Brown/Black Ground, hand dyed wool on linen, 11 x 10 inches.
I began this piece with an idea about color, suggested by a comment about using the colors of earth. I rarely work with browns or earth reds, or black, because I have so much fun using vivid color in my textiles. So I decided to dye a reddish brown for the 'frame' portion of this work and use some previously dyed black for the center. I've noticed while painting that a deep dark will sometimes pop forward because of its intensity instead of falling back, as one might expect. So I was hoping that in this piece, which is part of my figure/ground series in which I attempt an image in which no shape takes precedence as "figure", the black would bounce back and forth, receding and advancing, creating an equilibrium with the brown. I believe this is fairly successful, but what do you think? Do you see the black as a recess or as an object? or does is flip back and forth?
I think they are balanced. I do see the background as holding the figure/dark, but they exist on the same plane for me, spatially. One does not recede or come forward over the other. This is, of course, while looking at it on my monitor. I hesitate to judge from this machine.
ReplyDeleteThe black hovers over the brown when I look at it, Altoon. Seems counterintuitive, but there ya go. Maybe the brown isn't as aggressive a color, so it can't advance. I've always enjoyed those colors together, but I've never saw them work together in this way before. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIt's so interesting to read these comments, seeing the same work so differently. On Facebook a couple of people see the black as recessed.
ReplyDeleteAs you say Richard "but there ya go"!
For me, the black is recessed, though it doesn't want to stay that way. This piece is very beautiful to me.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like the heathering of the black gives the eye something to focus on. So the black doesn't play the trick you wanted. I think that happens when the brain is searching for where to settle, like an auto focus lens. Great concept...more black dye. Beautiful Brown.
ReplyDeleteSusan, perfect. "doesn't want to stay that way".
ReplyDeletejohn, I actually chose the variegated black so that it would have more to catch the eye instead of just sitting back. At least that was my idea: the varied black would compete with the warm brighter brown.
there are enough different responses to make me happy.
The black is like a picture in a frame, so it implies recession, but then jumps forward slightly, in a sort of sneaky way.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the vertical, brown border course seems to create a curb, setting the black field below. If it weren't but for this visual information I think the balance very well gaged.
ReplyDeleteKnowing it's a rug(let) activates that memory recognition, so I first read it as the black popping on top of a rug textured background. My experience with rugs tells me they have a certain relationship to the place they sit on. Of course one can make the perception switch at will; but my initial reading was as above (pun).
ReplyDeleteMeditative and sitting still.
ReplyDeleteA peaceful but not letting go image.
Myrna
thank you Myrna, for the lovely comment.
ReplyDeleteMira, Ethan and Kim, it seems that each of you has a different visual reading, balancing each other out. I love how none of us see exactly the same thing. If this is true with this simple work, I imagine it happens so much more with more complexity.
This is just a gorgeous piece, no matter how I look at it (I can stare long enough, stereogram-style, and recess or un-recess (un-cess? cess?) the black. I can't imagine seeing it live. Well done!
ReplyDeletethanks so much, cooterhollow.
ReplyDelete