Friday, May 31, 2013

The "X" Factor

The theme "Leave Your Mark" presented me with a struggle, so I left this idea alone so that my subconscious could come up with a suitable response.   And... I recalled how a couple of artist friends had made past comments about my abstract work often included an X.   So my quilt is called the "X" Factor.

My art-quilt is made using hand-dyed cotton fabric, dyed silk for the X, and dyed threads for the embellishment.   The line work represents growth with its upward movement, and my choice of red is due to its dramatic and passionate essence.

The background was cotton cloth that I dyed with thickened Procion dyes.   I kept the design simplistic to feature the rhythm of life.  Choice of fabric for the binding compliments the rest of the piece.   

This piece was large a result of intuitive spontaneous choices rather than a planned organised approach.    This is the way I like to work and it reflects the way I now like to leave my marks in daily life.



14 comments:

  1. I love this quilt Pamela! Very effective with the colour palette and the simplicity of the design enhanced by the stitching.

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  2. I like the simplicity of this quilt, it is the quintessential mark. The red silk glows and warms the quilt and contrasts beautifully with the blue stitches.

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  3. I love the spontenaity of your work Pamela. Is the cross fabric red tulle?

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    1. Linden, the cross fabric is not tulle but more substantial being an open weave silk, is very floppy, & soaks up dye like a drunken sailor.

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  4. When I expand the photo, I can see the interesting designs in machine stitch as well as the 'marks' of the hand stitch. It is a good example of the intuitive approach, incorporating your lovely dyed fabrics.

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  5. Love your quilt Pamela. The traditional man mark that we think of when we say--Make your mark here or someone is disabled and cant write. The universal mark in lovely fabric, colors and stitching.

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  6. Really nice piece, Pamela!

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  7. Very striking, graphic design that highlights the quintessential way to leave a mark -- with an "X".

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  8. It looks simple but it is not at all! I like different stitches you've used.

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  10. A dramatic graphic, yet the addition of hand stitching seems to give this piece a soft, personal element.

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  11. Great color combination. I like this very much.

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