I've redone the challenge piece, and now I don't know which one I like better. Can I ask for more critiques?Thanks,
While traveling through Ontario and Manitoba last week, we were fascinated by the piles of stones along the highway. Turns out, we'll be seeing a lot of them, as the inuksuk will be the symbol for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Here's what Athropolis.com says about these symbols:
"Inuksuit - Signposts of the North
An "inuksuk" (pronounced "in-uk-shuk") is a monument used for communication and survival that is usually made of un-worked stones.
Inuksuit (plural) have been used by the Inuit people as guides and markers for special places in the Arctic, marking trails, caches of food, nearby people, or the migration routes of caribou.
Such a marker is of considerable importance on a landscape that could be otherwise featureless or constantly changing because of ice and snow. These "signposts" were essential for survival and Inuit tradition forbids their destruction.
An inuksuk-like monument in the form of a human being is called an inunnguaq (an imitation of a person). These seem to have been a recent development and many inunnguat (plural) are being built by non-Inuit but are incorrectly called inuksuit."
Well, my inunnguaq is visiting the American Southwest this month. He's getting acquainted with Kokopelli.
My complementary colors are red-orange and blue-green. It had to be in the southwest. I kind of think that circles above the sky are northern lights, seldom seen in New Mexico!
Critiques are always welcome - this is a pretty odd piece, actually. Measures about 13" x 19"
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18 comments:
Your "Inuksuk" is adorable! This is a very fun piece!
Cherie
Hi Katie - I enjoy the way you have combined the inunnguaq with the familiarity of the Southwest U.S. I also am fond of using kokopelli in some of my work so liked the way you have put this together. The pueblos and the mountains are a perfect fit. And I really like the fabric you have used across the top of the piece.
One possible change you might consider should you do a similar piece in the future is giving the sky area more color and/or texture. I see that you have added some quilting to it but, on screen, it looks pretty much white. Possibly a softer tone of the red-orange might have tied it all together.
In person this may look quite different than on my screen so take my thoughts with a grain of salt!
Katie,
i love the houses and your fabric choice for the tree. On my monitor the sky just looks too pale and detracts from the loveliness of this piece.
I'd somehow try and make the circles more connected to the sky; i'm not sure how.
just some thoughts. Good work
Hi Katie. I think you captured the southwest in your use of color. I like the playfulness of the figures, too. I wonder what would happen if you pulled the 'northern lights' fabric all the way down to the ground behind the building and tree. Great fabric, but it seems disconnected to the scene, IMO.
oops, I meant pull the northern lights fabric down behind the mesa.
Great design. We are seeing Inukshuks all over BC right now. I love your color choice, but feel the northern lights would be more effective 'pulled down. Great job though.
Hi Katie....This is a very easy to look at piece. But, I really don't think the top portion is required... is it? Because of the 'light' it looks too daytime to have that dark mass above. If you take it into your photo program and try cropping it, see what you think. Please know this is just me thinking.........
I really like your Santa Fe theme, will it or the Innukshuk be your series theme?
Thanks for all the critiques. The little quilt shows a bit lighter than it really is, but I agree, the sky is too light. I hadn't noticed that before, when I found a nice light mottled fabric with the right colors. I do think the northern lights fabric is too dark to put behind the mesa, though. Maybe if I leave out the mesa and put the circle fabric right behind the pueblos? In the future I plan to have Inuksuk variations visiting different native area. The challenge will be picking the places for the colors that are required!
Hi Katie, love your idea for the series and this is fun to see the inuksuit out of context in a different scene...where will he show up next time? Maybe I'll find him on my front porch or hangin out by my bird feeders?
The soft colors you chose are perfect for the southwest flavor of the piece. I do think reworking the sky will help, but I also have a couple thoughts about the fabrics. I've always thought that if 4 fabrics are good, then 8 fabrics are better. Using more than one fabric...same color, maybe slightly different shade or tone or value, adds so much depth and interest. One fabric can look flat, using more can bring in shadows and highlights. Also, have you thought about using variegated thread or a darker thread in the same color as the fabric rather than matching? Some people don't like the look of the thread, but I think it can add alot to some pieces. Your quilting is good enough to show off with the thread!
So glad you're back for another year...I always enjoy your work
Cynthia
Hi Katie,
Thank you for introducing me to the inunnguaq; I had not really heard of these yet. I love your idea for the series. I really like this piece. I agree that the fabric above the sky is a little awkward, but I love that fabric and how the colors tie in. Looking forward to his future adventures!
Brenda
Wonderful piece. I can see the people living inside the house.
Betty
The adobe and the blue hills are a beautiful choice for this challenge.
Love the whimsical addition of Kokopelli playing to the chunky "inuksuk" lady. Or I think she is a lady anyhow.
my personal favorite is the new one. LOVE it!
Oh Katie, this is wonderful! This treatment of the piece really makes the figures the focal point. The texture in the sky and ground really help emphasise the buildings and I like the way you overlapped them to show depth. I also like that you left out the trees in the new one.
I prefer the asymmetrical balance of the second. The figures have become the undisputed focal point in this one.
My favorite change is the dark sky with "moons" seeming to spin across it.
In the first that "moon" fabric appeared as a border print; ok but not as interesting.
Thanks for sharing this!
I really prefer your second one. The first seemed to me to be missing something in the white portion. The sky is now very dramatic. I also like the addition of the two symbols.
I like the more cropped version which you have done. The circular fabric on the first seems detached. Moving it to the sky area makes it more integrated and intentional looking. It adds drama to the piece.
Hi Katie - Wow! I think the second piece is much stronger. The sky is great - I hadn't thought about removing the mesa and pulling that fabric down behind the pueblos. And it looks really good. I like the turquoise inunnguaq and the other bits of turquoise on the "ground". They help move the eye around. Cropping the piece has also made it stronger. Kudos to you for trying it another way. A good piece just got better.
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