Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Opinions Please?

This is a piece that has just sort of come together a little at a time. I think I'm almost finished with it, except now I'm reevaluating whether I like the poppy-seed heads. I like the stitching for the stems, so I'm considering taking the heads off (these are made of wool) and just stitching the outlines of poppy-seed heads in their place. What do you think?




I guess I sort of think the current heads are a little cartoon-like. I would love to have your feedback!

16 comments:

Ruth said...

I actually like the shape of the heads. I think what they just need a little color added to them as the white looks a little stark up against the colorful background. Could you add a little ink or watercolor give them just a hint of color?

Mary Horton said...

I was thinking the same thing as Ruth even before I looked at her comment.

Laura said...

Hello! I like the poppy heads. Once you mentioned it, I see what you are saying about the cartoon look, but I am wondering how big the piece is, because until I read your description, the only thing I thought of to add or change was perhaps a few fallen poppy petals (maybe a deep red?). Thank you for sharing your work!
Laura (via Quilt art)

Barbarba Douglas said...

Michele, The hint of color is a terrific idea, or even a bit of shadow effect giving the heads a bit of dimension. Otherwise the overall effect is good.

LynDee Lombardo said...

Yes, I agree with the others...a hint of color to give the idea of a curving surface would remove the cartoon-y look. I like the poppy heads.

Cheryl Rezendes said...

I might add a little stitching to the poppies as well as color. The background has a lot of depth and dimension through the use of color and stitch. What gives the poppies that cartoon look is that they are flat.

A little color and texture will go along way.

If you want to take it one step further you could play around with another small square of cloth, overlapping it a bit onto the poppies and the brown square. This will add another dimension and push those poppies back. They will appear to be further in the distance then the other grouping of poppies.

All in all, very nice work! You are almost there.

Best,
Cher

Lynda Worthington said...

I think the design is wonderful. The starkness of the white doesn't overly worry me. It sounds like it might be worrying you.... perhaps a little shading using paints or thread would help you?

Judy Ferguson said...

I see nothing wrong with it. The white poppie heads contrast against the colorful background. Perfect, that is what you want. Contrast is a good thing. If it were mine, I would have put the white poppies on a black piece of felt and cut them out again, leaving a slight halo of black showing. This would give the illusion of space and would fix that flatness you talk about.

gini said...

i love your composition, the white poppies are a great shape. is this the final size of your piece? if you brought white into a border, or tabs hanging down or fringe, someplace on the outside edge. it would move your eye around and the poppies would look more settled into the piece.

Suztats said...

I love this! What strikes me, though, is the white of the poppy heads, and the fact there is no other white in the work. So the poppies seem rather stark against the background. I too, think it would read better if the heads weren't in such a contrast to the rest of the work, perhaps picking up a lighter tone of one of the colours you've used. Just a thought.

Lyric said...

Ask yourself some questions:
Where does my eye go first, then next, then next...

What leads my eye there, then stops it.

Is there anything that captures my attention that shouldn't? How and why does it draw the eye?

Do all the elements relate well to each other? Is there repetition, balance, some sort of symmetry or pleasing asymmetry? Is the piece unified or does something stick out to you?

There are many great ideas in the comments here.

-Lyric

Wendy said...

I agree with what has already been said, the flat white of the wool is making them stand out too much against your hand dyed fabrics. Maybe a little tea stain would do the trick?

Michele/TextileTraveler said...

Thank you all so much! You're amazing! Lyric, you're so funny. I know you can't tell by looking at this piece, but I've taken your design class not once but TWICE :-)

Unknown said...

Actually, Michele, the design is good....but the first thing I said to myself is "the poppies are too stark and are not carried out elsewhere (colorwise) just what everyone else had said...even though the Lyric gets the crown for posing the critique in the best terms for having you think, come to your own conclusions, and do what is appropriate (no surprise there).

I love the poppy heads...but I looked at it and said greyed with gold highlights.....but that's MY thoughts and this is YOUR quilt. :)

Nicely done and I'll be looking forward to see what you do, or don't do! Lisa Q.

Robbie said...

Heads are fine...just add some shading to them...great piece actually!

Anonymous said...

You have a lot of layered squares already. Why not audition some sheer fabric squares over the two groups of seed pods? Perhaps one darker than the other to give some perspective. Easier to reverse if you don't it than painting....