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I took this picture last summer.. the colours were magnificent and thoroughly inspiring for a study in embroidery.
To do a first analysis, I took out my watercolour pencils and began experimenting. In order to render a visual image in thread, I have to simplify it without sacrificing any of its pristine beauty. Although I can't get much density in the colouring, just fiddling around with the pencils and merging with water, I had a better understanding as to how I would tackle the subject with silk thread.
So here is the first throw with the coloured pencils. I had difficulty deepening the colours. Although I was working on a 140 lb paper, I was concerned that more water would break up the fibres and take away some of the clarity I was looking for. It is a little like working a silk thread too much, it breaks up and loses the luminosity.
But the exercise was invaluable. I was able to remove some of the busy background and single out what I think is worthy of embroidering. However, I already anticipate some difficulty interpreting the leaves and the earth...
Next step is to transfer the drawing to linen and choose the palette of colours. Stay posted for progress.
Beth Russell has developed some beautiful charts inspired by William Morris. Here is 'The Hare Pillow', photographed with two other designs which I have shown in earlier posts.
This was such an enjoyable piece to embroider. The threads just lead me on quickly to the end. I am now ready to pick up something more complex having had the rest that this project afforded me all the while keeping the fingers moving.
As a contrast and as a rest, I have started the poppy motif again but this time I am working with cotton floss and with a palette of grey-blues. It is very restful, thanks to the ease with which cotton floss can be worked and the colour scheme.
I also do not anticipate any difficulties with the colour running so I feel quite at ease using the darker blues and greys for petals and stems.
I can also work on the 4 inch hoop in my hands, which also means that I can work sitting in an armchair and move from room to room with greater ease depending on whether I need to huddle by a warm fire (the temperatures have been around - 25 degrees Celsius) or quietly downstairs in the studio with the radio or the news.
This was the progress of just one evening. It'll be finished, barring any unforeseen problems, within the week, I'm sure.
I put the final touches on the poppies this morning and went through my usual cleaning exercise conscious of the fact that the deep colours might bleed.
I took great care to blot the wet fabric to take away any excess dye that might want to spread into the surrounding background fabric. I left the work to air dry for an hour.
When I returned from a brisk walk and some snow clearing (15 cms of snow fell in the night), I saw that some of the reds had seeped as well as one area of black. I quickly threw it into cold water again, but to no avail. In a certain light, these flaws are not so evident. It is a dynamic piece and I was happy with it both technically and aesthetically. However, I know the flaws are there. The piece does not have that pristine quality I try always to attain and I am really disappointed.
However, I post the final picture alongside the watercolour study with the intent of explaining that sometimes there are things that fall outside of one's control and the consequences can be very saddening. This is one such time.
In listening to the news last night, while I was continuing my work on this piece, I realized that the poppies as a theme has returned at the same time that the conversation around the earthquake in Haïti of January 2010 has returned.
This has been purely coincidental but it did beg the question whether on some subliminal level, I have held on to the idea of remembering or more specifically, of 'not forgetting' the impact of those tragic events so that the efforts to rebuild, to help, may continue.
I had been embroidering my first 'poppy' subject in January 2010 as the devastation of the earthquake was being felt. Now I take up a new project, same theme, different interpretation, same time of the year and it is imbibed with all the same desires for hope, and that this country may reclaim a certain normalcy in its daily life.
