Category Archives: Color

Presentation of Color Samples

Posted on by under Color, hand stitching, Level 3 Stitch

I have shown you loads of color samples that I created for my Level 3 Stitch class. Many people wanted to know what I would do with them. Part of our homework has been to figure out how to present the color samples, either in groups or one by itself. Here are a few methods that I finished in the last couple of weeks.

Here’s the front of one that has five studies combined by hand stitching the edges together.

Here’s the back. I had to add backing fabric to one of the color studies. I plan on adding a strip of black felt to the back running down the center but I don’t have a long enough piece. Black felt is on order!

And here it is rolled up. I’m not sure if it will have a way to tie or a closure. I haven’t decided on that yet.

The next couple set of samples needed a method that would combine the smaller pieces that had been stretched around foam core. So I cut pieces of black foam core and used a strip of black cotton fabric between the foam core and the back of the stitched sample. These were glued together. Now they can sit up on a table or be hung on a wall.

This set is presented the same way on the black foam core. It has been an interesting process figuring out which color studies will work together and then how to make all the different samples go together.

These color studies were actually created to go together. They are all machine stitched and have the same backing. So it was easier to figure out how to connect them. I used a knotted insertion stitch to connect the “pages”. It took me a while as I always forget how to do these stitches and it takes some practice to get the right tension and do the stitch correctly.

But I persevered and now the pages can be folded to make a book.

Or displayed in a concertina fashion. I’m still working on the rest of the color studies a little at a time. Keeping busy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Simplicity

Posted on by under applique, artist challenges, Color, hand stitching, Level 3 Stitch, sketch book, Sketching

I love simplicity in design. It’s not easy to achieve but I always admire when a piece is taken back to the bare essence of an idea. So when Textileartist.org announced a challenge by Emily Jo Gibbs, I was intrigued with her style. The instructions were to find a stick or an object such as a paintbrush to be your inspiration. Then, sketch the item and use that sketch to create an applique. Ha! Applique is perfect for another homework assignment. Plus, the simplicity of using a sketch as the design. I have hundreds of sketches that I could use. But I found a stick, and did a sketch of it, including the shadow.

Then I created a pattern for the applique pieces out of tracing paper, chose some hand dyed organza and a linen background.

Here’s the documentation in my sketchbook for Level 3 Stitch class.

Then on to hand stitching while listening to a portion of an online class given by MOMA. I love the simplicity of the piece. A bare bones sketch in applique. As I said, I have loads of sketches that I could recreate this way.

For the MOMA class, the artist featured this week was Barnett Newman. I had never heard of him before and it was interesting to learn about his style. Again, simplicity is evident. His work that he is best known for are his “zips”, the line of yellow oxide down the middle of the painting in a solid colored background. But the “zips” weren’t usually exact and had more complexity to them as you get closer and view the painting at more length. Many of his paintings are really large so that as you get closer, you are engulfed by color. The painting above is done in his style. Acrylic paint on sketchbook paper. I don’t think it quite gives the same impact as it might have on canvas or board. But it was an interesting experiment.

It’s a fun course and now we are studying Willem de Kooning.

Thanks for stopping by and stay safe!

 

Completed Envelope Book

Posted on by under book making, collage, Color

I finished up the envelope book I showed you last week. I decided to use my own handwriting for the poem even though I generally dislike my own writing. But I went with it anyway. I used a poem by Joan Graham called ‘Nature Knows Its Math’. It seemed to fit and I added in a few more sketches on several pages that referenced the poem.

Here’s the front again. I used a painted piece of rice paper for the binding. The binding paper has a couple layers of acrylic medium to make it stronger. It almost feels like fabric.

I really enjoyed creating this book. It is a very easy book construction and can be decorated in an infinite number of ways. Have you tried creating your own books? I’d love to see them if you have.

 

Take care and stay safe!

 

Five in a Row

Posted on by under Color, Level 3 Stitch

A couple of weeks ago, I showed you some color studies I have been creating. I finished the last one and thought you might like to see all five of them.

Here is the last one that has more black and white and less of the other colors.

And here is a photo with all five in a row. I tried the different colors in many different positions trying to decide which ones looked the best together as well as the overall progression of color. This was the combination I liked best so far. But that could change depending on what method I decide to attach them together.

These were fun. I don’t use the automatic stitch choices on my machine much. It took a bit to figure out how to do only one or two stitches and all those other fancy functions that I rarely use on my machine. But it was a good learning process.

I hope you’re staying safe. I am staying at home and yesterday, my art group met by Zoom. We had a great time and it was easy. If you haven’t given it a try, Zoom is well worth the look.

Back to Color Studies

Posted on by under Color, Level 3 Stitch, machine stitching

I thought I wasn’t going to have much more time for color studies. But all of a sudden, I have loads of time on my hands; as many people do at this point. So I am pretty sure that I showed you this first color study. It was done when I was working on all the rest.

I liked the concept of this one and thought it would be fun to make a series. I would use the same color scheme but emphasize a different color with each study. These are all 6″x 6″ and will eventually be connected into some kind of book format. I’m not exactly sure on how they will connect yet or which order they will be in.

I emphasized blue violet on this one. All of these are done on a heavy stabilizer with fused fabrics and automatic machine stitching. These are all inspired by some photos that Antje kindly sent me.

This red orange one is really bright, isn’t it? But I like how the stitching looks like doodles.

And another bright one that has a yellow orange emphasis. Looking at these, it might be interesting to cover these with a layer of sheer and perhaps burn back the sheer to reveal just a few bright areas. Food for thought anyways.

This last one isn’t stitched yet. It is mainly black and white. I have been stitching these one per day so that I don’t get overwhelmed with changing automatic stitches and colors of thread.

Here is one possible combination of pieces together. I also need to work out how to treat the backs of each of these. In book format, the backs will be exposed. One thought was to fuse fabric on the back side, perhaps in the main color used on the front? Still working out what I think will be the best idea for the finished piece.

I hope that you are all staying safe out there. Thank you to all of you who are on the front lines of this crisis. I appreciate your effort and I’m staying home as instructed.