Tony's Toys

I took this photo about 3 years ago,

and have had it on my bathroom wall

for the last two. I never went beyond making

one print. I wanted to think about the image

before I made the expensive decision to print

an edition, although I did exhibit this particular print a couple

of times.

I keep looking at this photo in terms of the

flat planes of colour that compose the image.

For some time I've been looking for a photo that

I'd taken that would work in needlepoint.

Perhaps this image could be treated that way.

Those flat planes make it much easier to

render in thread.

Even as a boy I was interested in needlepoint but never really

took it up other than in a sporadic way.

My mother did encourage me though and she

had as a young woman been a seamstress

in Karangahape Road.

I've heard my stitching described as 'tortured'

so I wouldn't stitch it myself.

Meanwhile, lately, I 've been

thinking that I will after all print an edition

of the photographic version.