16 X 20
Painted with Jacquard fabric paints
Free motion thread painting and quilting
Glued to mat board
"Thirty years ago, Marseilles lay burning in the sun one day." From Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.
I found a picture of the Bay of Marseilles painted by Cezanne and used it very loosely as a model to paint this quilt top. I am a beginning fabric painter - took a class on QuiltUniversity.com a couple of months ago. I tried to use a variety of values to bring this scene to life but the photo doesn't pick up the variations very well. I added some thread painting and quilting and then used a glue stick to lightly tack it to a piece of mat board. The edges of the quilt are not finished and I would appreciate any ideas on how to finish the raw edges.
Thanks for any comments.
Posts
4 comments:
Hi Roberta,
I can see a great range of values: the greens in the foreground are deeper than the greens in the background, the variety of shades on each individual cottage suggest shadows, as well as different values in the fields and the sky. I can see Cezanne in the image.
As quilters we are always thinking "Contrast, contrast, CONTRAST!" and meaning extreme high contrast, but in art, looking at the world around you, the focus is more on the effects of light on the environment. In reality the world is full of a range of value differences, from stark noon sunlight to soft moonlight and everything inbetween. I think you've captured the scene wonderfully. While high contrast is what catches the eye first and is most suitable for graphic traditional quilt patterns, medium contrast and low contrast are often useful and have their places, too. And like you've done here, used a variety of different contrasts: high between the cottages and the field which guides the eye to the foreground, as well as medium-contrast and low-contrast areas, which is as one would really see in real life.
Don't be so hard on yourself, you've done a wonderful job with your painting. I like the quilting too.
Here is an edging technique I've used on ATCs and other small pieces. Choose a yarn that looks good with the piece and is thick enough to cover the depth of the batting. It could be a Peaches and Cream type cotton yarn, a bulky chenille, or some novelty yarn with eyelash and other bits sticking out. (I used a varigated yarn on my snowflake outer edges: http://fastfridayquilts.blogspot.com/2006/12/let-it-snow_03.html. Here is an ATC and some postcards finished that way: http://quilting-diva.blogspot.com/2006_09_01_quilting-diva_archive.html) Lightly tacking it down with dots of glue (spread them out, it doesn't need to be thick) one edge at a time or six inches or so at a time will make it easier for you to stitch. Then use a blanket stitch with the thread of your choice (contrasting or blending in) around the edge of the quilt and covering the yarn.
laura
Beautifully done! The use of paints has a strong watercolor feel, flowing and comfortable. Congratulations on a very nice painting! Valerie
Hi Roberta,
This has a real peaceful feel to it...I want to live there! It's a lovely painting you've done.
If you do more of these, it might be fun to try adding more black & gray like Cezanne did around his houses and in the foliage. The black in thread or paint or both could add alot of richness and depth
http://www.expo-cezanne.com/1_3.cfm?ID=-938944528
Good job! Looks like you are having fun, too.
Cynthia
Thanks Laura, Valerie and Cynthia for your comments and suggestions. I'm going to try Laura's suggestion for using yarn in lieu of a binding - but on another piece since I finished this one in another way. I also appreciate Laura's comments about contrast. Good stuff.
Cynthia, I really appreciate the website reference. The Cezanne picture I was using as a model had those dark lines but I didn't even recognize that they were there. I am learning so much from this group.
Roberta
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