JULY'S CHOICE

I have chosen the baby monkey even though previously I have avoided it as I was not sure I wanted a monkey looking at me off the wall.... but..... the challenge of thread painting has got to me and he is rather cute.

I have cropped the pic to what I think is a nice composition and will again do a small canvas - 8 inch square.  

JULY POSSIBILITIES

Very tempted to do this one. Met up with a local artist who does the most amazing machine embroidery - Kathryn Harmer-Fox. 

Looking at July's pics I seemed to be drawn to a second black and white?

Again, maybe a bit of machine embroidery for the moth/butterfly ...cannot remember which lands with wings open etc. although it did appear to be making the most of the sun at the time so who knows.

Getting there - June!

Mulled over the piece sitting on the ledge at lunch and I think I am now getting there.

Apologies, this pic taken outside and it has changed the background colours completely. Definitely berry heavy before and unbalanced.  Unfortunately I have it mounted already so to change the background lines I think the next step is to come in with some hand stitching, possibly some seeding.  It certainly has been a challenge getting this right and I think it is because of the smallness of it - been interesting.

JUNE COMPLETED !!!

Finally finished or is it.?  Photographed it looks a little iffy but I need to give it a rest and then go back to it.

I have changed the ratio of berries to foliage as per the picture.  This is a little canvas (8inch square) and although made out of air dried modelling clay, painted and varnished, the berries would have been too clumsy.  The same problem I had with the dew drops on an earlier piece.  The foliage behind is too predictable and this is where I need to fiddle plus I have just realized the seed pods have no stems !

Seeds & Pods

I came back to my car the other day to find the tree I had parked under had deposited this seed pod on the bonnet.

This got me all fired up so on the way home I stopped off at the local to pick up a pack of air dry moulding clay.  The pods are almost the perfect size for my piece so I have something great to work with.  Here are the beginnings of the seeds.

They are almost ready to be painted.  Hopefully today I will get the background painted up and the pods shaped.

Decision!

After much deliberating I have decided to challenge myself, is that not what it is about, to the little red seeds pic. 

My main 'challenge' has been to get my head around those shiny little seeds which my sister also thought would be a headache.  However, thanks to all those hours she spends with her grandchildren having fun with different crafts I think I have the answer.  Now the proof will be in my playing.

The size will be an 8inch square artists canvas and I may only produce 3 seedpods using fabric and an ultra thick water soluble film.  You leave more than the normal amount of 'film' in your piece when washing out , mould into a shape which it holds when dry.  Living in a very humid part of the country does not seem to be a problem so it should not collapse on me.

June - possibilities

Remove the side bits of the mobile and recreate just the Fish?

I am keen to work on a small square canvas and this appeals to me!

Or do I attempt to replicate as machine embroidery the amazing work of Hendrik Stroebel ?