I of the Needle
I of the Needle
The dress is full of textural surfaces, the bodice is a patchwork quilted together. The fabric has no stretch, it’s stiff, prickly in places, and likely uncomfortable. Her skin is smooth and she wears no jewelry. Her left hand clutches the thick fabric which appears to be covered in tiny metallic scales or sequins. The dress is heavy and a little difficult to lift based on how she bends to pull it upwards toward the thread. Her expression is focused and not aware of a viewer. Her height is surreal but the proportions of the torso are not elongated. Is she standing on a chair? Is she on stilts? The background at first glance seems to be a real forest, but on closer examination we find an antique light switch, giving away the fact it’s wallpaper. The carpet is a velvety green, reading almost like grass on first look, but no this is entirely an indoor scene. Is this woman reattaching a sequin away from the party? Or is she building a dress from scratch and we are catching her only partially done with her ensemble?
My posture was chosen very specifically. I didn’t want a dainty lady happily sewing or hemming her dress, I wanted a position that reminded me slightly of Judith Slaying Holofernes by 1614 painter Artemisia Gentileschi. Artemisia’s painting should be so much more famous than it is, especially since it was painted by a woman 300 years ago! I also didn’t wear makeup or do my hair carefully for this portrait. I wanted to appear in a state of mid-construction
The painting was a highlight of Scott's 2019 exhibition at the "Ritual in Pairing" in Chelsea, NYC.
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Your Print Options
Standard Canvas Prints
Standard Canvas Prints
Our standard canvases are printed with premium inks from ultra-high-resolution scans of Iris Scott’s original oil paintings. Each print features the artwork wrapped around the sides for a gallery-quality presentation.
USA Orders:
Prints arrive stretched and ready-to-hang on 1.5-inch deep wooden stretcher bars. Hardware is included.
Shipping Time:
Standard Canvas Prints ship within 5–7 business days.
Important Shipping Information:
- International and Outside the 48 Contiguous United States: Standard prints are generally shipped rolled and should be stretched at your local frame shop.
- EU & Australia: Stretched canvas prints are normally shipped ready-to-hang, but in some cases, carrier size restrictions may require them to be shipped rolled.
Limited Edition Embellished Canvas Prints
Limited Edition Embellished Canvas Prints
Limited Edition Embellished Canvas Prints are now available for fine art collectors. Iris Scott paints onto the surface of the print with hundreds of dabs of thick texture and color to create a unique print. The artwork includes a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity, and each image is restricted to just 20 embellished prints.
Small sizes are not offered as Limited Edition prints.
Limited Edition Prints ship within 5–7 weeks.
Please Note: All Limited Editions shipped outside the USA will ship rolled, and should be stretched at your local frame shop.
