Monday, September 01, 2008

Fuchsia

I seem to find fuchsias endlessly fascinating. I have taken many, many photos of them and used one of these as an inspiration for this piece. I rarely choose to do anything "abstract" but in the sense that this is not a close replica of the photo and I did lots of editing, this is about as close I get.


I cut the shapes freehand and changed the composition somewhat. I tried to work mostly from scraps from my scrap bin. I fused the shapes to the background using Misty Fuse. I really enjoyed this challenge and the opportunity to work a little looser than I often do.

The main image of my quilt is a scan because I am having trouble getting crisp images with my camera(s). The scanner cut off the borders because this is just a little too large. But I love the edge treatment, so at right, there is a scan of it, too. I inserted a folded purple piece of fabric for a piping effect.

I invite all comments and critiques.

10 comments:

Cherie in Del Mar said...

Hi Susan...
I love fuschias as well. You nailed the colors! And I love the inclusion of the blue green leaves, makes the flower pop. Before I looked at the closeup I thought you had beaded the stamen. They look good, but wished they were beaded anyway:-)
Cherie

Carole said...

Hi Susan, this is really well done, the turquoise really adds...Your quilting is lovely!!
I would like to compliment you on your edge treatment. That little bit of purple, and SQUARE corners!! I always mitre mine and when I teach I really stress the binding corners, but.....
You are a good example, I hope everyone looks at your inset piece [scanner piece].
Carole

Susan B said...

Cherie, I think you;'re right, the stamens are begging to be beaded. I hurried through this or I might have done that.

Carole, I never miter corners on these little quilts. I should have mentioned that this is only about 9-1/2" x 12". I make square corners and get to avoid the horrors of joining the binding on those short sides.

Thanks to both of you for taking the time to comment.

anna k. said...

Susan,
I do like this. You have achieved depth by your quilting, the background looks dimmensional.
It's difficult to do abstract isn't it; this quilt appeals to me. I also like the way that you have thread-signed your name.
Anna

anna k. said...

Susan,
I do like this. You have achieved depth by your quilting, the background looks dimmensional.
It's difficult to do abstract isn't it; this quilt appeals to me. I also like the way that you have thread-signed your name.
Anna

Art by Rhoda Forbes said...

Very nice Susan. Very realistic, you can almost feel the flowers!
And the quilting is awesome.

Cynthia Ann Morgan said...

Hi Susan, this is a really lovely piece, though it is not very abstracted.Your quilting is beautiful and fabric choices are perfect. I love the edge treatment, too.
Cynthia
P.S. Is it hard for you to get out of the realistic box? If you do, you can always go back if you don't like it!

LAQuilts said...

I love the rich colors and the leaves. The batiks are a great choice for the flower - it is a bit on the realistic side but fabulous. I'd challenge you again to loosen up the form.

Susan B said...

I don't see realism as a box I want to escape from. Given the way I work and the kinds of quilts I like to make, I have virtually no interest in making my work more abstract. Abstract art does not engage me on the same emotional level as more representational work. I can relate to a landscape, an artistically rendered flower, a beautiful courtyard scene or cityscape in ways I cannot begin to imagine relating to a canvas of non-representational shapes, lines and colors. I find the challenge of working with light and shadow, color and form in order to create depth and realism an interesting and worthwhile intellectual and artistic challenge. I think we all have different goals in our art. Mine do not include making my art more "abstract".

Cynthia Ann Morgan said...

And what a good thing it is to have all the different styles of art...we are all richer for it!