Beginning on the panel of the Excavation
Draft Of Excavation Design
When you last saw the Excavation design, I had a rather blobby draft image, created with scissors, glue, and paper, and loosely based on one of the Egypt Exploration Society photographs. The pattern of shapes creates a pleasing effect, but there was more to do..
There followed the process of turning the design idea, layout, call-it-what-you-will, into an embroidery design. I outlined it onto tracing paper, took the tracing away from the paper, stood back and wailed.
None of the lines – taken from this image, I remind you – made sense.
Transferring The Excavation
Fortunately my mother (an artist, remember, with a much better understanding of figure drawing than I!) came to my rescue, emphasising some lines and removing others, tweaking and balancing the figures, and then finally I got the design transferred onto a piece of the sandy coloured linen.
Now I have to invent my stitched version, based on the lines transferred, but quite possibly inventing others as I go.
At the moment I haven’t the vaguest clue where to start, so this may be another case of “set it up and stare at it”.
I seem to do a lot of that!
But when you look at the guys loading the packing case… all that staring at it was/is WELL worth it! 🙂
Just as a line drawing, like this, it is very pleasing. The eye can rove around it happily for a long time.
Nice line drawing! So glad your mum could help…
The line drawing looks good.. Your mind must be filled with lots of ideas right now… looking forward to see your progress..
Just jump in and make a start – it will the take shape as you progress!
The line drawing has great balance. How are your going to address that background? Paint it, stitch it or both?
”setting it up and staring at it” is often the best way to awake that spark we need. I do that a lot….a glimpse every so often…
It was fascinating to watch the laborers as you created them and I can see this will be just as fascinating to follow along as you work on it.
Thank for linking up your Knot Garden embroidery to last week’s Stitchery Link Party. It fit in perfectly with the pattern and photos I posted.
Hello…. I am visiting from Super Mom No Cape link, so I am leaving a comment about the post you linked…. I really love those vintage embroideries…. they remind me of some plates I have that belonged to my grandmother… same colours and style of flower. Sadly, I only a a couple left unbroken. This current post looks like an incredible embroidery… will look forward to seeing it progress! 🙂 x
Love this – I love the original image and your interpretation is brilliant. How neat that your Mom helped with this… I think that’s just so lovely!
Excellent design, I really like the way it’s structured – and leads the eye beautifully. It does indeed look good just as a line drawing. Splendid work by the design team!