What I love most about my latest series, Double, is that it’s so distinct from much of my prior work, and yet still builds on what came before it. Sometimes new concepts arise from the smallest details, much like the threads that run through my work. If you look closely, you can observe just how I take a particular technique and transform it.

Detail of rosetta tapestry by artist Mary Little — Rosetta, Unearth series - detail

The concept for my latest series, Double, really began with Rosetta, from my Unearth series in 2020. Before Rosetta, I hadn’t attempted to incorporate another layer of canvas into my works. The first iteration of a concept is usually more subdued than what comes after it, and you’ll notice that in Rosetta. I kept the piece quite simple, focusing mainly on texture.

Detail of Alexander tapestry bt artist Mary Little — Alexander, Lineage series - detail

I didn’t revisit the idea of using more than one layer of canvas until Alexander, from my Lineage series in 2022. If you’ll remember last spring, Alexander was one of the most popular pieces from Lineage, and those who attended the opening lingered a little longer near it, too.

While I wasn’t referring back to Rosetta directly when making Alexander, something about Rosetta stood out to me, and I knew I wasn't finished exploring it yet. In Alexander, I took the layers and began exploring more with the shapes I could create from the patterns I used. The result was a piece that came staunchly away from the wall, jutting out at the bottom as if suspended by an invisible string.

A detail of Bradley tapestry from Mary Little's Double series — Bradley, Double series - detail

A detail of a tapestry called Warnock from Mary Little's 'Double' series — Warnock, Double series - detail

And so, last summer, I felt drawn to adventure into the possibilities of expansion that might arise by layering the canvas. More than texture or pattern, I wanted my Double series to exude abundance, to be large and voluminous. It’s fun to see what came of this experiment now, and how the reliefs morphed in various directions as I went along.

Maura tapestry from Mary Little's Double series — Maura, Double series

In addition, I didn’t want to constrain myself to a singular theme but allow myself time to let the works develop. Releasing the works one by one gave me a deep sense of freedom. As an artist, I never know just what I’ll discover with each series and how it will all come together. There were several moments throughout the creation of Double where I paused to reflect on its direction and there were even more moments when I forged ahead and found myself trying something new. For instance, I didn’t expect to sew the layers into each other originally, but that’s exactly what happened with Warnock, and then later with Bradley.

If you’d like to hear more of the story behind Double, come by the studio. I’m always happy to talk about and show you my work–there’s something special about doing so simultaneously. Email me and tell me when you’d like to visit.

You can see more of my Double series here.