After having picked the theme water, I had the hardest ime coming up with an idea. I was distracted by my daughters wedding and a trip to Mendocino. I looked thru my photos from the various travels and settled on this picture I took at Lake Titticaca in Peru/Bolivia (back to the realism). I quilted white silk/cotton fabric, then painted in the features, which is a technique I've only played around with once before. The hand stitching is the reeds that grow up in huge areas of the lake, and which the people that live on the lake make thier floating islands from. I left out the women that use these boats, wearing thier gorgeous colorful clothing, I knew I couldn't pull that image off!Sunday, June 1, 2008
On top of the World
After having picked the theme water, I had the hardest ime coming up with an idea. I was distracted by my daughters wedding and a trip to Mendocino. I looked thru my photos from the various travels and settled on this picture I took at Lake Titticaca in Peru/Bolivia (back to the realism). I quilted white silk/cotton fabric, then painted in the features, which is a technique I've only played around with once before. The hand stitching is the reeds that grow up in huge areas of the lake, and which the people that live on the lake make thier floating islands from. I left out the women that use these boats, wearing thier gorgeous colorful clothing, I knew I couldn't pull that image off!
Painting the already stitched fabric gives a really interesting texture. It's a perfect technique for this project. I like that you kept the imagery simple to play up the texture of the water.
ReplyDeleteYes! The texture and color is beautiful, and the boat and shadow give such a simple, calm feeling. The stitching lines also great a great sense of light on the water -- you've achieved that very well.
ReplyDeleteKaren, this looks wonderful. So peaceful and serene.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this piece, Karen. The simplicity of the composition, the gorgeous turquoise of the water, that little yellow boat, the perfect hand stitching and the ethereal machine quilting.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed that you pulled this off while putting on a wedding!!
Karen,I really like this one! Great color sense, The effect of the painting over quilting gives it a kind of batik look. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThere is a desolate lonely feeling to this piece. I can almost hear birds crying overhead and the darkness of the water makes me think a storm is coming in. Very atmospheric. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love the texture! I agree with Terry, I can feel the storm on its way, with the ominous clouds overhead. I don't think I would want to be out on the water. I'll watch this one from under cover.
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ReplyDeleteLovely texture. And this shade of green blue is beautiful. Good idea to paint it after quilting. I like your hand stitching too.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Painting after the quilting is so effective. Great color choices too. Of course, I love the hand stitching.
ReplyDeleteI studied Lake Titicaca in 11th grade geography and have really enjoyed seeing the photos from your travels. I love the texture and colour of your water and the exotic shape of your boat. The whole piece is very evocative of a different way of life.
ReplyDeleteI bet you could do the women - maybe not in such a small pice but in a bigger one? Again you have used a technique that is new to me and I am inspired to try that sometime too. Also inspired to go to Lake Titicaca which is a possible on our RTW trip. Did you suffere from altidue sickness? ( a worry of mine!)
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