Evolution of an idea

 While I like my original idea for the surreal quilt I think I like another idea better. Here’s the original idea….

My new idea began with this image that I created years ago. It was the combination of a photo of trees taken in Crater Lake National Park and pieced triangles. In fact I thought I would make a quilt from this someday. 

I decided to add an eye to the sky, change up the trees to make it more surreal. This is what I got.

It’s definitely not dark enough so I edited it to make it darker. 

There are several things I like about the image…

• The eye crying into the tree. I like the connection.
• The twisted tree.
• The eye in the water.
• The pieces of the original triangles.
• I like that they are dripping.
• The reflected tree that doesn’t seem to have a source.
• I love the steel blue gray color scheme. 

I tried out a few different background fabrics.

This is the image that I’m thinking of making.

Here’s a crude sketch and a watercolor image I created in an iPad app.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Left or right?

 Idaho Beauty wondered what this composition would look like reversed. It’s easy to flip an image. I’m so used to seeing the face on the right so putting it on the left seems strange. 

I did try out another idea, but for now will stick to the original idea.

Here’s the other idea.

So should I go left or right? I also forgot that this show is just proposed at this point. I submitted my proposal and that proposal has to be accepted since even the proposals are juried. I guess we’ll see if it’s accepted.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Maybe a decision……..

 I have played with my surreal idea a bit more. I got rid of the vortex and the pocket watch. I only have one eye showing. The eye on the left is covered by the sky and clouds. I suppose I could let a bit of it peek out. I’m still deciding about the moon. I kept the raven and the doorway.

Here’s my latest sketch. 

I put it into an iPad app to try out different colors for the quilt. The ones with the stars is interesting, but they would not be seen all over the sky with the clouds. I’m sticking with the gold eye and the tears.

I do have a potential fabric for the background. It’s one of the ombre sky fabrics from Jennifer Sampou. Of course that’s not something to worry about now. I’ll have to decide what colors to actually use. She has many of the ombre sky fabrics. I think I might have to use some fabrics other than cotton. I might have some hand dyed silk and velvet. I also might need some tulle and organza. Maybe I will even need some heavier fabrics like wool. Maybe I can use the wool batting sample that I have to create dimension when I quilt it. Lots to ponder. Should be a fun project.

What do you think?

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Smaller pocket watch hanging from a vine

 I decided the pocket watch was too large and distracting and it needed to hang from something organic like a vine. I changed the sketch. It still needs some more refining. Now I have to decide if I’m going to do this or skip submitting anything to the exhibit. I’m not sure if this is a good composition. I would hate to waste my time on a poor composition. Maybe there are too many elements. Is the pocket watch needed? What about the raven? What about the doorway? Maybe the face is too centered. Maybe the watch should be embedded in the tree. Maybe the face should be old and wrinkled.

After I finish my sister’s gift I will pull fabrics and see if anything works. Plus I need to decide if this composition is good or not.

Thanks for reading.

Chris