Something Blue
I’m working on something blue. Just writing that first sentence I feel childlike, as though I am playing a game of I Spy. In fact, that is what the start of a new art project can feel like. It is a blend of childish delight, focus, curiosity and challenge. How will this turn out? I often get so caught up in the process that it becomes all consuming. The end is not the point. The process is.
Ready Or Not…
…Here I come. I have been given a challenge by my critique group. Well, technically we are each being challenged to interpret the same photo, but according to our individual styles. I feel very fortunate to be part of such a cohesive, supportive, fun and educational group. One of the strengths of the group is although we are all fiber artists, we approach our art very, very differently.
Last month we selected the photo, taken by one of our members, Jayne Gaskins, while she was in Noyer, France. Yikes! This is SO not my style. Thank goodness it was agreed we could crop the photo and focus on a smaller area. Aren’t they going to be surprised when they see my blue abstraction? 🙂 Well, maybe not. They are very familiar with my work.
Let’s Get Started
Now that I know which part of Jayne’s photo I will be working on, I start by selecting a blue palette. The blues must range from light to dark and include both toned colors and tinted ones. I have a fondness for bringing in texture, even if there is minimal to no texture in the original image. I’ve decided to make the piece 36″ by 36″. This is easily pieced using a 9 patch format of 6″ blocks. Each patch is 2″ and when necessary can be created with two rectangles, two half square triangles or 4 quarter square triangles, etc.
I have zero idea how the final piece will look. I simply know that by choosing a cohesive blue palette and this method of piecing it will work. Because the piecing is straightforward my mind is free to drift to possible ways to do something unexpected. Some people jump off bridges attached to a bungee cord. However, my idea of free fall excitement is letting my mind sort through unpredictable possibilities.
Rainbow Scrap Challenge
All my turquoise blocks are pieced for July! I’m feeling pretty smug that my Ceil de Noyer quilt is turquoise. 🙂 Hence, I’ve met the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this week.
I’m linking up to the following posts:
