It’s so hard to imagine that I have been at this for eleven days! The process has been both invigorating and grueling all at the same time. Analyzing and rethinking my design is the grueling part. By that I don’t mean it’s a negative feeling. No, it is the feeling of mental exhaustion. The hours away from my studio help to replenish my energy and clear my mind. This temporary respite provides the invigoration that I feel when I once again return.
Time to examine today’s accomplishments!
Day 11
While critiquing yesterday’s accomplishments I thought I saw a few areas in my design that needed filling. My goal today was to create a couple more blocks to close in those areas.
Mystery QAL Day 11 More Parts
Mystery QAL Day 11 Parts Department
Mystery QAL Day 11, Block in Progress
To make those blocks I pulled scraps from my baskets. The color schemes chosen were selected to compliment the designated areas. The photos above show some of the items I chose as well as progress that I made.
When deciding on the colors and patterns that I will use, I try to make certain I repeat them at least three times throughout my piece. This technique helps to spread the visual impact of the fabric to multiple areas.
My Goal
The four principals of
color,
pattern (circles, lines, flowers, etc.),
value (light, medium and dark) and
orientation (landscape vs. portrait),
when in balance, are what make a
well-rounded,
eye-pleasing
composition. Meeting those four goals was my plan at the start of this original art piece. I hope that I can say that I achieved that goal when I finish this piece.
Another Look
My post today would’t be complete without the daily analysis process. Time to pull those photos together to take a look.
Mystery QAL Day 10, Design Wall End of Day
Mystery QAL Day 11, Design Wall End of Day
Above is my color photo analysis. A careful examination of the two days I believe shows the achievement of three things
the successful addition of new blocks
a more interesting display of color, and
a good mix of landscape and portrait blocks.
Next I want to assess my color values.
Mystery QAL Day 10, Design Wall in Mono Tones
Mystery QAL Day 11, Design Wall Mono Tones
I think things are looking pretty good and it’s safe to say that there’s not much that I would change.
Thank You!
This brings to a close another day in this adventure. I believe it is safe to say that the end is just around the corner. Thank YOU so much for putting up with my ramblings! You know that I don’t say that just to see my words in print. I really do look forward to and appreciate your visits. I know your time is just as valuable as mine and I am honored that you have chosen to share it with me.
I looked forward to returning to my studio today. My mood was extra perky because the clouds were gone and the sun was brightly shining. I just love it when the light filters through my studio window. The glow of the bright rays and their warmth always makes me smile.
Day 10
My goal for today was to create new building blocks to fill in some of the holes in my design. I also had plans to manipulate the arrangement of my blocks. The process of moving them around obviously won’t stop until I start to stitch them together. The farther I get into my project the harder it is to see big changes.
Parts Department
I have a large volume of scraps stockpiled in baskets and tubs just waiting to be added to an art piece. Sometimes I think I pay more attention to them than I do my neatly stacked and folded fabrics.
Storage Area
Perhaps it’s because the contents in my cubby holes serve two purposes,
inventory and
decoration.
I love to surround myself with bright colors. My home glows with pizazz from my many art pieces and the carefully chosen collectibles. In my studio, my neatly pressed fabrics help to add the punch of color I crave.
A decrease in my inventory would mean a reduction in the colors on display. Of course I could always remedy that with additional trips to the fabric store. But, on the other hand, that would mean I have to spend more money and spending more money is something I hope to curtail. The scraps of fabric, while quite colorful all on their own, don’t provide as much of an artistic impact. Besides cutting into a scrap is much less traumatic that a whole piece of cloth.
I used those strips to create the center section for the block in the top left corner. I’m amazed at how interesting it turned out. The other five blocks were also made with scraps from my baskets.
Color Value
Mystery QAL Day 9, Design Wall in Color
Mystery QAL Day 9, Design Wall in Mono Tones
Pictured above are my color and mono tone photos from yesterday. The photos show areas of concentrated dark values. To make my piece more appealing I needed to insert blocks with lighter tones to break up those areas.
Some of the blocks I create are random sizes while others were made with a definite size in mind. All of the units I made today were meant to fill specific areas so their sizes were predetermined. Their color values were pre-planned as well.
These new blocks were made to help breakup yesterdays problem areas. I inserted them into my art piece then took another set of photos.
Mystery QAL Day 10 Design Wall in Color
Mystery QAL Day 10 Design Wall in Mono Tones
Here’s how my piece looked after they were incorporated. The addition of the lighter colors helped to break up the overly dark areas.
A Different Plain
Without my saying so, I’m sure you have noticed that my photos were displayed horizontally rather than vertically. I did this because I like to be able to see them on a different plane. This gives me the opportunity to visualize things differently and perhaps notice other problem areas.
My design wall is way too big to turn the other way. It is much easier to rotate a photo than it is to move my board. Besides, if I did try to turn the board I have a hunch many of my units would fall off; creating yet another problem. Then I definitely would see things in a whole new way.
Aside from color value, I also like to analyze the direction of my blocks. Ideally I would have a good mix of both horizontal as well as portrait. My eyes don’t always catch this with a portrait photo. Many times I’m so focused on color and their values that I forget to look at block orientation. The horizontal photo makes me look at things differently and helps me to focus on portrait vs. landscape.
Judging by the photos above I think I have a pretty good mix. There are perhaps a few more that register as landscape but I think I can live with that for now. Especially since I’m not quite finished with my design. This gives me something to keep in the back of my mind, however.
Now What?
So far today I have made six new blocks, reorganized the block arrangement and analyzed my landscape vs. portrait orientation. Left to consider is my color values. Next I will compare yesterday’s photo with today’s.
Mystery QAL Day 9, Design Wall in Mono Tones
Mystery QAL Day 10, Design Wall in Mono Tones
Looking at the two photos I can see that many of the blocks have been moved to new locations. Moving them around and adding in the six new units has drastically improved the appearance. The ratio of lights, mediums and darks has started to even out as well. With a more even blend my eyes move about more freely and that’s exactly what I want to achieve. Woohoo! I think I am on to something. FINALLY! 🙂
Awesome!
This is an awesome place to call it a day! Before I do that let me share two more photos.
Mystery QAL Day 9, Design Wall in Color
Mystery QAL Day 10, Design Wall End of Day
This side-by-side comparison provides a look at the end-of-day photos from yesterday and today. I definitely like today’s much better! It looks so much more organized and restful.
Thank You!
You have been such a trooper for allowing me to bend your ear. Thank You! I look forward to our next get-together. I am so excited because we are getting so close to the end.
The sentiments expressed above definitely address my talking-points from last time. All of the building blocks on my design wall were rearranged and designations were made for three new original art pieces.
Day 9
On my list of things to do were two items: ponder my next steps and construct a few more building blocks. While thinking about the arrangement, of the units on my design wall, I busied myself with the creation of four new blocks.
Mystery QAL Day 9, Building Block Material
To make the process interesting I challenged myself to use up more of my fractured leftovers. Some of the slivers were extremely thin. So thin in fact that I typically would have abandoned them as being too small. However, I’ve gotten past that bias and learned how to adapt my stitching to incorporate them.
I don’t think I would use them if they were destined for a quilt that would receive a lot of use because I’m fairly certain they would not survive. In an original art piece they should be just fine since the item will most likely spend most of its life hanging on a wall. Pictured above is some of the pieces I used to help create those blocks.
Mystery QAL Day 9, New Units
From my inventory of useable scraps I was able to create these four blocks.
Mystery QAL Day 9, Design Wall in Color
Check out the photo above to see where they were placed.
In Search of Perfection
After I finished adding the new blocks to my wall I spent the rest of my time moving them around; searching for that perfect arrangement.
Mystery QAL Day 8, Design Wall in Color
Mystery QAL Day 9, Design Wall in Color
If I compare the two above photos I can see the changes to my block organization. With just the addition of the four new units and the moving of one block, my wall took on a totally different appearance. Now I want to compare today’s mono tone photo with the photo from last time.
Mystery QAL Day 8, Design Wall in Mono Tones
Mystery QAL Day 9, Design Wall in Mono Tones
Looks like I still have a lot of work to do. The concentration of the medium and darker tones is still too predominant. This gives me plenty of information to work with next time.
All In Good Time
Developing original art pieces certainly is a long, well-thought-out process. Being careful to take into consideration established design principals the achievement of a well-balanced piece is attainable. I just have to be patient and take it slowly. Being a buzzer-butt often makes if difficult for me. I have a tendency to get anxious about the process; wishing that it would go faster. When that happens I have to remind myself that this is supposed to be an adventure…a journey; not a one day excursion. 🙂
Taking frequent breaks to clear my mind and relax can sometimes help my over-anxiousness to calm down. Of course consuming too much chocolate and caffeinated coffee doesn’t help my cause. They do, however, keep me fueled with plenty of energy. LOL!
Thank You!
I simply can’t sign off today without first taking the time to Thank YOU for your continued interest. I’m grateful for your visits and the opportunities that we have to spend together. My blogging would not be nearly as interesting without your participation! As I say goodbye I’m already anticipating our next encounter.
. From several of the blocks I cut a thin strip and set them aside for future pieces.
