What a stonker of a title eh?- I do like a nice long, multifaceted title ... but it is rare I can think of one - so I'm dead chuffed with that one. Doesn't even fit in box.
Last night I finished quilting my Coast piece ... if you can remember that far back - it was houses on a cliff at Robin Hoods Bay. As ever when I have marmalised my work with quilting, it was a little distorted. My work is far from perfect, but we all have to have our little 'things' ... and one of mine, is work hanging flat, if that is what is was meant to do. It must be the poor Virgo in me, finding some small spot to get satisfaction ... a nice bit of perfection. So the piece needed blocking. Simples - yes? Well, maybe not actually. This piece is made of fabric, fabric paper table cloths (brilliant things) and paper. So I wasn't at all sure how all those would react to being stretched and soaked. I could have covered the paper in matt medium to protect it (and probably will after blocking) - but this would stop the water getting in to the fibers during blocking, and it is this process that allows the piece to reform to the nice flat rectangle I have blocked it to. So I just went for it - stretched it on the design wall and then fired my spray bottle at it. Bit of a heart in mouth moment if I am honest, although I had already decided that I would work with whatever happened. But I am pleased to report that nothing untoward happened, and it seems to be working. I will let you know in a couple of days if it is still OK and if the blocking holds. So - after all that fascinating stuff(??) - here is the piece ... blocking!
It is called 'On Edge' and here is where art starts reflecting life. This piece was planned as a rather jolly seaside scene, a sort of merry pastiche of happy beach houses and cheery seaside scenes. My houses were all to be bright colours (most were white in reality), the sun was out, and perky childish seagulls circled (did anyone else draw birds like that as a child?). All this was done, and I started to stitch the piece, even though I didn't feel especially happy with it. It then went on the wall and sulked for a few weeks and I let it rest in my head Then I realised that the problem was that it wasn't really very cheery at all, in fact it has quite a lot of tension in it. The houses actually look very precarious to me, - are they going to fall off the cliff? and what about that big red gash in the cliff - will it split? will everything come tumbling down? will people lose their homes?or even their lives? or might the ladder save them? are those circles life buoys This all sounds like a very planned story - but it wasn't. All the elements were inspired by quite different motivation. But my life was tense during the time I was making this. I was on edge, worried, unsure, a little fearful even and my home felt insecure. And I do believe that found it's way into this work. How weird is that? But now I see that, I like the piece again, and can even see the happy houses on a cliff there too, once more. So I changed the name from 'On the Edge', to 'On Edge', just to give a hint ... viewers can now view it as they wish. If that all sounds like pretentious claptrap! - enjoy the scene, but maybe you will see something else too.
So if it collapses during blocking, it would almost be a continuation of the story wouldn't it?! I'm hoping not though, and I am much happier now, so hopefully my houses will hang on.
Thank you for visiting - talk again soon - Hilary xx
Last night I finished quilting my Coast piece ... if you can remember that far back - it was houses on a cliff at Robin Hoods Bay. As ever when I have marmalised my work with quilting, it was a little distorted. My work is far from perfect, but we all have to have our little 'things' ... and one of mine, is work hanging flat, if that is what is was meant to do. It must be the poor Virgo in me, finding some small spot to get satisfaction ... a nice bit of perfection. So the piece needed blocking. Simples - yes? Well, maybe not actually. This piece is made of fabric, fabric paper table cloths (brilliant things) and paper. So I wasn't at all sure how all those would react to being stretched and soaked. I could have covered the paper in matt medium to protect it (and probably will after blocking) - but this would stop the water getting in to the fibers during blocking, and it is this process that allows the piece to reform to the nice flat rectangle I have blocked it to. So I just went for it - stretched it on the design wall and then fired my spray bottle at it. Bit of a heart in mouth moment if I am honest, although I had already decided that I would work with whatever happened. But I am pleased to report that nothing untoward happened, and it seems to be working. I will let you know in a couple of days if it is still OK and if the blocking holds. So - after all that fascinating stuff(??) - here is the piece ... blocking!
And a couple (well 3) close-ups
It is called 'On Edge' and here is where art starts reflecting life. This piece was planned as a rather jolly seaside scene, a sort of merry pastiche of happy beach houses and cheery seaside scenes. My houses were all to be bright colours (most were white in reality), the sun was out, and perky childish seagulls circled (did anyone else draw birds like that as a child?). All this was done, and I started to stitch the piece, even though I didn't feel especially happy with it. It then went on the wall and sulked for a few weeks and I let it rest in my head Then I realised that the problem was that it wasn't really very cheery at all, in fact it has quite a lot of tension in it. The houses actually look very precarious to me, - are they going to fall off the cliff? and what about that big red gash in the cliff - will it split? will everything come tumbling down? will people lose their homes?or even their lives? or might the ladder save them? are those circles life buoys This all sounds like a very planned story - but it wasn't. All the elements were inspired by quite different motivation. But my life was tense during the time I was making this. I was on edge, worried, unsure, a little fearful even and my home felt insecure. And I do believe that found it's way into this work. How weird is that? But now I see that, I like the piece again, and can even see the happy houses on a cliff there too, once more. So I changed the name from 'On the Edge', to 'On Edge', just to give a hint ... viewers can now view it as they wish. If that all sounds like pretentious claptrap! - enjoy the scene, but maybe you will see something else too.
So if it collapses during blocking, it would almost be a continuation of the story wouldn't it?! I'm hoping not though, and I am much happier now, so hopefully my houses will hang on.
Thank you for visiting - talk again soon - Hilary xx
All the better for a bit of one's life in a piece Hils. You are the blocking queen too, so all will be well.
ReplyDeleteCould be an ABBA song - the Blocking Queen ... I do like a good block ... gets some order in the world. Would like to block your psychotic cloths actually ... would be very satisfying. Oh - and I would find a psychotic quilt very comforting - but that may be just me x
DeleteAs always I love it. I am lacking imagination and are very jealous. See you soon (weather permitting) x
ReplyDeleteThank you Sheila .. and you are lacking in self belief rather than imagination I think. All the work I have seen of yours is wonderful stuff. We must get that trip to RHB and Filey planned - see if the houses are still there x
DeleteI love it Hilary, it's got so much detail in it and thank you for the back story. I think our mood can come into our work. I made a painting of a favourite cottage once and it looked fine. When I came to do a second version to give to the cottage owners it came out all spiky and stormy looking reflecting my mood while I painted it as life was particularly difficult at that point. Yes, I used to draw birdies like yours :-) I have often wanted to portray the lovely wharfside in St Ives in Cornwall and you've given me some ideas about where to start.
ReplyDeleteIt's strange isn't it Julie - but I guess that is the basis of art therapy - that your subconscious and unexpressed feelings may find a way out through your art. I'm glad someone else drew those birds ... I still really like them. I'm pleased to have set off some ideas - I'd love to see your St Ives piece when it is done .. gorgoues place x
DeleteLove this Hilary & your title is very apt given what's happening to a lot of places on the East coast.
ReplyDeleteI know Jane - I always feel so sad when we hear news of more errosion, especially when it costs someone their home. I am SO IMPRESSED that you have managed to get a comment on here too (and delighted) - I know that you, like me, have a battle with google and it's accusations of being a robot! x
DeleteI think a round of applause for the turning of On The Edge to On Edge. Brilliant difference. I like the way the nice neat houses fall into the unknown shapes and forms of the cliff or jetty. It is slightly unsettling but only if you look down. If you look up it's tres jolly. Life Lesson - Look Up (another quilt title there I think!) Glad the blocking went well! A x
ReplyDeleteAm giving myself a big round ... very smart, especially for me, who can tend to stick with the bleeding obvious when it comes to titles. Maybe I am enetering a deeper, more thoughtful stage of my life?? Then again, maybe not - maybe I just had one good moment. You are dead right about the looking up and down bit ... althogh I shall leave Life - Look Up to your greater skills I think. Maybe I should model?? No No NO - not without drugs anyway! As said to Steph - you really can't beat a good blocking ... it is a much overlooked pleasure x
DeleteI love this piece - hidden depths and layers! I believe that everything we see, think and feel makes its way into our work in some way, but not always in ways we recognise. I know I find it difficult to work sometimes when I'm discombobulated about life, and find I have to work through it doing something repetitive that lulls me into a false sense of security, hoping that creativity will creep up on me!x
ReplyDeleteThank you Maggie ... I seem to have accidently made an allegorical quilt! ... I suspect I am represented by one of those cheery looking houses - safe and happy ... but are they? You are right abut repetitive work too ... it can be both soothing - but just enough to raise a small eyebrow of interest above the horizon ... Hilary x
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