Another change in direction – 2016.05.04

I hate it when I forget to follow my own advice!

In all my workshop handouts, the final section is about Selecting fabrics.  This is what it says:

  • Value is more important than color – if all your fabrics are the same value, from a distance your design will be almost invisible.  You need a wide range of light to dark fabrics for an effective design – unless you’re going for a low volume look, in which case you want similar values.
  • Pin your fabrics to a design wall and view them from a distance to ensure you have good value differences
  • Optional – take a photo of your fabrics on the design wall, and convert it to black & white.  This will show the difference in your values.
  • Use the design wall to evaluate your decisions re value, color, composition
  • Make all design decisions before starting construction [Now is the time to experiment with different fabric choices; it’s much easier to change a fabric now than after you have started fusing and/or sewing.] 

I’m not sure why, but with my two recent attempts with the Riley Blake solids, I totally forgot to pay attention to value.

TV test pattern 1Not enough value

Jessica made a great suggestion on my last post, which I will definitely consider. “Maybe the problem is that they’re just too thin after sewing, so the graphic effect of the black & white is getting lost? What would happen if you used somewhat wider strips, and maybe sewed some of them together, but offset to break apart the original pattern? Would that go somewhere interesting?”

But I’m putting this whole project away for now.  I’ll let my subconscious work on it, and maybe I’ll come up with a workable concept before the May 31 deadline.

 

Right now, I’m going to start a new project with lots of value contrast.  It will be the fourth quilt in my current Tree Series.   The theme is a forest fire.  (The timing seems a little weird given the Fort McMurray wildfire, but it’s a theme I’ve been planning for at least a year.)

Here are some of the fabrics I’ve picked out.  I think I have enough value contrast, but you can bet I’ll be following all of my own advice as I put this one together!

Wildfire fabrics    Wildfire fabrics value

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Today, I’m linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative projects to inspire you.

   Esther’s Blog   Sew Fresh Quilts

 

This entry was posted in Art quilts, Inspiration, Tutorial, WiP Wednesday and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

7 Responses to Another change in direction – 2016.05.04

  1. judyvillett says:

    NB Your circle piece does have high value contrast in the black and white area…..checkerboard always sizzles! So maybe the coloured solids can “rest” a bit. I like it just the way it is!

    • TerryAske says:

      Thanks, Judy. Of course you’re right about the contrast in the checkerboard.- but I think that’s what I don’t like about it – it’s too high contrast compared to the solid colors. If I had some darker or brighter solids, I think I’d be happier with it. But I’m very glad to hear that you like it the way it is.

      • Nancy says:

        But isn’t it hard to have high contrast between black and white? If it’s a high contrast with the white, it might be closer to the black in value, and if it’s a high contrast with the black, it might be closer in value to the white. Just sort of thinking through my fingers here.

  2. Mary T Salmon says:

    So helpful!! Thanks!
    Maty

  3. Laurel says:

    Thanks for the study on value, Terry. Your photos of colour next to black and white demonstrate your point very well. I’ve often squinted from a distance at my quilts but I’ve never thought to turn them to black and white. What a great tip!

    Thank you also for posting to TN&TN’s WIP Wednesday!

  4. Nancy says:

    As a new quilter one of the early things I heard was about value. It didn’t make sense to me. I thought color should the primary concern. Over and over again quilt instructors talk about value. It took one book, one author for me to finally “see” what was going on with value. I’m so grateful to understand that now.

    Like you, it often helps me to put things away for a while and let my mind work on them unconsciously (or maybe subconsciously) while I’m doing other things.

  5. Maureen Rigert says:

    Terry, take a look at some of the photos on this page and see if something triggers possibilities for the Riley Blake solids. https://www.google.com/search?q=checkered+flag+racing&biw=1920&bih=921&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH-JTMysTMAhXJcD4KHUktC9AQ_AUICCgD#tbm=isch&q=tropical+checkered+skipper

Comments are closed.