Recently, on the Quiltart list, there has been some discussion about working styles. How do you get an idea and then work through to the completed piece? Some people like to plan everything out carefully before diving in and some like to work strictly from intuition, allowing the piece to evolve and tell them what needs to happen as they go. I have tried both methods, but my best working style falls somewhere in the middle. For me it takes all the fun out to plan everything first, but on the other hand I like to warm up a little and play with sketch or paint before I turn to fabric. Here is one of the small "warm up" paintings I did with the concept of overlapping transparent square shapes. I used acrylic paint watered down to the consistency of watercolor. I still like to use watercolor, but it takes many patient layers of color to get to brightness, so acrylic is better to work up a concept quickly.
What you have on hand once you start working also affects outcome. I thought some about using transparent organza but discovered I didn't have enough of the right colors. I ended up using some hand painted cotton, silk and cheesecloth.
Of course you have to add color and texture with the lovely threads.
Here is the work in progress. You will notice that it bears little resemblance to the painting, having evolved considerably in the making. You have layering, square shapes, some transparency, and hopefully some feeling of depth or looking out into different planes.
The great thing is, I will go back to the concept and do more small pieces and each one will be different.
What you have on hand once you start working also affects outcome. I thought some about using transparent organza but discovered I didn't have enough of the right colors. I ended up using some hand painted cotton, silk and cheesecloth.
Of course you have to add color and texture with the lovely threads.
Here is the work in progress. You will notice that it bears little resemblance to the painting, having evolved considerably in the making. You have layering, square shapes, some transparency, and hopefully some feeling of depth or looking out into different planes.
5 comments:
Lovely piece--so lively and colorful, and the transparency effect is stunning--you were able to retain the integrity of the color without it getting muddy. I start out with an idea of what the end result will be, but the piece always takes on a life of its own along the way and tells ME what it wants.
I love seeing how you work, Jenny. Thanks for sharing.
I liked the description of how you work. I am not an art quilter but I do design my own quilts. I either draw the design or do it in EQ6 but the execution usually changes as I go, sometimes by changing my mind and sometimes by not remembering to follow my own plan. I like to think that I creat not only when I design but when I am making the quilt.
That is generally the way I work except it's usually a thumbnail sketch that I do...gee, I really have the urge to create right now...thanks for the push...I may actually work my way out of my current fog and do something...I LOVE your piece and your "practice" painting...
Looks great, I like using the transparent fabrics a lot too, nice job.
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