Concrit, please

[averygoodun42]

So, I have finally started my foray into a different medium of painting. With fabrics. Not fabric painting, which is a separate and totally different medium involving dyes and paint and all that stuff. No. I am using a stretched canvas made of felt on which I am attaching fabrics and textiles to form a picture.

So. This is my first attempt. It is not finished (and finishing includes attaching all the elements to the canvas) and I don't know what to think. I am completely open to suggestions, hence the cry for concrit. The only thing I ask is if you think it sucks, please try to at least tell me why (and where) it sucks. Telling me why (and where) it works is also appreciated. ;-)

Thank you!






In the one below, I changed the background under the batting to be the backside of a cream colored silk, which blends better with the cream fringe of the mottled gray satin (under the batting). I didn't smooth out the arc's fringe, and I'm still not sure what exactly I'm going to do with that fringe.

Comments

[maebynot.livejournal.com]

I like them both, but I think I like the bottom picture more because the fringe isn't perfectly aligned - somehow, it creates more interest for me? Overall, I like the contrast between the texture in the lower left hand corner, and how the different fabrics almost form a gradient heading in the upper-right direction. The colors of the fabrics work well together.

Hope that helps :)

[anonymous-plume.livejournal.com]

I think this is a brilliant idea! I experimented a bit with sewing fabrics into canvas (and paint) for mixed media stuff a few years back in school. I love mixed media like this!

My artistic advice--I think that the white cotton batting detracts. It's a bit too complicated and it keeps my eye there which isn't where I want it to be. The white is good to break up the dark colors, so my suggestion is to go with a different, white/cream fabric that's not the batting. Maybe something with texture yes, but something not quite so distracting. The fringe is rough looking enough. But the fringe and the batting is a bit too much together. IMO, that is. :)

Does that make sense?

Still LOVE this. The rumpled grey fabic's layout is gorgeous!

[droxy.livejournal.com]

I sort of need to know what you are trying to accomplish. But tha batting makes for nice clouds.

[cecelle.livejournal.com]

I like it!

Favorite part: The crinkly fold arrangement in the bottom right corner. Gorgeous!!

Least favorite part: Is that poly batting? There's something about the texture that doesn't seem to work as well with the other fabrics as it should. Maybe some actual wool roving would work better?

I love the pearls hidden in the folds, too.
As far as the fringe, I like the first one better - for some reason, the even flow from one area to the next appeals to me.

Love, love, love the colors!!

[mollyssister.livejournal.com]

I like the way the fringe in the top one is evenly laid out. It gives the piece a more formal feeling. Both of them make me want to touch them to see if they are real. You are so good