This is really outside of the box for me. This piece started with 1/2 yard of Phil Beavers Indiana Harvest commercial fabric that had the look of a hand dye. When I found it in my stash I put it up on my design wall for a couple of days and just looked at it in passing. I knew I wanted to do something with it since I loved the colors but I thought it still needed something more so I got out the paint.I reluctantly cut about 3 inches off of one end and mixed paints to match the burgundy, green, blue and carmel/tan colors. This took several tries to get it right. I used Setacolor and Jacquard paints diluted only about 20% so I could get good coverage. I then just started to add color where I thought it needed it for interest and balance. While painting, one eye just seemed to appear quite by accident. Once I saw it I added the other eye and straightened the sinister looking face.
Once the face appeared I couldn't really see anything else. It was so scary looking that I debated whether I should quilt it or paint over it again. I decided to go ahead and quilt it since I have really been trying to focus on improving my FMQ. You can see from the detail that my FMQ is starting to look a little better. Finished size is 38h x 22w. If you have trouble seeing the face click on the full image to see a closeup.
9 comments:
It's lovely, but I don't see a face.
OUtside the box is always good!
Rayna, Thanks for stopping by. The face is almost in the center and is in the large green area to the right of the burgundy pattern. Look at the right edge, follow it down to the second dark shape and follow that shape to the left, it will lead you to the eyes.
Once you see the face it takes over ... the way envy can take over your life ...
Didn't catch the face till I read the blog...then my eyes were fixed on it...reminds me of the grinch's face...
I first saw sort of a topo map with a river and tributaries. But then I read your post about the face and now that's what I see. Either way, it is a beautiful work!
Judy, I think it's a great idea to take your paints to a reproduction of an already-hand-painted fabric! And I love Phil Beaver's fabrics so it wouldn't have occurred to me to improve it ... but you really did! Makes me want to dig out some of my art-fabrics and take a deep breath ...
I actually saw two sets of eyes. When I first clicked on the picture at first I couldn't understand what was so scary...then I scrolled down. The first eyes I saw are NE of the scary looking grinch-like face. One is angelic the other is ....mmmmh.
Judy, this most recent piece, like your previous work, is breathtaking. Truly, you need to set up a show at a gallery in town. LOVE your work.
This is lovely. It just looks like a helicopterview of a fault in the earth. I like it a lot.
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