Textile Art Mixed Media Art Appraisal

Mixed Media Sunflower Textile Art 'Sunflower Dream' by Bill Braun

This is a vibrant and meticulously crafted mixed media textile art piece depicting a stylized sunflower in a garden setting. The artwork is characterized by its layered construction, utilizing various fabrics and papers to create a three-dimensional effect. The central large sunflower features broad, pointed orange petals, possibly made from a textured fabric or paper, radiating outwards. Its dark central disc appears to be a textured fabric, possibly with a subtle grid or waffle pattern, overlaid with a lighter, perhaps metallic, mesh or netting design. A small, red-pink bird figure with simplified, angular features is perched on the upper left of this large sunflower's disc. Another smaller, reddish-brown bird is situated at the bottom left, nestled amongst green grass-like elements and a smaller, yellow-petaled sunflower with an orange and brown center. The background transitions from a deep teal-blue upper section, representing the sky, to a lighter green lower section for the ground, both exhibiting subtle marbling or textured patterns. Scattered across the 'sky' and 'ground' are small, delicate white linear patterns that resemble abstract foliage or wind currents. Several butterfly cutouts, likely from printed paper, are affixed to the piece, adding further detail and natural elements. The composition features a prominent green stem and large, folded green leaves for the main sunflower, indicating a deliberate paper or fabric construction. The entire piece is mounted on a larger white or off-white backing material, suggesting it's framed or meant for display. The craftsmanship appears to be of high quality, with neatly cut and applied components. The overall condition seems excellent with no visible tears or significant damage, though some slight creasing or unevenness in the fabric layers might be present due to the nature of the medium. The color palette is bright and inviting, dominated by blues, greens, oranges, and yellows. The text 'SUNFLOWER DREAM' along with 'ART BY' and 'BILL BRAUN' is faintly visible at the bottom of the piece, suggesting the title and artist, which is Bill Braun. This piece likely dates from the contemporary period, given its style and the apparent use of modern materials and techniques.