Not Happy With My First Art Quilt Attempt
05-16-2011, 12:15 PM
#202
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 3,813
I am a beginner and I would never even think of doing something like this right now. I know when a quilt is made like a landscape picture, it is according to the artist's eye, not exactly like the picture. This is just my opinion so please take it as such.
To me, the fence leads your eye into the scene of the small house and then the background is muted behind. There are also some small flowering plants in the foreground. The detail in the foreground needs to be emphasized more than the detail around the house. To me, the tree and the flower pot with flowers in the photograph have places where you can see the house through them, rather than hiding the house. The tree that is to the left of the path and in front of the house, needs to be lighter and perhaps have more spaces where the house shows through. What I am trying to say is that depth is created by having more detail in the front of the picture and less in the middle ground and even less in the background of the picture.
Please don't take this as negative or critical although I am trying to give you a critique as my art teachers tried to do with me. I still have a tremendous amount to learn about quilting and you are really, really brave to attempt this. It is a beautiful scene and you are really doing well to try to get it on the face of a quilt. Your colors are beautiful and really, you have the general idea with the detil of the grasses in front. I know you can come to love t his quilt. It's the process sometimes, I think, almost like birthing. Let your frustration work for you. It will be a treasure.
To me, the fence leads your eye into the scene of the small house and then the background is muted behind. There are also some small flowering plants in the foreground. The detail in the foreground needs to be emphasized more than the detail around the house. To me, the tree and the flower pot with flowers in the photograph have places where you can see the house through them, rather than hiding the house. The tree that is to the left of the path and in front of the house, needs to be lighter and perhaps have more spaces where the house shows through. What I am trying to say is that depth is created by having more detail in the front of the picture and less in the middle ground and even less in the background of the picture.
Please don't take this as negative or critical although I am trying to give you a critique as my art teachers tried to do with me. I still have a tremendous amount to learn about quilting and you are really, really brave to attempt this. It is a beautiful scene and you are really doing well to try to get it on the face of a quilt. Your colors are beautiful and really, you have the general idea with the detil of the grasses in front. I know you can come to love t his quilt. It's the process sometimes, I think, almost like birthing. Let your frustration work for you. It will be a treasure.
05-16-2011, 12:28 PM
#203
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Middle America
Posts: 707
Well stated, serenitybygrace..........I too remember all that you said was drilled by my art teacher. But when it came down to brass tacks, I just never seemed to grasp the image on canvas. Lucky for me, quilting is not like oils but the perspectives are the same. Yes, creating holes within the tree branches in front of church will give depth, anything to not have smooth edges. I tried a landscape a few times and I have it in my UFO drawer right now. Perhaps seeing this quilt scene progress will get me to take it out once again.
About the only thing I would like to offer is, catrancher, can you raise the church steeple above the mountain top so it is prevalent to the Heavens?
About the only thing I would like to offer is, catrancher, can you raise the church steeple above the mountain top so it is prevalent to the Heavens?
05-16-2011, 12:34 PM
#204
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Topeka, KS
Posts: 3,813
I am a beginner and I would not even try to make a landscape quilt. You are doing very well. I will give you my opinion, and please take it as such, not criticism or anything negative.
To me, in making anythhing, writing a paper, drawing a picture or making a quilt, sometimes, I reach a frustration stage. That is what I am hearing from you. If I can recognize my frustration stage and let it work for me, I ususlly come out with a better product and feel absolutely wonderful about the product in the end...like it just fits.
In pictures of a scene, the most detail goes in the front and then less in the middle ground and even less in the background. I get it that the house is really your focal point. The fence and the detail--some of the little flowering plants in the foreground lead your eye back. You have the idea with the detailed grass. There just needs a little more. Also, the trees and flowerpot on this side of the house need to be downplayed some..like perhaps making them a lighter color and make openings where the house shows through. The large tree to the left of the path also needs some downplay..a lighter color or making more openings where the house shows through. I like that tree there because it covers a large expanse of rock wall of the house that would be boring without it. Maybe you could just tweek it a bit. I notice that some of the small plants in the foreground have red or pink flowers that are small but those dots of red/pink also lead your eye back to the large flowerpot on the rock wall because it also has some red/pink in it.
These are just some of the things I see. I know you will work this out. I think you are just in the frustration stage and that is a creative stage. Keep looking at your photograph and at your quilt and try to tweek the picture on your quilt one way or another. You are going to love, love, love this quilt. Push through your frustration and make changes. I can hardly wait to see it finished. It is going to be absolutely wonderful and what a precious keepsake from your trip! Thank you for sharing and being open for other's opinions.
I am so sorry, I didn't mean to get on here twice. I thought the first one was lost.
To me, in making anythhing, writing a paper, drawing a picture or making a quilt, sometimes, I reach a frustration stage. That is what I am hearing from you. If I can recognize my frustration stage and let it work for me, I ususlly come out with a better product and feel absolutely wonderful about the product in the end...like it just fits.
In pictures of a scene, the most detail goes in the front and then less in the middle ground and even less in the background. I get it that the house is really your focal point. The fence and the detail--some of the little flowering plants in the foreground lead your eye back. You have the idea with the detailed grass. There just needs a little more. Also, the trees and flowerpot on this side of the house need to be downplayed some..like perhaps making them a lighter color and make openings where the house shows through. The large tree to the left of the path also needs some downplay..a lighter color or making more openings where the house shows through. I like that tree there because it covers a large expanse of rock wall of the house that would be boring without it. Maybe you could just tweek it a bit. I notice that some of the small plants in the foreground have red or pink flowers that are small but those dots of red/pink also lead your eye back to the large flowerpot on the rock wall because it also has some red/pink in it.
These are just some of the things I see. I know you will work this out. I think you are just in the frustration stage and that is a creative stage. Keep looking at your photograph and at your quilt and try to tweek the picture on your quilt one way or another. You are going to love, love, love this quilt. Push through your frustration and make changes. I can hardly wait to see it finished. It is going to be absolutely wonderful and what a precious keepsake from your trip! Thank you for sharing and being open for other's opinions.
I am so sorry, I didn't mean to get on here twice. I thought the first one was lost.
05-16-2011, 12:42 PM
#205
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lumby, British Columbia
Posts: 2,769
Since you asked I think the hill in the background is a little too light. But you can darken it a bit with thread when you quilt it. Otherwise it looks great. Are you adding the rail fence?
05-16-2011, 12:49 PM
#207
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: ohio
Posts: 1,039
I think you are doing a great job!! I understand your feeling though, you envisiond something that looks exactly like the picture; you are going out of your comfort zone..but don't feel like that!! It is beautiful!! You should be proud!!
05-16-2011, 12:53 PM
#208
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 223
I am CERTAINLY no expert but the house seems to be hanging out there -- if you look at the photo, there is some green behind the house to the left. I also think the white mountain is too white.
Nonetheless, it is a great picture! My suggestions are merely trying to match the photograph! I do think I would put it away for a few days and let your "new eye" look at it!
Can I come and learn from you??
Nonetheless, it is a great picture! My suggestions are merely trying to match the photograph! I do think I would put it away for a few days and let your "new eye" look at it!
Can I come and learn from you??
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