lovely photo

My brother has become a very good photographer and he posts his work here and here. 

This recent photo really struck a cord with me.

56 by *lilscottieme on deviantART

I love the contrasts in it - the colours, light, line and texture.

It sent me scurrying to re read my posts on Sharon B's Sumptuous Surfaces class and has left me doodling some stitching ideas...

Fife Art Exhibition

Just back from the exhibition preview and I have been hung.

However everyone who submitted a piece has their work exhibited. I must have misunderstood the application form!

Not sure how I feel about it. Being one of, say, 50 artists would make me feel 'special'. Is one of nearly 400 less thrilling... perhaps a little.

Still exciting to see my work (completed) framed and hung for the public to see. We had to quickly move away from it as some people were talking about it. Scared of criticism, at least face-to-face!

patch of sea framed

it was difficult to photograph given the glass and lack of natural light but here it is! I'll deliver it to the art gallery tomorrow.

Sumptuous Surfaces - FINISHED!

Its now at the framers and I'll get it back on Saturday. The slideshow has updated automatically.

some closeups...

Fife Art Exhibition

The Fife Art Exhibition is held annually in Kirkcaldy for amateur artists. You submit one piece and if its chosen it is exhibited for 4 weeks in the Museum and Art Gallery. I have sent my application form in and have decided to submit my "A Patch of Sea" piece which I did in Sharon B's Sumptuous Surfaces class.

The stitching is not quite finished (I'm trying out some ideas on the sky!) but I have chosen the frame and mounts at a local framers and everything will be ready to submit by the 14th October deadline.

I should know in a couple of weeks if it has been successful.

This is a very new and exciting experience for me. I can't wait to see it framed properly.

If its chosen, then that will be the icing on the cake. And If i sell it.... I'll get a cherry too.

I'll post photos once its framed.

Sumptuous Surfaces - a progress report

still stitching this one (from Sharon B's course at Joggles)

keep going back over areas to build up depth and interest. Think I'm getting there.

slowly but surely.

the slide show has automatically updated.

and yes, I'm stitching again.

yeah!

Sumptuous Surfaces - a slide show

Sumptuous Surfaces - a progress report

slowly but surely....

Sumptuous Surfaces - a progress report

Slowly but surely. I keep going back over areas, adding more stitching to keep the design balanced, so its taking a bit of time.

I want to add more pulled stitching to the path. I also want to add some glass beads to the bush in the foreground. This bush was created by weaving some strips of scrim and then overstitching the exposed vertical stitches and the horizontal scrim stitches. I like the loose scrim threads.

I still think the buildings are too white....

This online class is now on week 5. I'm still on week 3! I haven't even read the next two lessons. Although they look good... lots of colour.

Sumptuous Surfaces - a progress report

Laying down the first layer of stitches (low relief) took more time than I expected. I spent too long playing about with pulled stitches before finally realising this was NOT a pulled thread sampler. I was working in a small space and an actual real life scene to create. So I stuck to simple stitches....

I think the buildings came out well.. if a little too white.

In fact working in a 'beige' colour scheme has allowed me to be more abstract (rather than getting bogged down with realistic colours) but it was difficult with my limited supply to create the realistic scene that was in my head. A bit of a contradiction....

I moved onto building up more texture in the foreground


I also added some random stitches in the skyline, between the horizontal lines and the clouds


Still a work in progress!

I've printed off lesson 4 which introduces colour theory and a new design. I think I'll carry on with this scene for another week before reading that lesson. I need to stay focused and not get distracted by other ideas...

Sumptuous Surfaces - the first stitches!

and there has been a few changes!

I'm using an antique white 28 count linen (type) fabric.

I used a Perle No 8 for the path and sky in a cream colour. I tried the charcoal stranded cotton and it didn't look right, too dark and imposing. I then used a very pale grey Perle No. 8 for the wall (I used a dark grey cotton thread under this). I've started the white stranded cotton for the buildings.

I think things are progressing well and I hope to get this first level of stitching finished at the weekend. I can then move onto the bushes. For inspiration I took some photos of the actual bushes.



Since this piece is in monotone I need to rely on texture....

Stay tuned!

Sumptuous Surfaces - stitch diagram

I've refined the basic design (by removing one of the bushes on the left) and noted some of the stitches I intend to use.

The piece will measure 6"x4". I'm using a cream linen fabric and cream, white and grey threads. Nearly monotone! I love the sketchy look of charcoal so I couldn't resist using another colour. At least its not black.

I plan to do a pulled backstitch for the main path and sky using charcoal stranded cotton. I will vary the width of the lines and the thickness of the threads to create the illusion of depth. I am toying with the idea of splitting the skyline at the roofline (on the left) and doing some pulled backstitch (or possibly another pulled stitch) in a different direction. Possibly echoing the path line (bottom right).

The buildings will be stitched using random straight stitches in white stranded cotton with some shiny threads added to the building closest to viewer. All buildings will be outlined in charcoal stranded cotton. I'm hoping to achieve a sketched look.

The walls will either be padded satin stitch or I will applique some twill tape (nice texture and lovely warm cream colour).

The bushes will have various stitches, fabric and beads added to give a sense of depth and richness of foliage. Stitches I'm considering here include, detached chain, straight, thorn, french knots, bullion, but I'll research this part later. One technique I am also considering is darning.

This is quite detailed (normally I'd just start stitching), but I want to draw the viewers eye to the patch of sea in the middle of the piece and for this I need to get the perspective right.

all subject to change of course!

Sumptuous Surfaces - a sketch...

at last.

Its based on a view of the sea. Just as you round a bend you look right and you can see the sea between the houses. I have simplified the shapes and may do so again (I'll leave the sketch lying around tomorrow and take quick glances at it!)


The premise is a glimpse of the sea. Through the bushes, walls and houses you can see the water. Since this exercise is in monotone and is all about texture, I'll have to build a sense of perspective through stitch alone. I want to draw the viewers eye to the little rectangle of sea in the middle of the picture. This will be untouched whilst everything around it will be stitched.

That is the theory!

Some stitching ideas at the moment:-

• drawn thread work for the sky and path. I think these should be the same pattern and worked in the same direction to give some balance and not look too busy. I hadn't consider this treatment until I read the notes to lesson 2 and Sharon showed her Lizard piece.
• at the moment the buildings are worked as just lines, but this may not make the sea pop.
• the bushes will be worked in different highly textured threads and beads etc, hopefully giving a since of foreground and background.
• the walls may be padded....

After sketching and tracing with an 8B pencil I'm now drawn to my black and white threads. I think that monotone scheme will make a more pleasing picture.

Mmmmmmm.....

I need to be careful that it doesn't look cluttered and that I get the sight lines correct. I think once I get it drawn up a few more times and start laying down the outlines and first layer of stitches I'll have a better feel for it.

I feel abit unsure publishing this at this stage as I don't know how its going to turn out... oh the lack of control!

Sumptuous Surfaces - week 1

Sharon B has described the design process of Concept, Form and Content. Despite the numerous creative courses I've taken over the years I've never consciously thought about my designs in this formal context. I'm hoping it will appeal to my analytical side and keep me focused on completing an original piece of work.

I'm working in 6"x4" format, purely because its small and I'm confident I'll get the stitching finished (TAST is good evidence of that)

I'm going back to one of the first ideas I had when I started my C&G course and I'm using my home - a small fishing village - as inspiration.

Which also fits well with the format - seaside postcards.

3 years ago when I started a workbook of ideas I concentrated on the 'elements' - sky, sea and sand (or in my case, shingle). My first impressions. But now I want to concentrate on what I love about the village and thus make a more personal piece.

I'm using the sketchbook that I made 3 years ago in response to my first impressions to collect my new ideas.

I'm sure that if I revisit this concept over the years, what I love will change, so this will be a long term idea!

So far a bit of mind mapping and daydreaming has thrown up a very simple concept.

The sea. In particular how I see it - catching a small glimpse through some houses as I turn a corner, or getting up high and seeing an expanse of water. I love the juxtaposition of the green fields and the blue water. And the noise they both make when its windy...

I'm hoping to get some sketching done in next couple of days of my different vantage points. I'm sure some interesting shapes will come up.

beige update

I have more natural tones than I thought....

where has the week gone?

the materials list for Sumptuous Surfaces has arrived. Sharon wants us to work in monotone for the first three lessons and suggests cream, white, bone and natural muted tones. I don't have a great supply of these, certainly not a variety of threads, probably because I'm not drawn to these colours. I do have a selection of black and white fibres (not much grey though...) which may be appropriate. But I'm wondering...how much black and white can I take! Maybe I should use this class to challenge my beige prejudice....

I'll wait until the lesson arrives and see how it goes....

a new course - Sumptuous Surfaces

I've signed up for Sharon B's Sumptuous Surfaces class on Joggles.

It starts on 11th July .

I'm not sure how much time I'll have but I'll give it a go.

I like its focus on design and I'm hoping I will end up with a sketchbook of ideas (even if I don't complete any stitched pieces!)