Thursday, January 28, 2010

Challenge 41 "In the Sun" by Silvia Dell'Aere

Ok, here's my work for this challenge.
But before I've to admit that I've misunderstood the guide-line, due to a translation mistake. When I read "quilt theme" I've understood "the theme of quilting motif", and when I've realized that wasn't right, the design was yet done.
And I loved it so I went on with it. :)

My colour choice is yellow/purple/green... but then I've lost control and added also oranges and pink.
The design jumped in my mind when I've seen a photo of a bunch of flowers. That bunch really looks like a sitting cat. Silly isn't it?
So I've drawn an oval, and a stylized cat, made of circles, in it. Then I've added more circles, to close the lines of the cat contour.
Finally I've added 3 stright lines that would looks like sunbeams. I've taken these lines as a guide to place colours: light in center beam, the 2nd from top, medium tones in 1st and 3rd ray, and finally darker tones in the last ray.

size: 24"x16"
(you can click on image to enlarge)



PS: can you see the butterfly? ^_*

of course I'd like to see what do you think about it :)

13 comments:

fastfriday said...

I enjoyed all your different values and their placement. It's a soothing piece to look at.
Chris Predd

Jan said...

Great piece! I love the way you used the circles to enhance the shape of the cat and then fractured those even more with diagonal lines to appear as if he's sitting in the sun. Very enjoyable to look at. And, I 'think' I've found the butterfly on his tail???

Wendy said...

I see the cat but I see a figure with arms raised, too... very inspirational! Nice colors and flow... well one!

Silvia "OrkaLoca" Dell'Aere said...

chris: thank you!

Jan: yes the butterfly is on tail ^_^ I'm happy you like it!

wendy: I think that the nice thing in fractured and cubist art is that at the end everyone can see something different in the same piece. Just to say, my husband says to me "it's Rudolph the reindeer!"

Julia in NZ said...

Interesting fabrics, and a lovely harmony. Although the green is a contrast to the other colours, I think that you have placed it well. It seems to give a visual weight, and at the same time a slight feeling of a grassy place for the cat to sit.

Joni said...

very nice work Silvia! The circular fragmentation is very effective and makes the viewer search for even more hidden treasures. I think I found a snail while I was searching for your butterfly (very nicely quilted I might add). Your color selections work very well together too. Love it!

Carole said...

Beautiful Silvia!
I see the various figures as well, and what appeals to me is the 'Asian' feel this has with the wide variety of what looks [to me] like calicoes, and the 'balls' [circles].
If you misunderstood, it sure turned out well!

Art by Rhoda Forbes said...

This is a wonderful piece. I really like your choice of colors and textures, really adds to the piece. I immediately found the cat, but had to search a bit for the butterfly. Nice take on the fracture component of this challenge.

Cherie in Del Mar said...

What an interesting piece! I find myself searching over and over, discovering new images each time. I too at first saw the person with outstreched arms reaching for ...the sun? I had to try hard to see the cat after that, LOL. It wasn't until discussing it with my sister that I discovered the butterfly. Well done!
Cherie

LAQuilts said...

Very cool - so have to admit I could see the cat only once others pointed it out - but have no idea where the butterfly is - no matter what others say - I can't see it.

Silvia "OrkaLoca" Dell'Aere said...

LAQuilts: the butterfly is quilted on the cat tail-tip. ^_*
If it helps I can say that I've used purple tones only for the cat, so all purple is "cat". ^_^
But I've to admit that if you've to look it more and more, and every time you see something different or new, I've reached what is in my opinion the nice thing of this kind of art.

Cherie: It's interesting that if you (but it's the same for me) see one image at first, it become quite difficoult to see whatever else, also if pointed out.

Rhoda: I'm happy you've seen the cat at first and you like my work. Thanks!!!

Carole: it's nice that you feel it "asian". love that definition.
When I realized my mistake was too late, and this piece was screaming to be completed.

Joni: thanks for your appreciation ^_^ I've quilted the butterfly by free hand. The circle are made with the walking foot I usually mount on my machine. I think I can't live without it :p
Uh... can you tell me where you see the snail? (I'm a snail lover, so it woult be fun to have one unintentionally in this piece)

Julia: thanks! I've used both commercial and hand-dyed fabrics.
At first time I thought to put yellow tones also behind the cat, but I didn't like the "flying cat" effect, so I've choosen another colour, and the green seems to me the most natural.

Cynthia Ann Morgan said...

Hi Silvia, Fun piece, beautifully done. I do see a snail with a long neck...it's the cat's tail and lower body....though I think it looks more like a turkey when you look at it as the tail being the head of something.
Great job
Cynthia

Pam Harris said...

Very interesting piece, pleasing colors and complex. I too, see something different every time I look at it. Nice job!