Tree Fern - In progress

This is the progress so far on my TIF March and Sumptuous Surfaces piece.

I stitched for hours - and then stopped to look. Now I'm not sure it is working ...yet.

I think I have too much contrast between the darker and lighter colours. Actually the lighter "whites" are quite colourful on their own - but just looked washed out here. Partly the camera photo - but it also looks like this in reality too.

I had an art teacher who said if your painting or mixed media piece wasn't working to paint it all white and start again....it's tempting, but it's not a painting, so I'll have to try something else!

I don't want to unpick too much, so I'm thinking of getting some "inbetween" shades to try and bring it together. Or may be when I add the paler areas on the left of the piece, it will just work anyway! Here's hoping...

March Take It Further Challenge Colour Scheme

Sumptuous Surfaces - Colour Design and March TIF

I took this photo a couple of years ago. It is a macro shot of a section of a tree fern stump. I loved the colours and textures and knew one day, when I had the time and felt ready, that I wanted to do an impression of it in textiles.

I am fascinated by nature at a macro level and my digital camera has given me a new lease of life - helping me record what I see. I also love the beauty in decay at close up. I think of all things returning back to the earth - whether they are natural or man-made - everything is ephemeral.

I smiled to myself when I saw the topic of the March Take It Further Challenge. The theme is: "Do you ever notice the little things, the small moments, the details in life? This months challenge is to do just that, pay attention to the tiny details. Sometimes the small things become emblematic for something larger."

This macro interpretation fits that topic and the colour scheme pretty exactly for me. As I am also time poor - it will give me a chance to catch up with this and the February TIF within the next month. Sharon B and I are obviously on the same wavelength at the moment. What luck!

I started this piece a while ago...well, I found the brown corderoy (from cut-offs when shortening a pair of trousers) and painted the interfacing with acrylic. Made a postcard sized background area. Then I ran out of time, inspiration and any idea what to do next.

Sharon B's sumptuous surfaces design class has given me the basics of design and a framework to see how I can "Take this Further". I have been inspired to have another go. It has also enabled me to give myself permission to work on a piece of art that I feel very inspired to try.
I didn't do much art at school. I never had a chance to develop a personal style. I have just been trying lots of different things. I feel that this may be one step closer on that personal style journey.


The design outline and colour scheme...

















Here is my progress so far...

February Take It Further Challenge

I have been struggling to find a topic for the February Take It Further Challenge!
The topic is "what are you old enough to remember?"

I remember:

• the introduction of photocopiers (with shiny paper that curled, went yellow and faded), video players, the first computers, TV games, playing vinyl albums, the first Walkman, mobile phones the size and weight of bricks (before them you had to arrange in advance where you would meet and be there on time!)
• the fall of the Berlin Wall and the release of Nelson Mandela
• penny chews, Bagpuss, the Clangers, Mr Ben
• going to the library to look things up in books
• Roller skates that go over your shoes ...see freeflyinglady's work
• Hopscotch in the playground...See flyingcolours beautiful work

I remember so many things...
I did think I might do something about blue-tits stealing the cream from the milk when it was snowy in Winter, when we had the milk delivered when I was a child. We had to race down to get there first in the mornings before these charming, but cheeky, little birds did! But apparently they still do it...

Then I was going to do something on a derelict gypsy caravan that I used to play on in the woods when I was little. The woods were ploughed up for farming fields in the late 1970s and only a thin strip remains along the roadside. I have happy memories of exploring those woods.

But now, I have finally settled on something!!
I am old enough to remember the introduction of mini-roundabouts! A little strange I know but somehow this topic has captured my imagination...
At first we were not sure whether we had to go around then or just to drive straight over the bump in the middle of the road.
What better way to remember the mini-roundabout than to do a piece based on the famous "Magic Roundabout" in Swindon.
For a while I lived in Swindon in the UK which has few claims to fame but one is the Magic Roundabout - which I have been told consists of 13 mini-roundabouts in one. It is pretty daunting the first time you go across it. I was told to work out where you want to go and just keep going! It actually keeps the traffic flowing pretty well.

Since moving to Australia and learning about Aboriginal art, I am intrigued by the idea of aerial view maps for design and explaining about where you have been as part of your personal history.
I have now found some aerial views of the Magic Roundabout in Swindon (which is surprisingly interesting) and will do a design based on this.

Finished!

I have just finished my first Sumptuous Surfaces project. The shells and sea debris were fun to do, to experiment with a variety of stitches and textures.

Now on to a colour design...

Beautiful, but Deadly - Sumptuous Surfaces (3) - Texture

Here are my starfish so far. I have used Perle threads and beads to give an encrusted knobbly look. I am pleased with the result and think that I have got the starfishy look. I looked at lots of photos on the web to try and make them scientifically accurate.
I didn't realise that using the perle threads would make them sparkle in the light - so they look quite glamorous! Sadly you can't see this in the photo. (Maybe even beautiful, but deadly!)


The Australian CSIRO have several pictures of the real Asterias amurensis. I have tried to copy the tube feet, patterns on their back and the knobbly lumps (beads and drizzle stitches). They range in colour from creamy yellows to purple. As we are working in monotones, I have kept to yellowy/cream colours. I am also pleased that the palestrina stitch has conveniently turned up at the tips - as this is a distinguishing feature of this seastar.

The background stitches are different sizes and layers of cretan stitch and then the gaps have been filled with seed beads and
drizzle stitches and the odd french knot.

Now - what to do with the background, so that they look out of place...





This is what the real ones look like:
CSIRO picture
Museum of Victoria Picture

Starfish

I am still working on the Sumptuous Surfaces project. This is my progress to date.

I have started my edges and low relief work. My design has changed slightly - I took out my third little starfish as I realised that it wouldn't leave me any room to put in the seafloor and sea shells etc.

I've used gold organza outlined with palestrina stitch (hopefully to look like the suckers/feet under the starfish). I plan to add some stitches to show the patterns on the backs too and drizzle stitches to show the spiny bits - probably next week now.

The background is cretan stitch in crewel wool. I decided not to pull the stitches, after an experiment, as I prefered the smoothness of the standard stitch.

I'm not sure what to put around the border of the post card. I've looked at a few wools/threads - but so far none has looked right. I may have to buy something new, but I thought I'd wait until I have stitched some more.



There are some lovely pieces of work in the group and I'm really looking forward to see how everyone's work is developing next week.