Saturday, January 05, 2008

Challenge 16 - Tribal Fires


When the challenge initially came out I didn't know what I wanted to do, so I started working on another project that was basically a sketch I had drawn up a while ago.

Well, as luck would have it, I started cutting out firey looking batiks anyway, and "Tribal Fires" was the result. It reminds me of the cartoon smoke signals rising from the fires. This one is obviously not quilted yet and, like some of my earlier challenges, ended up pretty large, will probably finish about 25"x50'. I will post a pic of the finished quilt when done (hopefully soon!).

Batiks, fused and machine appliqued. I would welcome any comments and/or suggestions on quilting. Thanks!

Brenda Jennings

11 comments:

Art by Rhoda Forbes said...

I would say it certainly represents fire. The black, the charred remains and some blue sky in the background. Great job.

Cynthia Ann Morgan said...

Hi Rhoda,
I love your primitive piece...I envision Mayan warriors dancing around a huge fire. You met the challenge in a wonderful way...hot colors, fiery background fabric, great contrasts of color, value and textures and that fascinating square, curvy spiral shape. Good job!
Cynthia

anna k. said...

Brenda,
this is a great 'take' on the challenge. It's amazing what happens when your mind changes it focus.
Congratulations on a great piece,
Anna K.

Carole said...

Brenda, I really like this piece.
I like the square shape of your spiral, rather than the round. The colors are great and your use of IMAGINATION is
Well done.
Carole

Monty Wilson said...

I love this quilt! I love the shapes and the colors and the composition. It takes me away to a mysterious place. Very very nice!

Sandy said...

I think this piece is a very good way of thinking outside of the box! I don't do orange (VBG) but I would hang this on my wall any day!

How did you develop your spiral? I can't see that there are any two alike! but I think the fact that you put the solid blue/green squares in there as well, really helps to make the warmer colours pop. It gives your eye a resting place to go on and discover the next exciting bit. a very good way of drawing your eye around the piece.

Sandy in the UK

brendaj said...

Thanks to all for your comments,

Sandy, for the spirals I cut out rounded squares of varying sizes from the already fused batiks; then I drew a spiral shape on the paper; then I free-form cut the line out, varying the thickness of the cut as I was going. The really skinny ones were some of the cutouts that I almost threw away!

I hadn't really thought consciously about the use of the blues, but I love to throw in a touch of blue with oranges and yellows.

Brenda

LAQuilts said...

Wow - this is very impressive - great colors but then batiks are always great.

Have you quilted it yet? Be sure to add it once totally complete.

Wendy said...

Great piece, Brenda... spiral is one of my favorite motifs and these are a great shape. Your color selection is right on (orange and blue, two of my favs!) with the black shadowing. How are you going to quilt and finish it? And save those scraps... great counter motif!

Roberta Ranney said...

Hi Brenda - This work really attracts me. It brings to mind the aborigines of Australia. The spiral symbols and the wildfire orange take me to the outback. Well done!

Roberta

Cherie in Del Mar said...

Ditto to all the above comments! Feels like being drawn into a maze. I can't wait to see it quilted!
Cherie