PATTERNS AND TONES

"Flora as Fashion: Jonathan Mills" 2019 Digital inkjet print and yarn 40 x 40 in. In the final days of stitching the last pieces for the exhibition, this 40 x 40 in digital inkjet print was both a joy and a conundrum. There was no doubt I would fill the piece with the ombre colors echoed in the wisteria vine that Jonathan was wrapped in and intended to fill the shirt with a pattern of it's fragrant flower. But after I had filled in the first line of flowers which were attached to the vine, I sat with the piece for a day and came to the conclusion that the image was complete. Simplicity is not as easy as it appears. Although I desired to fill the shirt in completely, it was obvious to me that just a simple line of flowers hanging from a single vine had created a powerful image that expressed exactly what I had intended to present. Using the French Knot embroidery stitch in yarn was a bit of a challenge. I had to do quite a bit of testing before I could properly...

"Home as Hat: Amanda Quinn Olivar" 2019 Digital inkjet print and yarn 40 x 40 in. This final "hat" was created from one of the first photographs taken for this series. Walking around Beverly Hills, we spied this Tudorbethan style gable,  a subset of the Tudor Revival architecture of the 1930's. Once I began to stitch this piece together in yarn, it was evident to me that a drab brown color of the timbers was not going to pop against the wild shrubbery and couldn't possible compete with the dominant patterns in the incredible coat created by Zandra Rhodes which Amanda had on, so I chose the color red. Amanda, who is currently producing a feature documentary called " Seeing is Believing: Women Direct " and the play & film " Paint Made Flesh ", is also an editor for the online magazine Curator . She recently interviewed me about my work as well as my thoughts on this series. You can read the interview here . I am delighted to ...

"Home as Hat: Andrea Minton" 2019 Digital inket print and yarn 40x40 in. There are four 40x40 in. digital inkjet prints in the exhibition which have been stitched with yarn. Embroidery floss would have gotten lost on this large image, so I tested different types of yarn, rope and thread to see what would work best. I ended up using both a combination of a merino wool and regular cotton to construct this piece. This simple line stitch was a perfect counterpoint to the busy houndstooth dress Andrea is wearing. It also helped to tie together the architectural element behind her into a hat she is actually wearing. I had originally thought that I would weave another hat for her as I did in the second Home as Hat: Andrea Minton Part 2  7x7 in. print but once I had laid down the first horizontal lines with the only multicolored yarn in the show, I knew it was just the right accent for this piece. It also looks like a party hat and since my 50th birthday is tomorrow, it seeme...

Flora as Fashion: Asia Muka" 2019 Digital inkjet print and yarn 40 x 40 in. When I approached this piece it was a bit daunting. Not only was it 40 x 40 in but it was an overall design I wanted to stitch in detail. I had photographed Asia deliberately in front of an extremely old and prominent organ pipe cactus which I felt reflected her larger than life personality but didn't take into account how long it would take me to execute the piece. I had been studying varying embroidery stitches and hit up on the buttonhole stitch which seemed to emulate the undulating outline of the cactus. The evenly spaced cactus spines gave me a guide to puncture the surface. Turning the cactus into feathers seen in an elaborate Las Vegas showgirl costume came alive with the use of yarn instead of embroidery floss. Three weeks later, the piece was finished. I'm extremely proud to showcase this image in my exhibition which will be opening tonight at MuzeuMM. Julie Green June 1, 20...

"Flora as Fashion: Victoria Wordsworth" 2019 This lovely Trumpet gown was photographed on location in front of the historic Smoke House in Burbank, CA. Like the Mermaid gown, it is form-fitting through the torso and hips and gradually opens out into a floor length flare. The rose bush blends nicely into Victoria's flower patterned frock. This image, as well as 32 other embroidered portraits, will be on view in my upcoming exhibition "Home as Hat - Flora as Fashion" at MuzeuMM Gallery June 1 -22nd. The opening is next Saturday, June 1st from 7-11pm. Julie Green May 25, 2019

"Flora as Fashion: Emil Edinger" 2019 I was inspired to stitch an accessory for Double EE and Bad Business front man Emil Edinger using the linear lines of the cactus close by. I decided I wanted to accentuate his hat, coat, jeans and boots with a component that reflected their  outdoor vibe . By selecting natural tones in the embroidery floss to echo wood, straw or wheat, this backpack evolved into a type of Native American burden basket. I am delighted with the final outcome of this piece, since it deviates from the other images in this series by accentuating an accessory. This image, along with 32 other embroidered photographs will be exhibited at Muszeumm Gallery from June 1 -22nd. It will be a culmination of 4 years worth of work! I hope you can join me for the opening on Saturday, June 1st from 7-9pm. Julie Green May 18, 2019

"Flora as Fashion: Pamela Hobbs" 2019 While many of my embroidered portraits are intricate and heavily stitched, this portrait of the elegant and incredibly talented Digital Matte Artist Pamela Hobbs  called for a more subdued and simple stitching to compliment the intense patterns in the Op art print in her dress. The embroidery floss is actually an ice blue. The subtlty in color and application I felt was just the right tough to this image. Although understated, I was trying to emulate a cross between a Tudor ruff and bone jewelry. This print, along with 32 other images will be on view at Muzeumm Gallery from June 1st - June 22nd. The opening night is on June 1st from 7-9pm. Julie Green May 11, 2019

I am delighted to announce my first solo exhibition of embroidered photographs at Muzeumm Gallery. I hope you will be able to join me on Saturday, June 1st for the opening from 7-11pm. An exhibition catalogue will be available to purchase at the gallery and then online once it closes. Julie Green May 4, 2019

"Home as Hat: Andrea Minton" 2019 I originally started stitching this series of images with regular thread and came to the conclusion that I needed to use the thicker embroidery floss so that the colors would pop out from the background. Since I am working on an exhibition of this body of work, I decided to redo some of the earlier works that only used regular thread. This portrait of the lovely Andrea Minton was originally shot in 2016. As you can see in the original  Home as Hat: Andrea Minton , the regular thread I used was too small to have any impact on the "hat" I was trying to create. Looking at the structure of the roof in the photograph, I realized weaving the floss would mirror the asphalt shingles. I have not woven the thread before and feel that this treatment worked perfectly for this particular image. Julie Green April 27, 2019

"Destination: Downtown Lemon Cove No. 1" 2018 Not all of the destinations I photographed last year were in nature. Downtown Lemon Cove provided my eye with cement candy in the form of this abandoned 1930's  Richfield gas station and what looked like a 1960's Standard Oil auto shop. Located directly across the street from each other, they were still vying for attention long after their shops had been deserted. Found along the only road into and out of Lemon Cover in the middle of the citrus orchards, this little one horse town apparently didn't have the heart or the money to tear these relics down. I was grateful to come across these buildings that still held onto a piece of Americana in the backroads of the California Central Valley. Julie Green April 13, 2019 "Destination: Downtown Lemon Cove No. 2" 2018 "Destination: Downtown Lemon Cove No. 3" 2018 "Destination: Downtown Lemon Cove No. 4" 2018 ...

"Destination: Lemon Cove Orchards No. 1" 2018 Citrus groves in central California should replace the bear on our state flag. They have played a larger role in our economy and are a quintessential symbol of our abundance and a direct product of the sun our state is known for. After visiting the Sequoia's we drove through the lovely little town of Lemon Cove in the San Joaquin Valley. With a population of 308 people and over a billion oranges and lemons, the citrus definitely outnumber the humans. This picturesque stretch of California reminded me once again what our state must have looked like 100 years ago. Dirt roads lead to old Victorian ranches and barns surrounded by century old King Palm trees shading them from the hot central valley sun. The unending cycle of seasons, planting, growth and harvesting had carved a well worn path that dominated this farming culture. You could feel the balance of both knowing what to expect and hard work rewarded with the sounds...

"Destination: Grants Grove No. 1" 2018 WIKIPEDIA: General Grant Gove,  a section of the greater  Kings Canyon National Park , was established by the US Congress in 1890 and is located in Fresno County, California. The primary attraction of General Grant Grove is the giant sequoia trees that populate the grove. General Grant Grove's most well-known tree is the  General Grant Tree , which is 267 feet tall and  the third largest known tree in the world .  The General Grant Tree is over 1,500 years old and is known as the United States's national Christmas Tree.  General Grant Grove consists of 154 acres and is geographically isolated from the rest of Kings Canyon National Park. One cannot go into the trees without coming out humbled... Julie Green March 30, 2018 "Destination: Grants Grove No. 2" 2018 "Destination: Grants Grove No. 3" 2018 "Destination: Grants Grove No. 4" 2018 "Destination: Grants Grov...

“Destination: Badger No. 1” 2018 On a trip to Sequoia National Park last year, we drove through a small town called Badger where time felt as though it had stopped. Old barns, small wooden huts and hay shelters dotted the hillside and captured my imagination. Oak trees crowded out the sky and their twisted branches added to the timelessness of the place. In the middle of the day it felt like dusk. With a population of 140 people in this Tulare County community, I felt as though I had been whisked through a wormhole and dropped into the middle of the United States back in the 30's. The old wooden planks had a slight sheen of moss growing on the shaded side of each structure and their rooves were made from sheets of corrugated tin. I can only imagine what it would sound like during a storm. I grew up with old barns like this out in the undisturbed fields behind our track homes. I was always intrigued by their man made walls sagging from the weight of time and seasons. They s...

"Destination: Pine Mountain Club No. 1" 2018 Last November we took a trip up the Grapevine during a storm and ended up seeing the most dazzling display of nature in the San Emigdio Mountain community of Pine Mountain Club.  I have driven past the small towns dotting the sides of the road through the Tejon Pass a million times but have rarely stopped except for gas. It was time to take a closer look, so we chose a town deep in the woods to explore. On our way to our local destination, I imagined that the local population was like other mountain communities, close knit and hard working with the punctuation of vistiors occasionally being seen in town. I quickly felt as though we had driven to another state. Nature ruled and the effects of humanity were less apparent. The curling smoke from a chimney could be seen in the depths of the pine valley and the road was the only guide that lead us deeper into Bear country. This series of photographs were taken directly from my...

"Destination: Bridgeport No. 1" 2018 It was a few days after the 4th of July when we rolled into the town old mining town of Bridgeport. I sometimes forget that these dusty foothill towns exist and it was delightful to spend a few nights in this historic corner of California. Walking around after dinner, I couldn't help but capture the recent trappings of Independence Day. American flags waived from every building, pole and car. With the Victorian backdrop, time really did stand still. The prominent 1880 Mono County courthouse on Main Street is the 2nd oldest courthouse still operating in California. It would have looked right at home in San Francisco with its Italianate facade and large 23,000 square footprint sitting up on Nob Hill. I also visited the local community church and jail to round out my tour of this Eastern Sierra town. Julie Green March 9, 2019 "Destination: Bridgeport No. 2" 2018 "Destination: Bridgeport No. 3" 201...

“Destination: Bodie State Historic Park No. 1” 2018 Traveling down the Eastern Sierra's last summer, I was finally able to visit and photograph the legendary ghost town of Bodie. This deserted gold-mining town looks just like a Hollywood set but has actually been preserved and was designated a State Historic Park in 1961. Once a booming town of 10,000 people, Bodie nows sits quietly in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain rang in Mono County. I've been hesitant to capture this decaying landmark because it is so overly photographed. There are multiple  photography workshops  you can attend during the day and numerous excursions to photograph it at night. It has been shot from every angle and documented to death. I usually stay far away from locations like this. But since I was on vacation and it IS a very photogenic subject, I decided to capture it for posterity. This series of photographs only shows  the outside structures. I shot quite a few int...