Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Finding the Muse #13 the study of Lines

This image was taken recently at Plimoth Plantation in MA., a re-enactment of the original settlement

Today I am showing you a few scenes that caught my eye because of "line"
The chair above made me think of quarter square triangle quilt blocks.
Image result for free quarter square triangle block
from craftsy



 There is a bit of glare on this chest, a reproduction of one brought across the ocean from England. If you enlarge the image you'll see some fancy stitching ideas for quilting.

Or zentangles, or carving, or pottery, or weaving.

The point is, line is important to just about every art form. Think of ballet... the line of a dancer's leg or arm.

Line is important in music, an auditory line one can follow to enjoy music.

I am particularly partial to the following image. The floors in Plimoth (that's how they spelled it) were dirt floors. Survival was the desire in the beginning.




I don't know how this comes across on the blog, but on my computer, the lines created by hundreds of shoes in the sand are very interesting. It's another zentangle. It's trapunto and quilting lines. I am smitten with this shot. click on any images to see details.
This is what is left of Plymouth Rock... it's been chipped, and relocated, and returned, etc. 
I find this picture to be equally fascinating at least on my computer where I can blow it up. I love the shadows of viewers. I like all the lines, vertical bars, cross shadows, lines in the sand, cement blocks and waves of water. So cool!
This image is another favorite. The view across the rock capturing the lines of the pillars, the horizon, the waves crossing the metal bars. It reminds me of a Maxfield Parrish print
We also toured mansions in Newport RI.  One tour guide asked about what I found interesting and I explained I'm an artist, so I take photos of "lines"

She said she would love to see any art I make using those lines...  
well, it's not that simple. All inspiration goes into the "Inspiration Soup"  that I use to make, to write, to live a creative life.  Right?
 This shows the repetition of line. Relate it to whatever art you make. It is the dining room of a Newport mansion. Note the shape of the wallpaper, next to the rectangles carved in panels, repeated in the grid work of elaborate carved screening. The larger rectangle shapes in foreground panels, broken up by the curves of carving in the room divider.
Like sections of a quilt, broken by borders, and curvy quilting lines. It's important to design to consider "line"
In this dining room of another mansion, there is silk wallpaper. Also repeated lines. Note the windows, the carved panel below them, the subtle squares repeated in the wallpaper lines, and that top...
that is textured plaster, woven and attached to the wall. Above it the gold paint is repeated from wallpaper to the hand painted grasses along the ceiling line.

NO ONE is putting details like this into buildings now. We need to protect the ones from the past.

This was in the following home. The couple designed it themselves, and the husband passed away quite young shortly after they moved in. The wife never remarried, and soon sold the home. 



Look at the lines here! Curved shingles, fishtail shingles, curved windows and panes of glass. Balustrades repeating vertical lines along with chimneys. A large second floor screened porch over the first floor porch.

Ah, so much inspiration for us as designers and artists. I'm sure some of the wealthy home builders left design to the professionals but this couple gave much imput into the design.

Do you consider "line" when you make art?


13 comments:

Joanne said...

Hi LeeAnna,
Line, also plays a big part in gardening !
Great pictures of the deatils!
Would be great to go on tour with you!

easyweimaraner said...

I totally love this house!... and the old chair from plimoth plantation looks very familiar... a lot of people here have them and they are still available in our furniture stores. I have two on my attic, they are very old but they are still intact :o)

Libby in TN said...

I love the way you think, LeeAnna, and I love to read your words.

Maria said...

Great pictures! Actually, lines help me to relate to art, quilts etc.

PaintedThread said...

Neat stuff. I don't draw. My quilts are all geometric shapes - it's the mathematics I get into. But that is certainly all lines! I don't think I'm as aware of my inspiration as you are, but I certainly understand your concepts.

I love old architecture and woodwork.

Quiltdivajulie said...

I consider line with every breath I take. I have SO many photos on my computer for no other reason except there are shapes, shadows, lines, and textures that make me smile. I like your phrase "Inspiration Soup" -- I call the computer file folder My Gestation File. GREAT post!

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I enjoyed this post so much, LeeAnna! You have such an eye for details, and I loved seeing things through your eyes. I know I consider line when I am getting ready to quilt a quilt - if there are lots of straight lines in my quilt, I definitely think about adding curved quilting to soften the straight lines. I always read a fun story about Plymouth Rock to my 5th graders when I was teaching about Plimoth Plantation. It was called Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock by Jean Fritz. So fun to learn the history and also be able to see it in person!

quiltedfabricart said...

I love how you not only look at an object but actually See it, feel it and appreciate it

claudia said...

Love your photos on lines. They make me think.
I think heard my Muse running away screaming, because I wasn't listening or something...

Kaja said...

Great post, LeeAnna, and I love your photos! Line is fundamental.

Tails Around the Ranch said...

I am totally drawn to lines, but sadly I'm not artistic enough to make something out of them (unless you count photography). *Sigh*

AlidaP said...

This is a very interesting post showing all kind of lines in our everyday life! Thanks for the inspiration, I will be looking at the world around me more carefully now :)

Judy@Quilt Paradigm said...

What a fabulous post!! Your pictures are fab, I just love the pictures of the outside of the house, I want to move in!! As Kaja said, line is fundamental. And that chest!! Holy wow, it is a treasure trove of quilting ideas! :)