Beth/Lyric Project Week 9 (Unity through Proximity)

As a reminder to those of you that don’t normally keep up with my blog (if you do, skip to the next paragraph), I have started a project that I’m calling the Beth/Lyric Project. In the spirit of the movie “Julie/Julia,” (i.e. Julie working through Julia Child’s cookbook) I have decided to work through the exercises in Lyric Kinard’s “Art + Quilt, Design Principles and Creativity Exercises” book. My goal is to get at least one of the exercises done each week. I’ll be posting my progress on Sundays. I’d love for you to work along with me. If you decide to do that, please post and let me know how you’re doing—send pictures too! If you have trouble leaving a comment on my blog, email me at bschnellenberger@gmail.com.

This week’s exercise deals with “unity through proximity.” I know, I know...I'm late in getting this posted. Actually, I'm late in getting it finished. I have been gone a week and had no time (no machine/fabric/stuff) to do it. Anyway...I had to choose five different fabrics, cut a random shape from each one, and arrange them on a background. The goal was to try to create unity through proximity only. This is the result of that part of the exercise.

In looking at the piece, I was to ask myself the following questions:

• “Is the piece unified or does something look out of place and make you uncomfortable?”
• “Will adding or subtracting an element help to create a unified whole?”
• “Is there repetition of some element, shape, color, or line?”
• “Will adding or removing up to three elements help unify the piece?”
• “How can the element of line enhance the unity of this work?”
• “Will the addition of embellishments add to or detract from the unity of this work?”

After considering these questions and incorporating some of the suggestions, this is the result…

The instructions asked us to “refine” the piece a bit by adding or subtracting elements (up to three) or repeating some element, shape, color, or line.

While I was working on this piece, I added until I liked the piece. I obviously didn't count how many elements I added or subtracted. I thought the blue piece was too dominant, so I added the purple pieces. I like the diagonal flow of both pieces. I thought the first piece had too much empty space. Sometimes, I don't give my pieces a place for the eye to rest--they get too busy. I do think stitching and/or embellishment might add to the harmony of the work, but I simply didn't have time to do it this week.

Next week's exercise is on "Unity through Repetition." Come on...do it with me. It is on page 55 of Lyric Kinard's "Art + Quilt" book.