Friday, March 24, 2017

The Value of Black & White - Part II - Off The Wall Friday

 Black and White #2, Kay Sorensen
Figure/Ground Study #3, Sandra Palmer Ciolino


So with my latest lesson on value, I've fallen in love with the monochromatic palette of White through Black.  I admit, I never thought I would.  I mean with all the gorgeous colors in the world why stick to only Black and White?  Not to mention, SHOW OF HANDS, who here became a quilter because it was just an extension of coloring left over from childhood?

That all said, I had a thoroughly fun time doing my latest Project, Cropped.  Katie asked us to crop a photo and recreate it in only black, gray and white paying specific attention to the values.  Once I got the crop right (thanks again for all the help), the piece wasn't too hard.  But I do love how it came out!




                                                  
Legends Never Die, Maria Dlugosch
                                         


Cropped, Nina-Marie Sayre


Here's my self critique -
  • This is a diagonal cruciform composition using a monochromatic palette
  •  A visual pathway is created though the quilt, with the darkest of darks leading the eye
  • There is plenty of variety of shapes as well as negative space to rest the eye.
  • The palette chosen reflects the nostalgic mood of the piece.
  • The photo has been cropped to show a more interesting portrayal of  the original.
  • The focal point - although having contrast - could have even more emphasis.  Is it the O or is it the W? Or is the star?  UGH?!  (there is always something isn't there!)






Star Dreams of Snow, Kari Anderson, @andersondesignworks

Zen, Beth Schellenberger


Still I don't know what was more fun with this piece - doing the actual work to see the finish product or researching all the signs!  With all the new super bright In-Your-Face LED signs out there yelling at us to "Like Us on Facebook" - I really do miss these retro masterpieces  of an era not so long ago.

Anyways, before I get even more melancholy, Cropped has started me looking  at what other quilters have done with this particular palette.  And let me tell you - there is some AMAZING work out there.  A few artists have granted permission to share some here!  I have included links to their online presence so you can check out the rest of their truly fantastic work!

Nicole Dunn


I hope this has inspired you to take the plunge in the monochromatic gray scale world.  Without Katie to nudge me in that direction, I might never have tried it!  So glad she did!!

So What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

9 comments:

Jenny K. Lyon said...

Well I think you nailed it-I love the composition, I think the image is intriguing. Although I can't say definitively what exactly is the focal point, I like the way it is. There are lots of details to appreciate. I think it's great!

Turtlemoonimpressions said...

Nice work nina! I love black and white art and your sign turned out to be a winner!

Marianne said...

merci pour cet article , j'aime bien voir les travaux .
J'aime votre quilt peut être ce qui me dérange c'est le tissu de fond utilisé pour le W.
Bonne suite pour votre cours

The Inside Stori said...

Excellent post!!

Christine Staver said...

My eye is first drawn to the W because of the blue gray so I guess that might be the focal point. This is such a fun quilt. I'm glad you fell in love with black and white quilts with this lesson. This class that you have been taking looks fantastic. I might have to take it.

quiltedfabricart said...

All of the quilts you've shown here are wonderful! You have gotten so much out of this class. Can you post the link to her classes next week? Seeing what you have done and learned makes me want to take it. I've always loved the black and white but don't make them for some reason. Probablly like you say, the crayon box is just to tempting. Same reason my stash is full of the vibrant prints but lack the basic " boring" but oh so essential neutrals.

Lena Pugacheva said...

Thanks for the B&W inspiration! Your quilt turned out great, the composition looks just right. I agree with other commenters that W is the main focus because its background looks different to the other greys.

Margaret said...

Behind on blog reading (and writing)...but I have to say that "Bowl" is terrific! And adding that bit of blue -- rather than a "pop" of red, so often thought of with black -- is just right. Go for it!

Amy Art Quilter & Fyber Cafe said...

I'd like to see this as a color quilt. to see the difference that the black and white makes. The cropping is wonderful. I love the old signs.