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Saturday 30 November 2013

Blue Hibiscus

A really challenging colour, Linda F!  I went through several design possibilities (and if I was better organised time-wise, I would have a go at them).  But here is my offering.


It is loosely based on the photo.  The hardest part was finding THAT blue.  Here is where I confess that I had some lilac netting that I was going to lay over the blue background before I fused the shapes down.  It got pushed aside - and I forgot!  Groan...  The shapes are fused down and outline stitched.  Free machined leaves and background and puff paint stamens.  These are fun to do.  Should I put another circle on the right?  Edges satin stitched.

Hilary

13 comments:

  1. I know you Hilary, and I doubt these comments will shatter you :-) To my eye, I would have preferred more variety in the negative spaces, in other words, less formal symmetry. If you look at the margin of blue background top and bottom, they are similar. The square and flower shapes are centered horizontally, and the blue-green rectangle is centred vertically. I would love to see these elements in an informal balance. I like the way you have sketched in the leaves with different threads, and the little white flowers add some value contrast that really sparkles.

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  2. Heather - I learn so much from reading your comments. I would add that another flower would make this piece too formal.
    I really like the way that your stitched leaves are not constrained by the fabric.

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  3. My answer is no to another circle. Would I reposition anything, no again, Love the piece as it is.

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  4. I agree with Phil, I like this piece as it is. You have also been brave and have added the red/brown as Linda did and it works really well. This piece soothes and calms - probably the circle and rectangles and as always your stitching is inspiring.

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  5. I like the way you have been loosely inspired by the photo. I might have added another circlish shape on the right but it is your piece and it is great the way it is!

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  6. Isn't is frustrating how you you can sketch things out, move things around, try this way and that, be happy and then see how wrong you have been! Yes Heather, you are absolutely right. And I should know better.
    The 'circle' I was talking about is the little white puff paint stamen circle.
    BTW I had written my comment on Linda B's piece before I read these comments - so you can see I knew I had missed the mark.
    Hilary

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  7. Hmmm not sure about another circle, I'd have to see it. Puff paint is fun, I was playing with some the other day. The little flowers are adorable. Photo? It's probably obvious but I don't see one.

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  8. Your composition seems to have a Japanese influence: clean lines and simple shapes.
    Very Zen!

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  9. All this discussion and going back and re-looking at it ..... my brain finally registered the 4 flowers and went into a buzz (personal hate of obvious even numbers) so I would add a 5th on the right. Would this not help with the slight unbalance Heather is talking about and move the eye over to the right.

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  10. I like this this, but wondered about adding some of your lilac netting over the area on the top right to break up the background a little more. Great interpretation of the colour and the image, it's a real skill to extract the abstract from a representative photo.

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  11. Sorry but I do not see the photo that goes with it. Love your colours and how the white sparkles. Does cropping the left side to 3 flowers help to make the negative space more interesting?

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  12. I like how you used the hibiscus, but not sure I like the balance in the piece. I do like the components tho

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  13. my comments as well as an image which was a response to this piece have appeared as a new posting .......help!!!!!

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