Week in Review 2021 – 08/13

New Start

What is your creative process? Can you even describe your creative process? In my case it is so innate I find it difficult to put into words. I do feel as if I have a muse that sits on my shoulder and whispers, “Just give it a try. It might work.” Prior to that gentle nudge my brain swirls with possibilities. I know some people opt to keep notebooks of ideas. These ideas may be jotted down in words, as sketches or perhaps be a collection of photographs. The only thing I do is the latter. However, I rarely peruse the photos. I am just as likely to glance out my window, as is the case with my current WIP (work in progress) and feel the nudge of my muse.

What I saw this week is the marsh our home overlooks. I am as entranced by it as Monet was with the waterlilies at his home Giverny. Why? The light is always changing and because it is tidal marsh, so is the depth of the water. Unlike Monet, I suspect, I don’t try to capture the fleeting changes of light. It is the shape of the landscape that has me mesmerized. Even so, I don’t even attempt to replicate it. Instead I go for its essence. I begin by getting a sense, a very broad sense of where I need to head by creating a blue print or pattern in EQ8.

Early Steps

Now that I have the basic lines it is time to map things out more formally. This is one of the reasons I like using EQ8. It saves me oodles of drafting time. I can print out the block/quilt to the size I created. I can print out each of the five templates with or without seam allowances. The muse (remember my muse) told me to experiment with this one and build the piece as layered quilts to help bring a more 3D or bas relief look. That muse is always giving me creative and never before tried by me assignments. Nothing ventured…So, I have created the bottom or foundation quilt. It is muslin showing the placement lines.

Stopping Point

I finished the week by selecting the palette or actual fabrics I plan to use. One way I check, before delving in too deeply, is to lay out the fabrics in the order they will appear and in the approximate percentage to be used. Is there enough contrast? Do they work together harmoniously? Now I have everything ready when I return to the studio next week.

I am linking up with Nina Marie’s Off the Wall Fridays.