A group of internet artists from all over the place who have decided to give each other a challenge every few weeks, on a theme chosen by each in turn. We have different ideas and styles, but share a love of textiles, and want to have some fun.


Friday 23 September 2011

Shadowlights by Paula Rafferty

So here it is my first Internet challenge called
Shadow lights

It's a whole cloth digital print 48cm by 61cm
Machine quilted and coloured with watercolour pencils



This is a close up image which shows the effect achieved by playing with an image in Photoshop.
I started this piece by little brain storming sessions in my head while doing other things!
Which them got transferred onto paper; phrases such as light n dark, good n evil, duality of self kept recurring.
I have also been making some self portraits and played around with some ideas combining these.
I wasn't happy, it just wasn't happening
and then I remembered an images of the earth from the air that I had played with in photoshop and printed on cotton on my Dad's large format printer.
It was just what I wanted, it fitted the theme perfectly with just a little extra shadow! 
I get lost in the patterns and swirls, every time I look at it I see different mythical and demonic faces and images.



I had to stop myself quilting any more. I feel the piece is more interesting with little stitch.
The eye is allowed to wonder round more freely to discover new imaged, like watching clouds!

 
Red watercolour pencil was used to highlight colour already there.


So that's it from me, can't wait to see all the other pieces and thanks Claire for reminding me about the deadline.




8 comments:

artmixter said...

Wow, Paula, this is stunning!

Sandra Wyman said...

A really amazing and powerful piece. Good on you for not overdoing the stitch too!

Anonymous said...

I'm very envious of the large printer Paula. Well done you on reaching the deadline (good on Claire for reminding too!) I like the addition just a hint of red.

Sue Krekorian said...

What an interesting interpretation of the theme - you made some very effective decisions in developing this lovely piece.

Claire said...

Hi Paula, love your piece. Looks like there's loads of hidden images and figures in it!

Elma in Lochwinnoch said...

Wow! that is amazing! What a great interpretation of the theme

Featheronawire Sally Bramald said...

I keep looking at this and seeing so many different things. It's so much more than the ink blots much favoured by the psychoanalysts of the 70s. Wonderful image.

Esther Aliu said...

What an interesting process! I love the water colour use afterwards too.