Red/Gray Ground, hand dyed wool on linen, 11 x 10 in.
With this piece, I've gone back to a series I've worked on intermittently, a figure/ground study. In each I attempt to design the colors and shapes so that no one shape will take precedence over another, or that they flip back and forth from being the main event to the background. (to see 4 others in this series, go to this blog post.) I'm never sure when I dye the wool or draw the shapes that they will be in balance. With this work, I feel that the red becomes dominant even though I made sure to dye a cool hue. Another mistake I may have made was in using a dark gray dye instead of black, which might have had more punch. I also think I should have moved the line between the shapes toward the right at top, so the gray would have had a more substantial area, giving it more visual weight. I went for a very simple design with this piece and I'm a bit on the fence about it. What do you think?
Red/Gray Ground, detail
i like the simplicity of it- you use the colors very well to give a sense of dimension- very pure and simple and good choice of color as well-
ReplyDeleteI find the forms balanced and, in fact, they trade places with each other as first one, then the other comes forward. At first I thought I agreed with you about the black, but on second glance, I think the charcoal does its work admirably.
DeleteThanks so much, dbk and Hannah. I'm relieved that you both think it works.
ReplyDeleteI'm hesitant to say, this is just a picture on my computer screen! But my impression is like Hannah's; the two fields seem to trade places in terms of back and forth and figure/ground.
ReplyDeleteSeconding the above: A red sunset as seen from the courtyard alternates with a red roofed dark barn. Excellent push-pull shifting, although I'm being very literal here!
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Ravenna and Kim, that you see the back and forth. All these responses go to show that sometimes when you're working on a piece, you stop seeing it clearly. Thanks.
ReplyDeletei also think it's successful - the forms send energy back and forth - and good looking as well.
ReplyDeletethanks, rappel!
DeleteAll this feedback has been wonderful.
From the standpoint of your criteria, to me, this is the most successful ruglet in its series.
ReplyDeletegee, thanks so much, Mona.
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