Beth/Lyric Project Week 13 (Line and Motion)

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 was all about “line and motion.” In doing some background reading in my “Design Basics” book by David A. Lauer and Stephen Pentak and Lyric’s book “Art + Quilt,” I learned of some good ways to suggest motion.

• Blurred image-A blurred image is read as an indication of a subject’s movement. This could be done in a photograph by setting a fast shutter speed or in a drawing by using sketchy, incomplete or overlapping lines to define the object. In fabric, quilting stitches that wiggle around and over the edges of a shape can achieve this effect. You might also use some sheer fabrics or paint to blur the edges of a shape.
• Multiple image-When one figure is in an over-lapping sequence of poses, the slight change in each successive position suggests movement taking place.
• Line orientation-Horizontal lines and shapes are calm and still. Vertical elements are strong. Diagonal elements have the most active energy or motion.

I was to “find a picture of a person or animal showing the whole body” and “trace the outlines of the figure without worrying about details.” Then the goal was to free-motion quilt the figure outline without worrying about details, being careful or exact. The object was to try to create as much motion and frenzy as I could using squiggles, loops, or dashes in the line alone. Well, here is my attempt. I got a little carried away with the squiggly lines and had to rip out the stitches comprising her right leg. She really looked like she had a bad case of cellulite! It definitely looks better than it did. I'm thinking I need to work on making my women look a bit more feminine! They both have some pretty "manly" faces!

For the “Ask Yourself…” portion of the exercise…

• Where do you see the most motion in your creation?
• What kind of a background would add even more motion to this exercise? (I was instructed to use a solid-color fabric.)

I was asked to do a second piece, this time, trying to create as much stability and calm with line as I could…maybe using a satin stitch to outline the figure. Here is that attempt. I did use a heavier line for this piece.

The next exercise I'll be attempting is "Motion through Line Direction" on Page 78 in Lyric's book. Again, I'm not sure exactly when I'll be posting because of my Mom's illness, but keep checking back.