realism, the embroiderer uses what
the Chinese call “hairy stitch.”
The tail is a
beautiful example of hairy stitch. Note, too, the
number of colors used in the tail. Chunhua Mao
explained to me color selection is up to the
embroiderer, who chooses the colors needed as the
piece progresses. They don’t go by a color key or
a pre-selected palette of colors. Colors are chosen
on the spot, as the embroiderer determines the need!
I have a weakness
for embroidered birds, and a love of tropical birds.
So this fellow caught my eye, too.
The layered
feathers are perfect – the perfect amount of
“fluffing” for a preening parrot.
See the little dark
dashes mixed in with the feathers? And notice the
neck feathers up close, too!
I love seeing the
pieces mounted on their frames – evidence of the
hand embroidery artist at work! The frames are set
up much like slate frames. Note that the backgrounds
of these pieces are all hand embroidered as well –
the whole canvas is solidly embroidered by hand. The
icy-looking background behind the peacocks is the
ideal stage to show off those glorious feathers.
Besides the tail
feathers (which are always the peacock’s
show-stopper), look at the detail on both
peacocks’ bodies!
Here’s another
piece on a frame – this time, note the piercing
eyes and the “light” on the bird, in contrast to
the dark background.
Notice that the
eyes are not exactly the same. The eye on the right
has a bit of a ring on the lower edge, further
contributing to the realism by reflecting the
imagined light source.
Speaking of
reflections in the eye, this eagle’s eye looks
like glass. Besides the larger “glint,” notice
the tiny lighter stitches to the right and left of
the glint that carry out the illusion of a real eye.
Photograph?
Painting? Embroidery?! It’s hard to tell, isn’t
it?
Now, this little
creature should melt your heart! Remember that the
background is solidly embroidered. Notice the
“bokeh” effect in the background, with the
foreground flowers more in focus, and then clarity
of the log, and of course, the kitty himself.
Another perfect
eye. Look at the depth in that eye!
And both eyes
together – what an expression!
Check out the
layering here that achieves the furry paw – it is
perfection! Look at the tips of paw – the little
tiny threads swishing to the sides, the layers of
light over dark.
The embroiderers at
Su Embroidery Studio also work landscapes. This, in
fact, is an example of one of their ready-made
Fine Quality silk embroideries that can be purchased
from the studio. There are two levels of quality
sold through the studio – “Fine Quality” and
“Top Quality.” Both are entirely hand
embroidered, but the top quality works utilize more
layers of threads and finer split threads, and are
therefore more elaborately detailed and take longer
to create. The fine quality needlepaintings are
stunning, too. In this landscape – titled
“Meadow of Lights” – what strikes me
especially are the use of colors, the reflections on
the water, the depth of color in the water, and the
somewhat Impressionist look, with the very
“Monet-ish” waterlilies.
The sense of
Impressionism is driven home even more when the
piece is seen up close. Clarity is lost in the
sketchiness of the stitches, but that sketchiness
achieves the look of the shadow and light in the
embroidery. Look, too, at the various colors in the
water.
Notice how the
shadows deepen on the edge of the lake, but the
plants in the foreground are vivid and sharp.
The reflections in
the water are achieved in a number of ways: the
“mirror” of the grass, worked in the blues, the
darker green shadows of the overhanging bank, the
vertical sketching of reflected grass along the
edge.
The website of Su
Embroidery Studio is definitely worth a visit!
You’ll notice that they take custom embroidery
orders, working from photographs. They also recreate
master artworks in embroidery with astonishing
accuracy. And, as mentioned above, you’ll also
find some good reading on the site, especially under
“Chinese
Hand Embroidery ABC.” A couple things you
should not miss: the article on the difference
between hand and machine embroidery, with photos
to illustrate, and a close
look at Su Embroidery. While on this page, take
a look at the piece titled Glassware, and click the
link to view the enlarged picture. It’s is
stunning!
I am constantly
amazed by the vast world of textiles. The rich
history and tradition of Chinese embroidery is
fascinating, and it is good to know that this
tradition carries on in the silk embroidery of
Suzhou and in the work of the artists at the Su
Embroidery Studio.
Thanks for the
photos, Chunhua
Mao, and for the opportunity to share them
with my readers!
--This article is
from Mary Corbet's blog at
http://www.needlenthread.com/2011/01/needlepainting-hand-embroidery-in-silk.html
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