Thursday, September 16, 2010

Pewter Pitcher


This is a depiction of a pewter wine pitcher that was a wedding present to me and my husband 37 years ago. The pitcher and the marriage have endured a few bumps and bruises along the way. However, we are still going strong. How is that for optimism? The hand appliqued grapes and the hand background quilting are my excuse for completing the challenge very late. Thanks for a great challenge.

7 comments:

Sandy said...

The composition in your piece is very effective. I like how everything is placed to create a strong diagonal line using constrasting shapes. but then you have repetition of the oval in the jug opening with the ovals of the grapes and even with the ovals of colour hinted at in the border.

The abstracted grapes alongside the almost true-to-life representation of the pitcher really works well. It takes a moment to see them as grapes, and yet they still seem to represent plenty.

I think the rectangles work well to add depth to the piece, but also the choice of colour and patterning bring light...almost like windows in a room. This to me is where the optimistic mood comes into the work without knowing the background of the jug. Without them, it would just be "another still life", albeit and interesting one with the way you depicted the jug and grapes. But with the "light" in the background it hints at so much more.

Very well done! I do hope you enter this in some show! Especially if you can find a fine art show that takes textiles. I think it would be well received.
Sandy

Ann In Fallbrook, CA said...

Wonderful use of color and composition. The only thing I would suggest is do something to anchor the jug and grapes. Maybe a bit of a shadow would do the trick.

Carole said...

Beautiful Della... I am so glad you completed this one.
I can only agree with the comments above by Sandy and Ann... a little bit of shadowing to anchor will really do it! Perfect choice of fabrics and the hand quilting adds to the beauty.

Della said...

I think adding a shadow is a great suggestion. However, with the light source being from the left front, this would put the shadow behind the items onto the window. I really should have thought through the composition with a shadow earlier! Perhaps, I could use the multiple light source excuse. Do you see another way to accomplish this? Your comments are very much appreciated.

Ann In Fallbrook, CA said...

well, that is a dilemma! However, you say that the light source is left front, but there are windows behind. In examining your composition,I see nothing that reads that way. What is you made the right window the light source, albeit a very faint one, and have your pitcher cast a very faint shadow to the left front? This could be achieved with a sheer backed with Misty Fuse, or colored pencil. Same for the grapes. Just a thought...

Cynthia Ann Morgan said...

Della, that is a lovely pewter pitcher and you've captured that subtle sheen that pewter has. The background lovely with the gradated fabric and your hand quilting. A small shadow anywhere for the pitcher and grapes would help anchor them. Another thought on the grapes...a stem and a vine and leaf would help bring it together too.
Great work
Cynthia

California Fiber artist and composer said...

I love the shape of the vessel and the contrast between the vessel and the background. I would not have thought of adding shadow either