 |
| directly to the south... |
 |
| to the left |
 |
| to the right |
As I looked closer at some of the photos, I noticed just how wet those fields were! I love the water in this one, and so I decided to incorporate a bit of that spring flooding into the new piece.
THIS was the one I wanted! I liked the orangy-reds and browns in it too, though I liked the original sky & cattails from the first one. Off I went...
 |
| painting a new sky |
I put it all together onto a good stabilizer and away I went... After a couple of afternoons of free machine stitching the field, trees, and the outline of the heavy storm clouds, I was ready to begin hand stitching. I filled in some deeper tones and highlights into the grasses. I love stitching grass. LOVE. I darkened the edges around the flooded parts of the field. I stitched out some French Knots to serve as the bumpy dried cattail puffs that were left on the stalks from the year before.
Tada!
 |
| Aglow II, 2013 Commission for M. |
Seriously - I knocked my socks off myself! I LOVE this! Standing back to look at this, I get all teared up. It takes my breath away. I still can't believe I did this. I must sound completely ridiculous. (It's not wrong to be excited by your own work, right?) I am jumping up and down over this. I often go through the unfinished, 'ugly phase' in disbelief that I can pull it off. Then I pick up a hand stitching needle and the magic begins. I am so proud of this piece! I hope that 'M' loves it too. #1 - this is only possible with a gazillion shades of all the right greens. I cannot stress that enough. #2 - never be afraid of hand stitching. Quilts... abstract fibre art... threadpainting... hand embroidery always manages to take the 'beauty' factor up a notch.
Tomorrow, I'm off to the framer so she can work her magic. ; )
What a beautiful piece. . . Stunning. Thank you for showing your work and the hints along the way.
ReplyDeleteBoth you and Dahn have inspired me to try my hand at thread painting and co-incidentally I am just off to buy some of the gazillion shades of green thread. Thanks so much for your blog.
Of my gosh--this is just beautiful! I am in awe of your talent.. and this sky is incredible. Incredible!!!!
ReplyDeleteVery well done Monika. :-)
Beautifully done Monika, there is a real depth of colours and textures in this one, dramatic and captivating.
ReplyDeleteI think it is the most wonderful thing that it thrills you! I stopped doing watercolor because I was rarely happy with the results. Fiber art thrills me though and that's how it should be
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful piece!
Its so striking and thats a lucky new owner!!
ReplyDeleteJust amazing and the color in this one is fabulous. I need to increase my thread 'stash' as you are so right about needing a large variety of hues! The new owner will absolutely LOVE this one, I am sure.
ReplyDeleteit is so beautiful, so full of 'prairie time' that i am sad that i am not the 'M' for whom it was made!
ReplyDeletecheers
molly
It really is a stunning piece Monika. Congratulations. And enjoy that feeling of elation! It is wonderful when it happens.
ReplyDeleteI said it last night and I'll say it again - this is a stunning work of art. You're right to have knocked your own socks off - we all feel the same way!
ReplyDelete(And yes, I've felt that way once or twice about my own work.) :)
It's been said above, but so true--simply stunning! Well done!
ReplyDeleteI think it's really important to get excited about your work - at least from time to time, lol! Otherwise, why do it? This is beautiful Monika. It's really shows the power of nature on the prairies. Lucky "M"!
ReplyDeleteI go through the same feelings when I work on a new piece and I love it when it turns out. You sure do have the right to love your own work. Those grasses, all that lovely thread work....beautiful!
ReplyDeleteyour work is stunning! I Love your colours and attention to detail.
ReplyDeleteI think being proud of yourself is absolutely ok and completely warranted.