Sampling with sunset image - 6th March 2014

Today I set myself the task of creating a fabric piece based on three sunset photographs.  I had previously created a sample of what was in my head by putting together some fabrics as shown below and previously referred to in blog post.   I wanted to emulate the sun setting with fabric.   I had picked up some mustard coloured fabric - thick upholstery type fabric scrap from the play and recycling centre and I wanted to use this as the base for the sun setting. 

One of my previous samples in my sketchbook had been noted by Mark as being interesting and infact Emma asked me what I thought of it and I said it just looked like fabric stuck onto a page.   But no, apparently it didn't look like that to trained eyes.   So, my piece today is the next stage to the sketchbook piece, using the same fabric, but embellishing it to the sun set coloured background.  

The fabrics I have used are satin, lace, and a polyester type fabric, ribbon and some fleece.   The texture of each fabric is different.  The satin smooth and shiny, the lace delicate, soft and feminine.
I have a large pile of fabrics which I have brought with me today. 

I laid out the base fabric and 3 photographs and loosely laid on my lace, satins and other fabrics to see how it would look.  I did think about stitching it on by hand to hold in place whilst i was embellising but I decided not to do that. 

I discovered whilst embellising the lace to the fabric that the black shows up the base fabric giving the impression that the sun is behind it.   

I have used the lace to give a fluffy effect of the clouds because to me, clouds look like wool.

I have embellished large long strips of fabric one piece at a time, as opposed to many layers together. 

I don't feel I have achieved the right colour within the black area.  I was aiming to a have a lighter area where the sun is higher and where the sun is going down the black area should be darker.  I have tried to represent this by using more lace where the sun is up.  Were I to do it again, I would use lace only on the left hand side, together with a dark grey satin rather than black.  

Problems encountered were with the thickness of the base fabric in that the embellisher struggled wtih its thickness in parts mainly where the fabric has raised parts which are pattern.   So if I create a larger piece I will use a different fabric, possibly calic or linen and dye it to the colour I want which is this colour.

If I do a larger piece I would also use the sewing machine and hand stitching where necessary.  Although the embellisher gives some interesting effects i.e. scrunching up some fabrics and giving a bellowing effect on the satin.  I feel with so many layers it needs the security of some permanent stitch.

Feedback received suggested I concentrate on one sun setting as opposed to the three.  I have added more detail and texture to the textile piece using gouache to fill in areas that were slightly bare.  

My next step is to dye some heavy and light calico and create similar samples.   The calico will work easier with the embellisher.