Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Rice Bowl and Bird revisited

 
This time around I had the idea to remake a previous piece that I did, using the new color scheme and some newer ideas for working. I talked about it several weeks ago on the blog and showed the original piece, "Rice Bowl and Bird" and some elements of the new piece, including an early attempt that I discarded. Interesting to me that when I showed those early starts several people didn't like the second bird as well as the first and thought I should use the first bird with the second bowl. I guess I hadn't made it clear that I wasn't finished with either the bowl or the bird. I knew that adding stitching to the bird would change it dramatically, and it did.





The bird is my favorite part of the whole thing.

I wasn't crazy about the colors we were given and took liberties with them, using a much bluer shade of green than the one Deborah showed, but a green that I think of as closer to "sage." The coldness of the blue, green, and brown were very hard for me like, so I added the rich, warm orange. It really seemed to be the warmth it needed.

I really loved my idea of remaking an old piece. I will do this again. I keep all my drawings so it is relatively easy to do. If you look at the first "rice bowl and bird" you can surely see the relationship between the old one and the new one, but there are significant differences too.

8 comments:

Gerrie said...

The bird is my favorite thing about this, too. I love the looseness that you are getting in your latest pieces.

Karen said...

This whole piece is very mosaic looking Terry, I could see this being made with broken chips of pottery or glass. The bird is wonderful, it has a great expression in its eyes.

Kristin L said...

He/she is a cheeky little bird! I think that most people respond best to things that they recognize and can "know." Hence, realistic art is more popular amongst teh general public than abstractions. Between the two birds, the first was more realistic. the second though, is so much more interesting (even without the stitching, when one's brain had to fill in the blanks a bit). I especially like the direction you are going in with the more suggestive background instead of a specific place in space.

Terri Stegmiller said...

I just love how this revisited version turned out. At first I didn't see the green in your piece but upon closer inspection and reading your description, figured it out. This shade of green is much more sage-like to me as well. I think my favorite part of this is the quilted leafy area behind the bird.

Diane Perin said...

I'm so glad you did this, Terry, and shared your process and thoughts about the two pieces with us. It's interesting how this one, with the same essential subject matter, has a much different energy to it. I really like how you've used the vistual textures in the fabrics and in your quilting in this piece.

kirsten said...

I love the idea of revisiting a quilt like this. The bird is a winner :)
...and the quilted leaves. Sweet.
You have a special touch.

Françoise said...

I like this idea too. I have plans to remake some pieces of our colorplay series (in another life?).
The addition of orange to the palette is a wonderful choice. And I love this Japanese looking bowl.

Vicki Miller said...

An art teacher once told me the only way to get looseness in your work is to learn to be tight first. What he meant was to have the theory and techniques under your belf first so they are second nature. You seem to have achieved this. I love your composition