Retired to renowned: Local embroidery artist opens first exhibit at New Bedford Art Museum

NEW BEDFORD — When David Poyant started down the road of embroidery art, he didn't think it would amount to even selling one piece. Now his work is on exhibit at the New Bedford Art Museum.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase my work," Poyant said, standing proud in his "Threading Stories" exhibit in the back gallery of the museum.

Embroidery, a mixture of art and craft, has been around for centuries, but Poyant's unique approach sets him apart from the traditional techniques. He combines traditional embroidery techniques with his own personal touch.

"It requires a lot of patience and attention to detail. But for me, it's a therapeutic and meditative process. I become completely immersed in my work, and it's a wonderful feeling," he said.

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How he creates his art from start to finish

Poyant said most of the time, he uses two strands of thread, but for some pieces, he only used one strand which creates a very thin and delicate effect.

He also said he doesn't follow any strict guidelines or rules, just follows his natural instinct to explore different techniques and stitches. He uses a combination of small loops and stitches to create different effects.

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This allows him to add depth and realism to his pieces, making them almost life-like.

"There are 101 different stitches out there, but I don't follow any specific technique," he said, adding that it takes him anywhere from 25 to 60 hours to complete a piece.

Basing his work off original painting that he has permission to recreate by embroidery, his dedication to the craft is evident in each of his pieces, leaving viewers in awe with pieces such as "Tree of Life," "Black Crowned Crane" and "Nathan's Dream."

"My background in this stuff is very humbling. To see myself up here, and to see the responses from people walking by is the most rewarding part for me," he said.

"I never took a class or went to college for this. I just started from scratch."

How it all started

With a background in custom shoe repair and orthopedics, Poyant had a chance encounter with John Silber, the president of Boston University, who suffered from birth defects. Silber showed Poyant how to position his foot to alleviate pain. This led to the opening of a university orthopedics department at Boston University.

While in retirement, Poyant started painting but after doing a portrait painting for a friend's newborn baby, who mistook his art for a photograph, Poyant decided to switch mediums.

"I was like if they can't tell that they're painting, then I'm gonna do it in a different way," he said, with a laugh.

He was then inspired by his late mother, who was also an avid embroiderer, to look into embroidering.

"Now, I enjoy seeing the reactions people have when they realize they are not looking at a painting. They are amazed to see the stitch-by-stitch effort that went into creating these one-of-a-kind pieces of art," he said.

Poyant work was first presented at Lat41 by owner Laurie Botelho. Soon after, Poyant said he met with New Bedford Art Museum's Executive Director Suzanne de Vegh, who was interested in curating his work.

It's all about finding a passion later in life

With the advancements in technology, Poyant said he has also incorporated AI into his process, allowing him to create his own photographs to use as references.

But for Poyant, he said it all starts with the eyes. "Most of the time, I'll start with the eyes, and then kind of work out from there. If I can get the eyes right, usually the picture just falls into place," he said.

The "Threading Stories" exhibition not only showcases Poyant's talent but also serves as an inspiration for others to find their passion.

"I invite you to enjoy my thread paintings and encourage you to find your passion, whatever it is," Poyant said.

"I never thought I would be where I am today. I'm just grateful for the opportunities and support I have received. Who knows where this journey will take me next."

Poyant's "Threading Stories" exhibit is on display at the New Bedford Art Museum until March 24.

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter: @ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: David Poyant's embroidered art showcased at New Bedford Art Museum