Going from the “sketch” layout to the finished piece, I find myself disappointed. So much gets lost! Forget about the tulle for a moment or the way the polka dot surround perhaps competes, where did the freshness of the original composition go?
And it’s not that I don’t like the finished piece. I do. Even if it’s “too dark” (how often have I heard that?). Even if the hand-quilting is less than perfect. But the finished little quilt didn’t capture something of the original. Even though I’d have trouble naming what that something is, I notice its absence.
I start eying my stretched canvas squares downstairs and think about gesso. Place, swipe, and stuck in position. A savagery of modge podge may be in my future.
Maybe the jackhammering is rattling my brain.
I do find it very satisfying myself to “savagely” wipe out a part of a painting that’s bugging me. It ain’t easy, but it’s a great relief to see the void and fill it with just about anything else.
I’ll venture to tell you: I miss the light of the original moon and yet I love the blue moon that took the place of the previous white moon. Maybe because the roof tops stand out more strongly now, asking where is that reflected light coming from? Then I have to wonder: does the light have to come from the moon?
It’s swap outs like that that can make all the difference!
Which is why anything I’ve ever sketched died right there on the page.
If you decide to mount it on canvas, consider getting some Golden Matte medium gel. The lack of gloss makes a big difference.
Good idea about the matte finish. I think all I have is glossy.
I have quite enjoyed watching your process as you combine and re-combine your elements. The alchemy of bits coming together is always fascinating, even when that living sparkle is not quite achieved.
Thanks Dana. It’s only because of my phone and its camera that I can even track these things and I’m grateful to be able to do that.
Each piece takes us on a journey .. it’s not always easy figuring which road to take. I’m curious about what Deb suggested .. never thought going that route.
I ended up following Deb’s idea of subtracting some from both vertical sides. That has two virtues. It placed the barn more squarely in focus and it provided an edging for those two sides.