June Design Master Class-Final
I focused on value for June’s assignment in Elizabeth Barton’s on-line Design Master Class. Even though my finished quilt does not really show it, I did learn a lot about value. It seemed like all the quilt artists that I follow were posting new work with high value contrast-what a huge difference. I think much of my learning happened after my quilt was finished.
You may recall, I started from this photo:
In my last post I showed my blocked out quilt:
It was not bad, just needed some tweaking here and there. As it turned out Elizabeth was without internet access for 3 weeks. During that time I festered and played and redid my little quilt many times. I finally decided to depart from the photo.
Elizabeth suggested that I change out my background for the complimentary color of my blue green agave leaves. Wow, I’m really pleased with the new tangerine background.
I pumped up the value range from my original piece but I know it could be improved from here. It did get to the point that I was simply weary of it. I had piles of fabric all over. If I packed some of them up sure enough that would be the piece I needed.
Another issue was getting that center leaf to look like a leaf. If you look at the blocked out quilt at the top, the eye does not read that center as one leaf. It became visually confusing. I used my wavy cut edging to define the edge. That helped a lot.
I had to double stack two edging fabrics to get the look I wanted. The lighter edge by itself was too light and the darker piece was too strong. By stacking them atop each other I was able to define the edges and get the value I wanted.
There is still something unsettled or unresolved about this piece but I’m leaving it for now. I’ve already invested many hours in this little 16″ x 24″ piece and I have learned a lot.
I kept the quilting simple which is appropriate for this piece. I Misty Fused wool batting in so there is a lot of dimension to the quilting.
I was surprised that the echo quilting of the leaf edge gave kind of a thermal feel to the piece. That, coupled with the tangerine background gives me the feel of a hot summer day. That I like! Anyone prefer the first attempt better?
I’m linking this up to Nine Marie’s Off the Wall Friday-be sure to check out all the great links there!
Jenny,
I love what the background color did for it. Like to see you do a series of your agave. I might try reworking the drawing a bit to simplify the stalks next time. I really like it because of the contrast which makes a simple plant seem to sing. Color is everything.
Nancy
Thank you Nancy-I do love agave. They’re just so interesting and odd. Sigh-simply-that’s so hard for me! I know I need to keep it simple-working on that one!
You’ve really improved this a lot — the tangerine background really pops the agave plant. I love the use of your wavy rick rack overlaid edges to define the leaves. How do you make that wavy rick rack? Stunning work — I love this one.
Thank you Barb! I just fused paper backed fusible to the fabric and hand cut little wavy strips. I do like the energy they bring to the piece and agaves have that fun scallopey thing going on.
I love your agave piece, Jenny! I’m a bit less adventurous than you, though, and would probably have left the original background. I think it’s more restful, but that’s not the look you were going for. LOL!
I’m actually ambivalent about the tangerine-love it/don’t. I do like the restfulness of the original. I think the value of the tangerine is too strong and a lighter value might have been better.
Hey Jenny,
Wow! What a difference! I think the wavy edge made it look just like agave leaves. Great idea!
As usual, thank you soooo much for sharing. What a wonderful teacher you are!
Maggie in Arizona
Hi Maggie; Glad you enjoyed the piece! Have fun on all of your adventures!
Both versions have their merits for me. I think the final leaf choices have a wonderful depth compared to the first. But, I love the first background as it creates a tranquil feel – probably what I am looking for in life right now.
Glad you learned so much in creating the piece!
Thank you for your insight Judy. I am learning just from the comments. I think the current background is just not quite right.
Jenny, you did a great job! I, too, like the tangerine. However, since you said there was still something unsettling about the piece, here are my two thoughts:
1) maybe the tangerine is too saturated. The background is fighting for attention with the foreground.
2) Balance. Try to achieve balance through asymmetry. Your agave is stuck smack-dab in middle. Maybe if you offset it more so that some of the ends should to one side or another and lost the base of the plant.
Having said that, it’s still a lovely piece, so keep on creating!
Great observations Kris-thank you. Yes, there is a tension, isn’t there? How funny about the placement-he definitely started off to the left and still is actually, but apparently as I quilted, trimmed, bound, etc. he may have moved a bit towards the center. Ack! This is why we need critiques!
I like the piece Jenny, but I think Kris is right on with her observations!
Thanks for the feedback Laura. I guess this is common-you can’t see it in your own work but when it’s pointed out you just slap your forehead!
Actually, Jenny, that’s really a tough question. I like both and they each have their own appeal. I am intrigued by Chris’ very thoughtful response and since she is much more practiced and experienced than I, I think she is probably right. However, because I love the original colors, I think perhaps if you do, also, it might be that it’s just the tangerine that unsettles you a bit. Perhaps a brighter – or darker? – color from the original palette would “do it” for you? I do have to say that the tangerine certainly makes it look and feel “HOT”, and that is definitely attention-grabbing. Perhaps that was part of the Master Class goal?
This has been enlightening and thought provoking. I do like the pleasant coolness of the first background. The second certainly provokes a response and an emotion. I think I could achieve that without such a strong color. I’m leaving it for now and I’ll come back. I do think I need to change the value of the tangerine.
This quilt definitely shows you learned a lot! LOVE the tangerine background (says she who just painted 4 accent walls the tangerine fizz) — it gives the pop you want for the agave and absolutely says your garden sizzles. Kris get an atta girl for her observations too. Keep creating. You just keep getting better and better!
Yowsers! That tangerine is just the thing. I think the background quilting is a great fit for this piece. Well done!
Thank you for you comments Afton-I do like the quilting, still on the fence about the background!
I feel this is strong…the complimentary background change was huge …plus any thing that you can learn about working with value is always….valuable…grin. It usually is at the root of most problems in a piece. I love how you grid out the photo..I might steal that idea even if it’s just for a starting point of a sketch.
Oh thank you Nina-Marie! I appreciate your feedback. And steal away to use the grid to enlarge your images-works well for the drawing challenged like me.