this is a piece I started back in the summer and left on my design board for months before taking everything down to revamp the room. I'm not at all happy with it. Much of this is just pinned on as possible embellishment: orange beads in lower left, fabric beads in middle section, lime green rat tail, deep orange embroidery thread, a piece of fabric with lime green, a needle felted piece with lime green and orange, etc. I need some direction. At this point, I'm not at all happy with it. The orange and blue seemed to call for some zip, and I tried introducing the lime green, but the flaws may be deeper than just color.
Should I continue to work on this piece or abandon it? Should I consider chopping up and incorporating into a new piece or pieces? I confess, whatever vision I initially had for this evaporated months ago, and I feel completely stymied. Nothing really seems to work here, and I have to wonder, " What was I THINKING?"
I've gotten some great suggestions on this. Unfortunately, this was my first attempt at fusing, and I fused the background as I went, so adjustments will be a bit more difficult; however, keeping the comments in mind (and I agree with Mary's and Cathy's comments about the orange strip and Liz's about the orientation) - I'm trying to look at it with "fresh eyes" as Gabrielle advised.
I do like the colours in this, but I see what you mean. Maybe you could try looking at it from a different angle. I find that often that stitching it down helps too... how big is it?
ReplyDeleteI haven't looked at it from all angles, but maybe it looks better with the square with the orange frame at the bottom (turned 90 degrees I mean)?
How bout moving the thick middle orange section to offcenter on the left side between the lt and medium blues. Maybe adding a few more dark blues (2-3)for additional contrast? Try using a dark instead of the medium on the orange pieces. FWIW. It's worth rescuing
ReplyDeleteJen, this piece has real potential. Agreeing with everyone else, it needs fresh eyes...and a little reworking. However, don't trash it...you are on to something here.
ReplyDeletePersonally I'm not keen on the beads, green squiggly bit or the wrapped orange thread on white. These are to me weak in comparison to the rest of the piece which is a very good composition. And I like the orientation you've got. Try bringing in some more of the limey green to give it a sharper touch. Why not copy it into Photoshop or something and then put a layer over it and add and subtract until you are happy with the result. Then go for it. Just my two pennies worth!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I just pinned anything I could find on in hopes of finding something that helped. Until I no longer saw the piece at all, if I found anything Asian or lime green, I'd just pin it on. They were possible embellishments that never improved my attitude about this piece.
ReplyDeletePhotoshop...good idea.
I agree with some comments above, esp. the vertical orange stripe is right down the center. Even if it's fused, you could add something on top to break it up. Everything else is very much at right degree angles, so maybe a diagonal would add some drama. But the colors are great, I love orange and blue, and you have lots of interesting elements, so keep working IMHO.
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