Sunday, April 26, 2020

changes...

Now more than ever it seems...

As the world around me deals with constant changes, I am beginning to notice one a little closer to home

In looking at some of my recent work I began to notice there was something afoot there

It seems there is a slight shift in my go-to colour palette... the soft blue-grey I have been drawn to for many years is slowly being replaced with a soft, dusty mauve

It's spring-like, sometimes paired with a soft grey-green, other times a perkier yellow-green seems a better choice

It's perfect for a little of cluster of embroidered pansies


I've also noticed in the past few months I've been doing more hand embroidery than just about anything else

Lots of stitch experimentations, so many in fact, that I made myself a cloth stitch book where I can record all of my stitch explorations and experimentations

It's lovely to stitch in and lovelier still to flip through

Embroidery books are great for looking at stitch patterns but line drawings are not very informative when decisions need to be made about thread colour and weight. Having stitched samples that let you see how a stitch looks when made with one strand, two strands, three strands etc. helps making decisions so much easier. As well, it's a joy to sample in that way and something we don't often take the time to do.


And here again, that soft mauve...


Another change occurred this week...  

I picked up a paint brush and painted with oils, for the first time since I was 14 years old. 

 It was as if all the years between then and now fell away and I was inexperienced,  exploring, trying something wonderful for the second first time. 


I spent such a delightful day, mixing colours, playing about

I love the texture you get with oil

After all the mixing trials and making a little colour chart, I took the leftover paint and began a very small landscape - there's more to done on it still but I need the paint to dry before I take it any further.


I kind of like that about oils... there's time and space to consider, to think about what comes next. 

No need to rush, which for now, is a good thing since there's nowhere I need to be and not much I have to do... 

8 comments:

Rachel said...

That's interesting. I wonder whether there is a continuing shift in your colours happening now, or is it a phase, and you'll go back to the blue-grey. Those of us with this sort of fascination with something at least have somewhere we like to be at the moment!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

I love this new color pallet. Your work as always is beautiful!

Juliann in WA said...

Oh this is lovely and you hav given me a idea. I have been wanting to do some stitching but don’t have a plan. I think a stitch sampler is a wonderful idea.

oldgreymareprimitives said...

A stitch sampler is not only a wonderful aid but a lovely heirloom to leave for a loved one.

Mary on Norfolk Island said...

There are times when a particular colour or pallette just grips me and takes me over like virus! I cannot fight it...I have to buy it, explore it, create with it..then one day I wake up and find I am over it, and in the grip of a new pallette.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I think the shift in colour is part of the evolution of someone who is creative. I think we have an underlying sense of when to change things up to keep our outlook fresh. At least that's my theory! Could be it's just because I'm basically fickle?! I have often contemplating doing some sort of little book of stitch samples but that's as far as I've gotten.

Karen said...

love your 'colour study' in oil Jillayne and your embroidery is like a miniature study of all thing flora and funa.

Brynwood Needleworks said...

Dear Jillayne:
I love your needlework books, and your painting. Everything looks so feminine and restful. I'm so glad I stopped in for a little visit. I'll be back!
xo
Donna