I'm currently teaching a class based on my 'The Churning' art quilt done for this group's Monochromatic challenge back in October last year and I needed to time some of the processes I used to create it. I've been a bit busy lately and since I didn't have a lot of time to create something for this group's 'Out of the World' challenge and Vic Quilter's Showcase exhibition I decided to make something I could use for all three.
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| Pandora's Box - 297w x 420mm h - Neroli Henderson www.eiloren.com.au |
This is a reverse approach given the decorative stitches are in the foreground and the linear free-machine stitching in the back. The monochromatic 'Churning' was so popular I decided to keep this predominantly within the one colour theme as well.
I began by painting the background and cube panels separately. I took the cube idea from Star Trek - the most aggressive species they encounter is the Borg who fly in cube shaped space ships. I wanted it to appear like an invader - a cancer cell perhaps, or something that has no right being in an organic place given it's sharp man made angles and lack of organic form.
I used metallic paints - Jacquard's Lumiere and Gem which both work well on fabric and mixed these with some Pearl Ex powder so the colours change even more when viewed from different angles. I liked the ethereal feel it had.
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| I loved the decoratively stitched cube on the plain background but when I added the background stitching it wasn't working for me. |
I did the decorative stitching on the panels and the quilting in the background before fusing everything into place. It wasn't working for me at all at this point and had lost the ethereal floating feel it had above. It was just really boring and too monochromatic with none of the oomph it needed.
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| I so did not like it at this point - far too boring and it had seemed to lose the whole feel I was going for. |
So after a little pouting I did a lot of over painting and finally added some transfer foil to the background. It's a very different look but I am happy with it again!
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| Close up of the background overpainting and transfer foil, the metallic colours change depending on the lighting and angle of view. |
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| Close up of the satin stitched edging. |
For more of my work please see my website here
You kick yourself too hard. Neroli, this is a stunning work of art. I continue to be amazed at how you can put together all the media, thread, fabric, paint, glitz and glimmer to get what's in your minds' eye into art.
ReplyDeleteGreat movement in the background, and a fun way to use the decorative stitches on your machine too!
ReplyDeleteThe addition of the metallic paints and foiling give it more movement and visual impact. Love the decorative stitching. I have never seen such a neat satin stitch edge, how did you achieve that?
ReplyDeleteLove the movement of the background - very cool piece!
ReplyDeleteAmazing what a little paint will add to a quilt. Beautiful piece Neroli, glad you stuck with it to get it just right. Might make it a project for myself to see what fancy stitches are in my machine, quit effective in the right place.
ReplyDeletePleased to see to listened to your art work - it kept telling you it needed more.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully done in the end.
Lovely! I love your energetic background. You really created a sense of movement....the cube is really spinning off the surface!
ReplyDeleteIt is a stunning piece!!!!!
ReplyDeleteStunning as usual Neroli, I love your piece and that you shared the process with us.
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