A perception of depth: the art of Dianne Vottero Dockery

Today we're privileged to be able to share with you the work of an artist who truly inspires us. Dianne Vottero Dockery received the Master of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication from Syracuse University, has owned and managed a graphic design firm, taught as a tenured university professor at Kutztown University, and now enjoys her life as a studio collage artist. Dianne's focus is on fiber (cloth and paper) collage. Her work has been displayed in exhibits, galleries and museums across the country, including the nationally renowned Amazing Art Quilts exhibit. We're so pleased to show you four of her amazing works of art, below.

Tipsy Tabletop, 47" x 35"


"Tipsy Tabletop", above, is a classic still life with the look of an oil painting, but is actually a work of fabric art. The tipsy tabletop provides a dynamic perspective which draws the viewer into the scene, bringing to mind the works of Cézanne and Matisse. The objects on the table - orange poppies in a cobalt blue vase, fruit, and a glass of wine - are arrayed against a blue (batik) tablecloth. We love the idea that the tablecloth, which would be made of fabric in real life, is rendered in fabric here. Dianne used commercial batiks and hand-dyed cotton sateen; the materials were free-cut, fused, hand-appliqued, machine quilted, and painted with oil sticks and colored pencils. Be sure to click on the image to see the detail.

Pair of Paphiodilum, 44" x 33"



The sense of depth is apparent in "Pair of Paphiodilum", above, with its exquisite hothouse blooms. The large orchid in the foreground, with its luminous green and violet hues and velvety texture, appears close enough to touch; the much smaller plant pot recedes by comparison. The deep blue colors and leafy textures of the batik background add to the mysterious feeling of the piece. "Pair of Paphiodilum" was created with commercial batiks and hand-dyed sateens, which were free-cut, hand-appliqued, machine quilted, and painted with acrylics.

Beyond I, 32" x 22"



What lies beyond? In "Beyond I", above, a sense of depth is created through the layering, shading, and shadowing of the textiles, which include commercial cottons, hand-dyed cotton sateens, and silk organza. The brilliant blue organza, which provides a focal point, contrasts sharply with the intense orange shades of the sateens. The sateen pieces are machine stitched to emphasize their shapes, and their jagged white edges are outlined with dark shadows to provide depth. This piece was not painted. The beauty of "Beyond I" lies in the artful and harmonious arrangement of the contrasting colors, values, shapes, and textures of the materials.

Barn Art I, 40" x 33"



In "Barn Art I", above, Dianne has captured perfectly the appearance of a barn, with its rough wood boards, which have weathered to a silvery gray color, and its dark interior. One bright red plank leans at an angle, reminding us of the original "barn red" color. The rough texture of wood was created by collaging narrow strips of fabric in different shades and textures, and by painting with oil sticks (please click on the image to see the intricate detail). In creating the collage, Dianne used commercial cottons and tulle; the fabrics were free-cut, fused, raw-edge appliqued, and machine-stitched.

Image Credits and Links

All images are courtesy of Dianne Vottero Dockery.

The pieces displayed here reflect Dianne's painterly style; examples of her more graphic style can be viewed on Dianne's website.

We previously wrote about one of Dianne's galleried mini collages, entitled "Pear of Hearts". To see that post, click here.