Thursday, September 1, 2011

Painted Bunting: Out On A Limb

Painted Bunting: Out On A Limb. 20 X 24. This process was inspired by a technique called, "Portraits In Fiber." Using a photo to interpret a portrait. I have been attempting to get more depth into my compositions; and wanted to trick the eye, by making the Bunting look like he is extending out toward the viewer. I accomplished this by keeping the background in pale values. The bright colors make him move forward from the background. Another trick is to use overlapping. His tail and the bottom leaf are placed on top of the inner border. The background leaves are kept in a muted tone, while the colored leaf is overlapped. All of these tricks make the eye feel that the image has distance between the background and the focal image. Notice that even the busy border does not overpower the bird. That is because it has no real color. A green binding strip, the same color as the leaves, brings your eye from the bottom leaf. It keeps the eye from drifting off of the picture and carries it back up into the composition at the left branch. It also balances the bird with a diagonal balance. The bird is fused onto peltex and has been threadpainted. Pen and ink were used to create the branch on the left. Commercial fabric and fabric pens were used on the colored branch. Different colored threads were used in the threadpainting process. Bird is machine appliqued onto the background. This piece was accepted into the Waverly House Gallery exhibit called "Journeys."

6 comments:

  1. Hello Judy,
    You are so clever at how you explain the art behind your work. Your 'Bunting" is a beautiful piece.
    Thank you,
    Best wishes,
    Jane C

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the little bird! And your plan to make it appear closer to the viewer really works. I appreciate your careful explanation of what you did and why. Good stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  3. ohh you know I love to interpret photos since I feel that a lot of charm is in the twist and turns the piece takes. I also love how the tree bough just pops off the piece. I'm right in the middle of finishing up a Christmas piece where that happens - its a great effect!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very successful illusion! And a lovely piece with a very interesting choice of frame fabric. I also really liked your "Serenity" piece.
    best, nadia

    ReplyDelete
  5. Judy, I just discovered your blog and am entranced by your ability. So very much to learn here. I'm not new to sewing, but am new to art quilting. I will be back many times and am now a follower.
    Hugs,
    Mary

    ReplyDelete
  6. A very clever piece Judy and I think you have achieved the goal that you set out to do. A beautiful job on that gorgeous bird with all the thread work and lovely quilting. I have found more birds' nests today -
    one even in a bale of hay near the chook house - it looks like a tunnel.
    Those birds are so incredibly clever to disguise their homes.
    Hugs to you,
    Suzy

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for your comments.