Haven’t we all had works that started out with such promise and us with such enthusiasm about them? And then either we’ve overworked them or somehow we just couldn’t get the tone we wanted out of them? Well, that seems to have happened with my latest small piece. It started as just a line study in crinoline. Then I wanted to develop it a little farther into a meditative piece with a Buddha. Since it was a small quilt, I felt I would just work free and easy and see where it went and have fun with it. It was great fun at first, but then I kept making adjustments. I thought I was liking it and when I thought it was done, I realized it wasn’t working out. So how do I end it so that I’m happy with it?
Since I last showed you the quilt, I added a fabric piece to the bottom. I had found a teal cotton piece that I had treated with some rusty hardware some time ago. To fit it with this quilt, I added some some texture rubbings with Shiva Paintstiks and left the rough edge of the fabric on the bottom edge.
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| rubbing plate, paintstik, brush, palette, tape to get pain on bottom edge of fabric |
And I couched a fiber onto the border of it. I found some sari silk ribbons and sewed those onto the other edges with the intent of squaring them off but then I liked the pattern of the edges they already had. So for the time being, I’m leaving the edges as they are. And I do love the edges. Funny that I love the fabric piece at the bottom and the sari ribbon shapes more than the actual quilted piece I started with.
My stitched Buddha wasn’t the greatest. Since the quilt wasn’t looking good to me, I thought that was the problem. So I stitched another Buddha. The Buddha looked much better. Better face, better hand, better foot, but not a better quilt.
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| with the new Buddha, couched fiber, sari ribbon-borders, and bottom fabric |
So I removed the Buddha and the squares and pinned a monk from sheer fabric in its place.
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| Put a Monk on it! |
A little better, but still, I don’t like the quilt as a whole. Next step was to look at the quilt without a monk or a Buddha or squares.
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| Sigh (not the title) |
It looks empty now.
The end of this story for me is to put it away for a long time and work on something else. I sure wish I had a design expert on hand to tell me where I went wrong so that I could learn from it, but maybe in the future I’ll figure it out. So for now... Let it go... Let it go... Let it go...
Don't you wish you had a private art expert to guide you? Or would that take away your voice? What do you think? I'm linking this to Off The Wall Friday where you can find other art quilt blogs. Please leave comments on their posts to let them know you stopped by.
I like the one with the Buddha. I think the yellow in the buddha balances the yellow in the sky. One thing I would try is to see what it look like cut off right below the buddha. Maybe it would look better without all the space blow him.
ReplyDeleteI had it started out without a fabric below the Buddha and it seemed short to me so I added more to the bottom. Maybe if I keep adding and adding eventually it will look good... I don't think so.
DeleteHi!!!! I like it without the Buddha or Monk!!!!! Too me it looks like water going to the sky...maybe a fish....an angel or just some wings....ha ha but I know you just have to wait and see what comes to you,,,,it is pretty by itself!!!!! Thanks for sharing it!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carla. Maybe you'll see it finished here someday.
DeleteA sailboat, a palm tree, a sea turtle?? All sorts of things for a central focus, maybe you did not like the Buddha cause he was off center. I hate stuff too symmetrical, but maybe it would work for this.
ReplyDeleteI like the first shot, with Budha and squares. I am not in love with the sides and top edge treatments but like the bottom a lot. I think you are too close and it's small. You've gotten microscope vision! What's it missing?? magic? Whimsy? I learned to sit down with a problem child and write to it, free association, tell it what you wanted for it, use lots of descriptive words. I'll just bet the answer will show up.
ReplyDeleteRegina, I like the first one, with the squares a lot. My husband would like it very much in his office! I'll bet it's not lost.
I wish I had someone around to bounce ideas off weekly. I send photos to an art friend, and say this or this sometimes. If you like my opinions, you can always send me a shot! I'll be honest.
LeeAnna Paylor
lapaylor.blogspot.com
My favorite part is the bottom, too. Maybe someday I'll rip that part off and use it in something else.
DeleteI just want to say - I read this post and thought OMG - that happens to me all the time - LOL!! I do vote for putting it away - sometimes you get to close to a project to realize what is and is not working. Also I've been known to cut it up and rework the whole thing into something new - its hard but in the long run satisfying.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling this one will get cut up some day.
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ReplyDeleteRegina, I agree with Nina Marie. I have put pieces away for years and then brought them out and been successful in finishing the piece.
ReplyDeleteYes, this one won't see the light of day for awhile.
DeleteI think you will be surprised after a while to pull it out, that it is better than you think. Your inner guide knew what it was doing. It is complex and interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It's interesting how our inner guide's act on us.
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