Saturday, January 16, 2010

Wild Rose

The FFF challenge number 40 was using a color scheme from a product to portray a still life with a plant. I started sketching a yellow rose in a vase, then gradually I eliminated the vase and blew the rose up. I only had this tiny bottle of yellow dye, so the colors changed during the development.  It started out as a 'Yellow Rose', but ended up as a 'Wild Rose'.







I forgot to photograph just the yellow and white.   However, you can see that the tiny bottle of yellow and the small bottle of white are not going to cover this big sheet.

I used a piece of white sheeting, dyes, and paints. My original thought was to just paint the yellow tones of the rose and leave the white for the highlights. That didn't have enough depth for me. So I just kept painting until I got some shapes I liked. I found the painting so relaxing and exhilarating and challenging all at the same time. Obviously it was fun!

The background seemed rather uninteresting so I remembered the month we experimented with stamping and mark making. I scoured the house for things that would leave some texture. My problem was stopping because I was having so much fun.

Although my yellow rose gained a lot of other colors during the process so that it doesn't exactly match the predominately blue and yellow of my chips package, I'm thrilled with the result. It is the most colorful thing I've ever done.


Wild Rose
27.75" X 28.75"
I've also been admiring those interesting borders that many folks use on their quilts. Mine never really called for that. However, as I made the rose larger, I realized it might be more dramatic with the bottom border following the lines of the rose and leaves. It does! I struggled with this border for over a week. Finally I stitched it by hand on the back to hold the facing in place. Any and all advice about doing this would be appreciated. I got it done, but it did involve a lot of angst.

18 comments:

JYA Fiberarts said...

Ann, The rose is lovelt! I never stop being surprized at all the people who mention the Fast Friday Challange. That was my idea and it seems to have worked for you. Nice piece!

janettestitches said...

Your rose is beatiful, the colours are just right, I love it.Fantastic work.
Take Care
Janette

Susan Brubaker Knapp said...

This is spectacular! Your shading makes this jump off the background. And I think our decision about how to handle the bottom edge adds a lot of interest and makes this a much stronger piece than if you had done it in a rectangle. Beautifully done. I have been working on a series of orchids, wholecloth painting for the first time, and have had my share of challenges, too! You can read about them on my blog here: http://wwwbluemoonriver.blogspot.com/2010/01/lessons-from-purple-orchid.html

janettestitches said...

Your rose is really beautiful, the colours are just right, fantastic work I love it.Well done.
Janette

Anonymous said...

Scrumptious rose and you interpreted the package color scheme well.

Norma Schlager said...

You should be thrilled! It is fabulous! I also like the way you quilted it.

pcoxdesign said...

This is absolutely stunning Ann! The bottom treatment of the piece makes the rose jump off the fabric and come alive! Congrats!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful rose. I really like the texture you added too. I couldn't see a border in photo so whatever you did worked. Looks great.

Katherine McNeese said...

all I can say is WOW!
Katherine
kmcneese@suddenlink.net

Marilyn Wall said...

Ann, this rose is wonderful. Looks like you made all the right choices. The bottom edge is great.

Pat Dolan said...

Wonderful rendition of the rose with your OWN interpretation as you let your muse move you through the creative process. Notice that when we are having FUN, we are really paying attention to our muse!

Great job!
Pat

ann said...

Thanks for commenting Gloria [and all the others too], I faced the quilt that is why no border shows. It is my first try at an irregular border.

Christine Thresh said...

Oh, lovely.

Vivian said...

your rose is beautiful - design wise and colour!

frazzledsugarplummum said...

I grew up growing and selling roses and this is just beautiful and reminds me of all the beautiful blooms we sold. I can almost smell it. Thanks for sharing.

Marilyn Wall said...

Ann, this is fabulous, congratulations.,

Marti said...

Wow, Ann, everything about this is wonderful, the colors, the quilting, the border. Beautiful!

Maxine Oliver said...

what can I say that hasn't been said already. Your rose is spectacular. Thanks for sharing...