I have actually completed a realistic piece! This is my latest Interpret This! piece, and I'm pretty happy with it. My perspective on part of it (the steps) is a bit off, but everything else looks like I wanted it to. No question what this is!
I had a lot of time to think while I was making this. I did enjoy the process, but kept wondering- is this really ME? Is this the art that only I can make? By the end of the month, I'd pretty much decided it isn't. I'm glad I met the challenge of proving to myself that I can do a realistic piece reasonably well, and I'm sure it would improve with more practice and time. But it's just that- a fun piece, not something pulled from my guts or psyche. And that's really what I want to do. I just am still figuring out how to get there.
Fun pieces have their place, and I'm sure this won't be my last one. I have several UFO's I hope to finish next year that I'd put in that category, or the "traditional bed quilt" category. But I'd also like to have a cohesive body of work that just says 'me.'
I do think there are some hints in this one. I didn't realize how much saturated colors dominate my stash until I went for fabric for the red bricks. I knew they were a pretty dulled red in the photo, and even eliminated my original choice because (even I) could tell it was way too saturated. I thought I'd done a good job of toning it down- until I got the brick wall mostly constructed. Bottom line, my stash of de-saturated fabrics is woefully lacking. But apparently the use of saturated colors is part of my voice, since I got a couple of comments to that effect on the IT! blog. It's a starting point!
I think I've learned that I need to pay attention to the details, even on an abstract piece. I was thrilled to hear that I'd successfully portrayed sunlight and shadows on the big tree/bush. I sure tried, and I'm glad it came off. I loved making the smaller plants, using variegated and multiple thread colors. How good are these??
So the journey continues, I keep doing the work. At some point I hope to look back and be able to say "That's MY voice speaking."
3 comments:
Taking part in this year of "IT" photo challenges was good exercise. I spent more time thinking about each one than actually executing it in fiber. It was fun to play. And that's what I see in your piece ... playing with what you see presented with your unique vision and fabrics.
;-)
Great job! Funny... I do more landscape quilts than abstract per se, but most of my landscape come out looking a little abstract! You have created a very realistic piece, but I see it as yours, based on the photo, not a strict rendition of the scene. I'll bet this isn't the last 'realistic' piece you create!
Does every piece we make need to be a reflection of "our voice"? I don't think so, but it sounds like this wasn't painful for your to make and you had fun and made a discovery...so its a wonderful thing :)
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