Now what?

I've finished the composition for the last assignment in the Nancy Crow Sets and Variables workshop. I used commercial Kona cotton fabric, and would like to do the next one in hand dyes. The piece is pretty large, although that is hard to tell in the photo. The dark side is meant to be low value, and dark, but here is actually more definition in the real piece.
Now, the part I hate - basting the layers together. It's hard on my back, and I haven't figured out any shortcuts. It's 65" wide by 35" high. I plan to quilt it in a grid pattern, with a dark red thread. It went through many changes from the workshop, and I learned a lot from making it.

FrUstRaTiOn!

I have been trying to work on the last piece from the Nancy Crow workshop. It has changed a lot, and I've been learning about the motif and the many possibilities. However, I've moved pieces around, changed colors, sizes, shapes, and although I am happy with some aspects of it - I don't feel the composition is coming together. I just don't feel that I know where I'm going with it. Today has been a day where I thought about taking the piece down, giving up on it, and starting over. And questioning whether piecing motifs is even a way I want to work.

Writing this, I can hear advice from others (am I hearing voices?) Same suggestions I would give another artist - work on something else, go for a walk, give yourself an Art day, and then look at it again. Maybe it isn't worth finishing, but it just might look different in a few days. Like most people, I'd really prefer that creating was easy, and I could be brilliant all the time. (Or at least, once in awhile) Everyone would like to feel that way about whatever kind of work they do. But, life isn't easy. Think I've talked myself into another stab at the piece!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Since today is a day celebrating love, I'm posting a couple of photo's, just to enjoy. The first is a photo of my dog, Romeo, and the second is the cyclamen that my husband gave me for Valentine's Day. The cyclamen is a really deep fushia color, with round variegated leaves. I love them, but never seem to keep them flowering and health for very long. Hope you have a moment where you feel loved today, and every day.

Tokyo Great Quilt Festival 2010

A friend on the SAQA listserve posted this link to photo's from the Tokyo Great Quilt Festival 2010. The work is truly amazing in it's complexity, and attention to detail. Unfortunately, the slide show doesn't list the artists names or countries. There is a lot of reverse applique, and what seems like inspiration from arpilleros, as well as very intricate piecing, and hand quilting. Take a look and be inspired, amazed...and like me, humbled.

moving motifs

I put the motifs from the workshop on the wall, and decided I needed to move them around some more. I like the way the motif makes different shapes, which show up when the yellow motif is placed next to another yellow motif, in each of these photo's. Now, I want to play around with the way they interact, make a lot more, and compose them into interesting shapes. Nancy Crow emphasizes the figure/ground relationship. In the bottom photo, the two squares that are side by side -yellow against the brown and black ground - show how effective it can be when it is used effectively.

It also shows how helpful a digital camera can be in the studio. It makes it easy to pick up on what is working, and what isn't. I make prints on a small photo printer, to document my progress. A lot easier than trying to remember if moving a piece has made a difference or not.