Thursday, June 11, 2009

This week I have been working on some pieces for the ALQS3 swap organised by Kate.
I prefer to work on more than one piece at a time and then decide at the end which one I like best. I shall show the others as I go along.
This then, is contender number one. The wording at the bottom of the hanging says 'Folklore says a crow with red thread foretells fire'.
Take a look at the close ups at the bottom of this post to get a better idea of the detail.

For those of you who I know are interested in where my design ideas/inspiration comes from, read on.
I sandwiched a piece of cotton duck with recycled blanket and medium weight calico. I originally intended to create an abstract piece and for want of a better idea, machine stitched some wavy lines and a circle. Gesso was applied with scrim and molding paste was added in places on top. The raised circles above the wavy lines were made by pushing the lid of an ink bottle into the wet molding paste. This was followed by layers of several different colour acrylics – in all my usual colours of course. :)
When I had finished I felt it looked vaguely like a fiery landscape scene. I decided it needed a focal point and was just going to work some hand stitching on the surface. But anything for an easy life, I thought I would try a Thermofax screen print of a silhouette of something, possibly a flock of birds going along the top. After much thought the print turned into just the one crow as I was reminded of various country sayings that my uncle, a farmer, used to constantly regale us with as children, and the crow plus red thread one seemed perfect.
I used heavy body black acrylic for the print. Because of the raised edges of the circle the print just skimmed the surface so I had to fill the dipped parts in using a brush. The wording was printed on to dressmaking tissue paper using a laser printer and adhered to a scrap piece of gesso and painted cotton duck with Polymer Medium before being attached to the surface of the hanging. The entire surface was then given a further two coats of Polymer Medium.
This piece evolved as it went along, which is how I usually work – it used to drive my C&G tutor nuts!




21 comments:

Ruth said...

Well done - I love the textured surface and your color choices are perfect for the piece.

Pat said...

I loved reading about your process. Thanks for sharing. Your blog is super; I have added my name to your 'followers' and also added a link to your blog from mine.

Genie said...

WOW!! just beautiful i love the texture, colour well just everything.

Julie said...

I'm supposed to be in this swap too so I'd better get working! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and process. The surface looks dynamic and as ever I love the colours you used.

Heather said...

Gorgeous colours and textures, and the crow silhouette is perfect. The experiments on your previous post are fantastic - more amazing textures and effects. Thankyou for sharing all this with us.

Sharne Gregory said...

WOW! I love the colours and textures. Looking forward to starting the on-line course.

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Fabulous colours and textures. Thank you for explaining how you made this beautiful piece, Carolyn

Susan D said...

Love the colours on this piece. I usually do it as I go along as well so I'm with you I find it difficult in C & G to plan a piece.

Wendy said...

This piece is lovely, the colours are mine and the crow is perfect. Love the textures, everything.

Doreen G said...

Just so beautiful Lynda. I don't know how you manage to get everything so balanced in colour--you are incredible.

FunkyC said...

Wow! Thank you for sharing the descriptions of your process plus the detailed pics. What rich texture.

carole brungar said...

This is full of textures and ideas and arty goodness! lol I really like this piece! (if you can't already tell!)
carole ;)

solange said...

Wow. It's so beautiful. I love colours and textures.

Sandy said...

It is so rich. Loved to hear how it came about.

Shirley Anne Sherris said...

Hi
Love this piece - a lot!!
Cheers
SAS

neki desu said...

i love the diagonal composition
working from left to right and top to bottom.

neki desu

Tenar said...

Thanks for always sharing your processes so openly. Sometimes, i do design a piece carefully and do it as I planned, but just as often a piece just happens. And most of the time the latter ones are the ones I like best in the end.

Janny said...

Great!

Judy Alexander said...

Love the textures and description of the process. Thanks.

Digitalgran said...

One word Lynda. Brilliant!

QUILTONLINE said...

WONDERFULL