Artwork Description
Black and white trapunto clutch in goatskin
7" x 14" x 2.5"
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Artist Information
Mary Ellen Sisulak
Ellison Bay, WI
920.854.4869
http://www.TurtleRidgeGallery.com
My work is a marriage of painting and 3-dimensional design. I start with a drawing or idea for surface design, which is engineered into a 3-d functional container to carry or wear on the body. Using various methods of working the leather, I carve, tool, form and dye the designs. I sometimes work in a vignette, sometimes an overall design, which complements the details of function: pockets, closures and shapes. An example is the one-of-a-kind pioneer bag in black and white with trapunto "smile". The overall shape is that of a saddle seen from the side. The shaped sides are white in contrast to the black bag. The front pocket, a white trapunto halfcircle formed over the front of the bag creates layers of shape upon shape. Very small red piping outlines the white upturned texture of the pocket and tip of the tassel. My work consists of one-of-a-kind, limited edition and small production runs of bags. The surface designs and the bag engineering are all original. Working with the finest leathers and materials, each detail is thought through from the smallest one and a quarter by one and a quarter inch hand painted detailed small pouch to the 50 piece one-of-a-kind briefcase. Everything is made from the tanned hides in my studio with an assistant to help with the production work. Inspiration for my work comes from the natural world. I live and work next to the mink river nature conservancy. Walking in the woods through the many changes of seasons renews my observation of how nature repeats shapes and function to create the diversity of flora and fauna that surrounds me.
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LFOA
