This began as a connection to the color 'red' and I started off with a glue resist using black on red cloth with an addition of bronze foil. Everything went wrong when I applied a cream like texture that was supposed to dry clear. Oh no! I soaked, I scrubbed and when dry I added gold leaf (second photo) and although pretty in colors, I had lost my way in purpose and composition. Out came the scissors and cutting away, adding fabrics until I had lost one circle but at least I had a surface to begin again. I've titled the piece "Tower Markings" and the circle shape (to me) feels like an ancient compass or maybe a star map. I added stamped fabric for leaves and some free sewing with the sewing machine as well as some loved stitches. I'm not against giving up on a piece but this one is only the second in my series on color and seemed in the beginning to have captured my heart...just couldn't give up! Need I mention the 42 other ideas I had and some I tried? The journal writing coming to terms with a pretty crappy cloth? Need I mention the calming myself, reconnecting to my personal memories of the color red or the many times I just didn't reconnect with the color red? Several days and nights went into this red journey and now I'm just fine with all that didn't go my way and all that did fit into this finished piece. Ready to start another color...a few more efforts in color to see if this is the way I want to continue.
thanks for detailing your struggle with this piece. It is good to know art doesnt always just flow and takes working and rethinking. Of course since there are two towers here and the red and black of fire/flames I can only think of 911.
Gail, I've always found at the end of the piece how very much I was not in control and in so many ways that is a good thing. I also look at a finished piece and can't retrace the 'how' I got through to the end!
I do really like this one project. Looks super interesting. My friend from paperwriting.xyz saw it and said that it would suit perfectly in her bedroom as she has the same colors. I think it would look better in the contrast rooms to look more impressive.
thanks for detailing your struggle with this piece. It is good to know art doesnt always just flow and takes working and rethinking. Of course since there are two towers here and the red and black of fire/flames I can only think of 911.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your good words...the art journey is not for sissies!!
Deletelove the backstory to this intriguing piece! Sometimes a piece leads the way even though we might have a direction or idea.
ReplyDeleteGail, I've always found at the end of the piece how very much I was not in control and in so many ways that is a good thing. I also look at a finished piece and can't retrace the 'how' I got through to the end!
DeleteI do really like this one project. Looks super interesting. My friend from paperwriting.xyz saw it and said that it would suit perfectly in her bedroom as she has the same colors. I think it would look better in the contrast rooms to look more impressive.
ReplyDelete