Challenge 12 - Chiaroscuro

The Quilter’s Studio Art Quilt Challenge October 8/due November 13

Chiaroscuro literally means clear-obscure or light-dark. It refers to the use of strong contrast or unusual lighting to create a strong dramatic effect in art.

Chiaroscuro is pronounced: Key + Arrow + Skew + Row

Chiaroscuro was highly used in Renaissance era painting by the Old Masters, such as Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Delatour

The Young Singer by Georges Delatour

The inspiration of St Matthew by Caravaggio

The Parable of the Rich Man by Rembrandt

Now for the Challenge…

· Create a small art quilt using the strong contrasts of Chiaroscuro

· Depict light in some way – either a directional light source, a glow or illumination

· Choose landscape, figurative, nature, still life, stylized or abstract

· Make it dramatic!

· Remember to have fun with it

Homework – Make a critique comment or two on the product packaging challenge pieces. Answer one of these questions: What draws my eye first in the piece? What feeling or memory does the piece evoke in me? If this piece was mine and I was starting over, what might I do differently?

Example Quilts using Chiaroscuro

http://www.esteritaaustin.com/sundaymorning.htm

http://www.esteritaaustin.com/metamorphosis.htm

http://www.bryerpatch.com/images/quiltrecords/fs23/featherstudy23_117k.jpg

http://www.patkumicich.com/patkumicich.com/Galleries/Pages/Figurative.html#14

http://www.sylvesterartquilt.com/html/color_play.html

http://www.lorilupepelish.com/gallery_1.htm

http://www.adler-quilts.com/gallery/circleunbroken.html

http://www.craftcouncil.nl.ca/gallery/show.asp?item_id=1238&show_id=57

http://www.caroltaylorquilts.com/ - look at the confetti series

http://www.margoquilts.com/gallery_florals.php?i=11

http://www.julieduschack.com/quilts-mothfairy.html

http://ebarton.myweb.uga.edu/watercityscapes.htm

Art Links

http://emptyeasel.com/2007/07/20/chiaroscuro-in-painting-the-power-of-light-and-dark/

Some examples from the Old Masters, including Caravaggio and Rembrandt

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/painting/chiaroscuro.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/27356/c_index.htm

And some contemporary artists http://www.flickr.com/groups/chiaroscuro_art/pool/

Melanie's Cactus

Melanie used acrylic paint to get the glowing light effect and dental floss for the cactus thorns. The background is her hand dyed fabric

Colleen's black cat

Colleen's piece with the light glowing from the pumpkin behind the black cat is a good example of chiaroscruro.

Connie's scenic piece

Connie was inspired by separate photos of hot air balloons and cactus at sunset. The background is intriquitely pieced and she added some dimensional effects at the bottom

Sharon's Landscape

This is a photo transfer of one of Sharon's watercolors. She'll enhance the colors with thread when quilting it.

Cynthia's Chiaroscuro Moon

With a few crystals for embellishments

Sharon's Drunkard Path - Watercolor

Sharon's work in progress that will probably become a baby quilt. Drunkard's Path traditional patchwork with gradation of values from light light to dark dark

Some Background Quilting Patterns

In our group today, we had an impromptu discussion of patterns for background quilting and I told everyone I would post these 3 patterns which are a few of my current favorites for backgrounds.

Cynthia

Challenge 11- Color Scheme of Product Packaging

The Quilters Studio – Art Quilt Challenge 2^nd Saturday of month 10:30 am

Challenge #11 PRODUCT PACKAGING/PRACTICE CRITIQUE September 11^th /due October 9th

Color Scheme: Product Packaging

Theme: Inspired by thought or feeling evoked

For this challenge we will use the color scheme from a product package. Choose a feeling or thought or word(s) that comes to you when you see your product package (like luscious, crisp & clean, fun, natural, contentment, etc). Use that feeling, thought or word(s) and the color scheme as inspiration for your art quilt.

· Look in your pantry or the grocery store for something that appeals to you . A cereal box is a great place to start if you are stuck. Note: it doesn’t have to be food packaging.

· The question we will answer in this exercise is the ‘why’ of certain colors, and the ‘amount’ of certain colors in product packaging

· Please bring your chosen package or a picture along with your piece for show and tell next time.

· Tell us a bit about why the colors attract the viewer and how it evokes different moods.

The Psychology of Color

· Black -color of authority and power, stability and strength.

· White -associated with purity, cleanliness, safety and neutrality.

· Gray -practical, timeless, middle-of-the-road, solid things in life

· Red - color of energy, excitement and life. Subset is Pink - the color of romance, love, and gentle feelings.

· Blue-associated with calmness steadfastness, dependability, wisdom and loyalty

· Green -color of growth, nature, money, envy, good luck, generosity, fertility, peace and harmony

· Yellow- cheerful, optimistic; associated with laughter, happiness and good times.

· Orange -fun times, happy and energetic days, warmth, ambition.

· Purple- prosperity, rich sophistication, mystery, wisdom, and respect.

· Brown - reliability, stability, and friendship

References: Listed below are some websites that give information on why certain color schemes are used in packaging.

· How color affects us http://www.colormatters.com/color_trademark.html

· Psychology of Color; Color Psychology and Marketing http://www.precisionintermedia.com/color.html

· How do colors effect our mood http://iit.bloomu.edu/vthc/design/psychology.html

• General Requirement of colors that sell http://tinyurl.com/yefzac4

· See paragraph on how cereal popularity depends on color. http://tinyurl.com/y9ez9bc

Homework: Critique – Practice…make a comment on the blog for a few pieces

· State the strengths or what you like about it and why

· Explain what the piece communicates to you

· Give a “what if” statement (what if you had stronger value contrast in your focal point?)

· What has been done well - select a few of the best things and say why you think they work.

· What could be improved –select areas where the biggest improvements could be made and why

• Critique in a positive, non-judgmental spirit Try to be as objective as possible and set aside your own taste in art

Some references for critiquing:

· http://www.wetcanvas.com/Articles2/509/168/

· http://www.fiberarts.com/article_archive/howto/critiques/critique-maintain.asp

Challenge 11 - Product Packaging: Colleen - Green Tea/Tree

Colleen used some the actual aluminum can in her piece (cutouts of fruit and leaves)

Melanie - Fall Leaves/Cinnamon Sticks

The photo at right is the finished piece with more quilting, more dimensional leaves and beading

Melanie used the jar of Cinnamon Sticks as her color scheme inspiration

Sharon - Dog food/Trails

Sharon used photo transfer of a photo of a leafy trailhead

Susan - Popcorn/Carnival

Susan used a new quilting pattern in the background

Connie - Crunchy Raisin Bran/Happy

Connie's wonky piece is part of her series

Colleen Harvey - Ban/Surfing Days

Colleen Harvey's piece is reminscent of her surfing days

Dream of Vacation by Cynthia Ann Morgan

Cynthia used a tropical iced tea package as inspiration for the color and mood of her piece

Challenge 10 Quilts: Connie's Butterfly

Connie started this piece in a recent Sharon Scholtzhauer workshop about using pen and ink for shading, depth and texture

Summer time challenge

Challenge #10 June 11^th /due September 11th

Over the summer, work on a larger piece or small series based on your practice/study piece. If that doesn’t appeal to you, work on something that does! Bring anything you’ve worked on in the summer to the September meeting (regardless if completed!). If you have a busy summer or taking a break from quilting, make some sketches or write down your ideas and goals to bring to the September meeting.

During the summer, while we are working on our pieces, let’s investigate and consider:

· What is my current goal/direction in creating art quilts

· How to do self critique and participate in group critique

Bring your thoughts on the above to the September meeting…we will have a few minutes each to discuss (and we can continue the discussion at lunch afterwards if you’d like)

Direction/Goals

Why do you create art quilts, where do you want to go with it, what is most important to you

http://elizabethbarton.blogspot.com/2010/06/which-path-is-right-one.html

http://www.fibermania.blogspot.com/2006/04/design-and-improvisation-as-artists-we.html

Critique

Offer a constructive critique:

· State the strengths or what you like about it and why

· Explain what the piece communicates to you

· Give a “what if” statement (what if you had stronger value contrast in your focal point?)

· What has been done well - select a few of the best things and say why you think they work.

· What could be improved – select areas where the biggest improvements could be made and say why

· Critique in a positive, non-judgmental spirit

· Try to be as objective as possible and set aside your own taste in art

· Critique is about how to improve - both in the work under critique and for future development. Your suggested improvements do not have to be corrections that can be easily made…it may just be something to consider for future work

Accepting critique: Listen, ask for clarification, ask follow up questions, be open to different perspectives, and consider that comments may reflect differences in taste or preferences

Self critique – look at your piece objectively…taking photo and analyzing it, looking through a peep hole, standing far away, blurring your eyes are all ways to view your work objectively.

http://elizabethbarton.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-to-do-when-its-not-working-out.html

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Articles2/509/168/

http://www.fiberarts.com/article_archive/howto/critiques/critique-maintain.asp

http://www.fiberarts.com/article_archive/critiquefiberart_art.asp

Colleen's Bird of Paradise

Colleen's latest piece using her unique shape tesselations depicts Birds of Paradise

Martha's crazy quilt

Martha is using her collection of beautiful silks with machine embroidery stitches to create crazy quilt blocks. Patsy recommended a stablizer specifically for working with silk, which doesn't change the hand of the silk at all .... http://www.jennyhaskins.com/product.php?id=60

Betty's rusted object

Betty's rusting technique includes vinegar, sunlight, a cool rusty object, and an unsealed plastic bag

Susan's Bleach experiment

Susan used soft scrub bleach and a bleach pen to experiment with discharging on hand dyed fabric

Susan's Calla Lillies

Sharon's WIP - A Murder of Crows

Sharon used her favorite traditional block, the Drunkard's Path, for her crows

Melanie's Cats - Alley and Thor

Melanie is using faint photo transfers as the base for her embellished fabric paintings

Cynthia's Irises

Donna Mae's Lollipop Kisses

Donna Mae's swirly background was an experiment in depicting the drape and swirl of the bottom of a wedding dress, which turned into this different happy quilt.

Exhibit at The Quilters Studio

See our group's wonderful exhibit of art challenge quilts at the Quilters Studio during the month of June!

May Challenge - Design Process

Challenge #9 May 8th /due June 12th

This challenge is focused on the design process and creating a small study as a practice piece for a major piece or a series.

Using a study or practice piece can help you work out the composition and technique issues before committing to a major piece. Working in a series (2 or more pieces) is a way to explore an idea and feed off your own work

You may already have a design process that works well for you…if so be prepared to tell us about it. Or try a different approach.

Here’s an example of a design process I use often:
· Brainstorm your idea with pencil and paper: clarify in words what you are trying to achieve. What is the concept/meaning/mood/effect you’d like to express in your piece? Make some thumbnail sketches. Think of some variations.
· Choose one of your sketches and elaborate with details and modifications until you have a direction or starting point.
· Consider color and value in your sketch…make a copy of your sketch and use colored pencils to audition colors or gradations of gray to determine value contrasts
· Do a mockup of your piece with glue stick and colored paper

Some ideas on different starting places for designing from The Quilter’s Book of Design by Ann Johnston
· Make a small drawing to scale
· Make a drawing of the full-size design
· Cut without a plan, with/without rulers, fabric already chosen
· Look for traditional pattern in your quilt resources
· Use your computer design software or paint or drawing software
· Choose a photograph from your collection to use as a design
· Paint on paper or fabric
· Sort all your fabrics, looking for a piece that goes with your subject/idea

More ideas on getting started with an abstract design from Quilted Symphony by Gloria Loughman
· Method 1 - Beginning with a doodle
· Method 2 – Starting realistic
· Method 3- Altering Shapes
· Method 4 – Using Photographs
· Method 5 – Cutting up drawings or photographs
· Method 6 – Extracting a section
· Method 7 – Using fabric as a starting point
· Method 8 – Using a theme

Donna Mae's Bridal piece

Donna Mae has collected some exquisite bridal fabrics and plans to put them together for a highly textured feel with a swirling look. She gave an example of the swirling look with this magazine clipping

Melanie's Portraits

Melanie created a lovely portrait quilt of her daughter and wants to do more. She is using some of the techniques from Bonnie McCaffrey's book "Portrait Quilts"

Connie's Cut up design plan

Connie is planning an abstract quilt created by cutting up a pieced Harmonic Convergence pattern. She is also going to finally cut up her favorite piece of fabric (shown here)

Colleen's One Patch Series

Colleen has been working on an original one patch mix and match pattern for some time and she'll be working on several pieces to further expand on the versatility of the triangle shape. This is her current work in progress and next to it, a quilt using the one patch pattern she created for a previous Hoffman challenge.

Edna's Plans

Edna is moving to Oregon soon to be near her grandchild....but she plans to start working on a series using the leaf motif. We'll miss her and wish her the best!

Cynthia's Design Plan

Cynthia is planning to work on several pieces that start with multi-color hand dyed fabric as background to create a painterly effect.

Martha's Crazy Quilt

Martha told us about her plan for a long term project in the crazy quilt style using fine silks. She's considering embrodiery as well as using her Aunt's delicate crochet samples.

April Challenge - Muted Gray with Color; and Quilting Patterns

Challenge #8 April 10th /due May 8th


Create a small art quilt using these two elements:
· Use muted gray or brown with colors
· Expand your quilting patterns and use an original or new-to-you pattern for your background quilting

Muted Gray and Brown
· A muted color palette is subdued or restrained and quite soft and easy on the eye
· Put in a bit of full color to make an element stand out in a largely muted scheme
· Use light gray where you would use white and/or charcoal where you would use black to soften the color scheme
· Gray is cool, sophisticated and sometimes moody
· Light grays with pastel tints of pink, blue, lavender and green have a feminine quality. Darken these colors for a more masculine feel.
· Cool a warm palette by adding gray to rich reds or golden yellows
· Brown is warm, wholesome and natural. Taupe is a grayed brown, warmer than gray, and more sophisticated than brown
· Brown can replace black, adding a slightly warmer tone to some palettes.
· Combine a smaller proportion of gray/brown with larger proportion of full color or vice versa

Quilting Patterns
· Try a background pattern you haven’t used before (practice by doodling on paper first)
· Develop your own quilting pattern by looking at patterns in nature, textiles and architecture. Think of the patterns in tree bark, print fabrics, scrollwork, etc. Simplify the pattern so it can be a continuous line design rather than stop and start quilting
· Combine curves and straight line patterns
· Quilt in a different thread and different pattern on top of background quilting
· Develop your own quilting pattern using a favorite motif….flowers, butterflies, paw prints, moon & stars, bicycle, words, whatever…..remember if you can draw it, you can free motion quilt it.…just simplify the design, plan your transitions between motifs and practice on paper

Resources
http://thecraftbegins.com/wordpress/content/ (see the inspiration boards)
Design through the Centuries: 1000 Patterns by Drusilla Cole
Pattern Motifs: A Sourcebook by Graham Leslie McCallum
Any of the Dover Clip-Art Series books

Betty's Rust

Betty's work-in-progress is a lively piece with a vintage primitive feel to it. The piece includes a blanket scrap, rusted fabric, metal hoop and other interesting features.

Martha's Muted with Red

Martha's piece using grays, browns and cream with just the right amount of red is full of texture enhanced by the various quilting patterns

Maureen's Mandala

Maureen's work-in-progress uses a charcoal print with silver and gold highlights...and paired with the silvery white fabric creates a glowing piece. She used paper piecing and stenciling.