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Background 1
What a difference a fabric can make! Sometimes you just need to get rid of the fabric that you've been stuck on because it isn't working. While it might be achingly beautiful (only fabric addicts like us would describe a fabric as achingly beautiful, eh?), it may not be the best fabric to give your work the maximum visual impact. I spent two days in the studio last week working on this tree I began 1-1/2 years ago, but that just never got finished. It is inspired by a HUGE, and I mean HUGE, and OLD Babs Oak tree in the Ottawa Arboretum. It would take several people holding hands to encircle it. I wanted it to look kind of abstracted, almost like a painting where you can see rough brush strokes. Before I even started building it I knew it would go on the background in this photo. But I think the background fabric is competing too much with the tree. I also want to add a few longer roots so it isn't so uniform. I had also thought I would include a bench under it, but the challenge now is to abstract the bench a bit. I'm thinking a white bench.
Over the last few days I've been pulling out every possible piece of hand-dyed fabric that might work as a background. That's a lot of work by the way. Finding them in my huge stash, then pinning them to the wall, then pinning the tree over it, taking a picture, then doing it all over again with another background. Then all the fabric needs to be put away again. However, it is fun to have visits with fabrics I've dyed in the past :-))
I really kinda like this combination. It is far earthier and coordinates well with the tree, although it doesn't project an image of spring, like I had hoped it would. After all, it was a glorious spring day I met this tree. I like the way the dark eggplant colour under the tree roots almost looks like the tree's shadow.
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Background 2
The ground in this one is a different fabric than above, but same colour combination.
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Background 3
I thought about using a complementary background. Since there is so much earthy purple in the tree, orange might be just the thing to set it off. Not bad. At least it isn't a flaming orange, and has been toned down by butterscotch and soft brown.
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Background 4
I liked the feeling of light coming through in this photo, so gave it a try. Also not bad, but not the best either.
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Background 5
I do like this combination as I think it does project a feeling of spring with the turquoise and chartreuse (yellow-greens).
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Background 6
My favorites are Backgrounds 2 and 6. What do you think?
I like the orange background the best. It evokes (for me) a sense of oasis (the tree) in the desert (the background)...the contrast is stark, more gripping than the others (which pick up the cooler, blue tones in the purple of the tree). Just a thought...
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret. I think everyone brings their own life experience of colour with them.
DeleteDefinitely no.2 for me. My second choice would be no.5 because it looks more like a sunny sky than no.6.
ReplyDeleteThanks for weighing in Anne-Marie. I am also going to do a more organic line where sky and earth meet.
DeleteI like number 4 as it reminded me of my drive to work this morning and watching the fog on the river rise (think either the water or air was colder) with the sunrise hitting it. Fascinating colour combo. I have to admit that I do like numbers 5 and 6. It is interesting to see what a difference these backgrounds make. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLike I said to Margaret above Heather, I think we bring our own colour experiences to bear, and your experience of the sunrise yesterday certainly supports that. Since I'm a night owl I can't remember the last time I've seen a sunrise ;-))) Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteI think #2 puts the focus on the tree, which is a beautiful tree. The straight horizon line bothers me a little. #6 is beautiful, with my eye going back and forth between the tree, and the sky. It looks like something is happening in the sky, like something is moving towards the viewer. The straight horizon line bothers here, too, but perhaps when you sew it, you'll have a more organic line. I think your choice depends on what you want to be the focal point; the tree, which you have done so well, or the tree and the sky, without a clear focal point. A bench would be great in #2. In #6, maybe not so much. Just my opinion. You are the ultimate decider.
ReplyDeleteI think #2 puts the focus on the tree, which is a beautiful tree. The straight horizon line bothers me a little. #6 is beautiful, with my eye going back and forth between the tree, and the sky. It looks like something is happening in the sky, like something is moving towards the viewer. The straight horizon line bothers here, too, but perhaps when you sew it, you'll have a more organic line. I think your choice depends on what you want to be the focal point; the tree, which you have done so well, or the tree and the sky, without a clear focal point. A bench would be great in #2. In #6, maybe not so much. Just my opinion. You are the ultimate decider.
ReplyDeleteI agree on the straight horizontal Rosemary. Right now it is just pinned there to audition the colours, but I'll play with a bit of a curve. Thanks for your comments.
DeleteI agree Elaine - 2 and 6, but I also agree with the comment regarding the horizon line. I would be happier with a little more "grace" in that line to work with the graceful curves of the tree. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteBackground #2 is my favorite; I think the green is necessary. I'm also glad you said you were adding some variety of length to the roots. What an exciting piece this will be!
ReplyDeleteWell I hope it will be exciting Martha :-)) We shall see! I will post when finished.
DeleteNumber 2 is saying....pick me....pick me!
ReplyDeleteLove seeing the work in progress......gorgeous!
What cute little rat you are Quilt Rat. However I found out who you are when I read your interview on the CQA blog today. Great job!
Delete2, 4, and 5 are my favourites.
ReplyDeleteHealing stories... I wanted to respond to that but didn't have time that day. I made our current bed quilt while going through a difficult time (poor health, the loss of an important friendship, plus H was completely consumed with finishing his degree). In those days we had a tiny little sewing room and I'd go in, put in some books on tape, and sew away. It was a simple pattern - but a large scale project, and I'm thankful for it, for keeping at least something in my life on track. That kind of quilting keeps you occupied enough to prevent wallowing in hard thoughts, but isn't too taxing. It's pleasant and doesn't require self-reflection, which sometimes is NOT what we want.
I also made some 'art' quilts that were very personal and required much more thought about their meaning as well as design, and I think those were restorative in an entirely different way.
Around that time I also read two books that left lasting impressions about quilts and their roles (healing, creative outlet, community building). One was Roland Freeman's book, A Communion of Spirits: African-American Quilters, Preservers, and Their Stories. It really hit me that a lot of those women took up quilting while very upset about the deaths or incarcerations of their sons.
The second book is a little nondescript looking one called "the quilters" and much of it is just transcripts of women's conversations while they are quilting together. Someone in my int'l round robin loaned it to me and I loved it so much I bought my own copy (out of print). I should get it out and read it again.
Two last notes: that round robin itself was a HUGELY healing experience for me. The goodwill and friendship shared by those women did a lot to restore my faith in friendship. And also, look at this cool course I found while looking Roland Freeman's name just now: http://www.nyfolklore.org/pubs/voic33-3-4/anthro.html
I'm quite interested in your book, if it's still up for grabs. I'm just verrry late. :)
Daphne
Thank you Daphne for dropping by and sharing your experiences. I totally understand how quilting kept you from wallowing in hard thoughts ... I always say it makes the world go away ...
DeleteI will have to look up Roland Freeman's book. What a cool course at Syracuse University too! Congratulations! The book is yours, I hope you enjoy it.
Elaine,
ReplyDeleteNumber 2 is my favourite though number 4 is growing on me. I have to say that the tree is just fantastic!
Though I didn't reply to your request for healing stories, your question did spark a journey of self-discovery that perhaps I can share with you over lunch someday.
Josée
Thanks Josée for weighing in. I will post the final results when I'm finished. I look forward to having lunch!
Deletei luv 2 and 3!
ReplyDeletegorgeous tree!1( as usual your work is always wonderful and inspiring!)
Sandra Rocca Bramptom guild
Thank you so much Sandra!
Deletethank you for sharing this experiment. I have always loved large trees with craggy characters. I like all the backgrounds as they all make the tree do different things.
ReplyDelete#1 The tree swings and dances with the background.
#2 The tree looms and is rooted in the background.
#3 The tree and the background are just there.
#4 The tree crows to the background sunrise.
#5 The tree is enjoying the cool start to a hot summer day.
#6 The tree reaches out to the background.
I to am looking forward to seeing how you remove the harsh line of the 2 background fabrics. The straight line just grates.
I can see the background with and without the bench. The bench I see is small and far away from the tree so that it is a mere thought. It would also have some of the wispy character of the tree. The person who put the bench near but not under the tree built the bench using the character of the tree to create it instead of using milled lumber.
Just my musings on a quiet Friday evening. I look forward to seeing the final result. Jackie :)
I love old trees with craggy characters too! Thanks for sharing your impressions of each rendition Jackie. The harsh line has already been removed just by cutting and sewing a curve when I joined the two fabrics. There are also a few background trees added, and now I'm contemplating the bench ... a bench like the one that was under the tree when I first met it (but has now been removed)? Or a different kind of bench? I do want it to be in character with the tree, and therein lies the challenge! Thanks again!
ReplyDelete