It might be perverse but whenever I thought about this challenge I thought about excess - people owning or consuming more than they need and the cost of that excess to others. From there it was a short step to thinking about the human cost of everyday objects. The list seems endless but this is where a touch of synchronicity came in. As part of a study of everyday objects for the Creative Sketchbooks course that I've been doing I'd captured some images of china ware and research that I did around tin mining for the CQ@10 challenge led me to pneumoconiosis . And yes, until relatively recently, pneumoconiosis was a common cause of premature death for the men and women who worked grinding the china clay.
The cup, bowl and plate are stencilled, the quilted text tells of the effects of pneumoconiosis and the border is a hand dyed fabric overprinted with the light micrograph that I posted as a teaser earlier.
I enjoyed this challenge Colleen - I hope your progress has been such that you're able to join us!
A good interpretation of Fine Living, it does us good to realise that one man's fortune is another man's disaster. I love the stenciling - so clear. What ink/paint did you use?
ReplyDeleteAh the stenciling. I tried this out in my sketchbook and got a broken fuzzy look which I quite liked. (The stencil wasn't large enough to do the whole area in one go.) When I moved on to the fabric it was all suddenly very clear and sharp - until I managed to fudge it and now have neither sharp nor fuzzy!
ReplyDeleteAs for the paint it is just standard acrylic.
Linda B
I luv stenciling - great piece. The simplicity of it works well, great!!
ReplyDeleteWell done on your lateral thinking on this one - I like the interpretation and the way you have used the stenciling. You have brought a new dimension to the subject. I too thought of making a social statement but in the end I ran out of time and as I had already drawn up my idea, went with it. I usually tackle our subjects as soon as I get that "light bulb" in my head, but this time I left it too late! Never again!
ReplyDeleteI like the off-centred placement of the subject, and the cropping of it. The blue-and-white is bold and effective.
ReplyDeleteGood to have my conscience pricked. Yes, there is often a price to pay for being surrounded by beautiful things. Thanks for the thoughtful piece, Linda. I love the blue and white china and hadn't realised you'd stenciled it - congrats, it looks very good.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly had us guessing with your taster!
Hilary
Love it! I too love the cropped view. An interesting and informative depiction of the theme.
ReplyDeleteanother blue and white one - these colors work so well together! harmony - fine. i hear your reasoning so well - much of what went through my head during the past 3 months. a beautiful choice, the off centre works well as does the quilted writing. well done
ReplyDeleteI had no idea about the china clay. Thanks for letting us know. You have done a great job with the stencilling. And although my mind puts in the clear brown tea, you were smart to have left it out!
ReplyDeleteArt at its finest. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteThe cup is so pretty and dainty and yet when one realizes the "cost" of such items, it doesn't have the same appeal. How interesting and important to know!
ReplyDeleteI love the effect you got with the hand dyed fabric...how is that done?
Hi Venetta,
ReplyDeleteThe blue fabric isn't as complex as it appears, I put a plain mottled blue hand-dye through the printer and over printed with a black version of the light micrograph I posted earlier this month.
I am going to give it a try! Thanks!
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