abstract series... do you see mountains?

ignore the top falling off the design wall!

continuing the discussion of what I learned last week:
1. new ways to sketch from my online workshop
2. markers on printed black and cream fabric
3. quilting my abstract mountain piece
4. painting a background, or landscape
This is #3:

I essentially painted with fabric, not paint.
I approached a pile of scraps in an improvisational way. I danced with it. I sifted through it and moved pieces around on the table. I tried different angles.

After stitching it together, I then decided which angles worked in that section, and placing a ruler over the oddly shaped section I turned it into a block, the angles facing the way I wanted them in the finished larger piece.

All of it was fun, all let colors show up, dance, blend. Then it was time to add texture with the quilting stitch. This stops a lot of people.

Some people want it to be perfect. They like to plan.
I kind of see a blurry image in my mind's eye of how the finished piece looks. I un-spool threads and try to accent colors not match.

I like repetitive line. I know how my threads behave, which ones like which needles, and which tensions. I know which ones sink in and which ones sit more on the surface. I love Oliver Twist hand dyed cottons. they make a lovely blended organic color.
I started with them on the "mountain slope" that I saw in my mind. They blended in too much for me this time, so I switched to YLI metallic turquoise, and then to Madeira slightly bumpy metallic.
yes... I could see the line but it didn't distract.

I had to make the first larger quilt, then see the mountain images emerging. It looked like fractured seeing the landscape through broken glass windows to me. I hope that a viewer will see what they want in them though.

Why do abstracts? I used to predominantly make whimsical representational quilts. I still love the humor and approachability of them. I set off on a journey to learn what I could about abstract because I felt it lent a new element of connection between a viewer and I. I learned the principles of design by working this way. I learned more about my craft. And myself.

I trained in psychology and the visual connection between ink blots and abstracts wasn't lost on me!

So now I do representational pieces, but with a more abstract approach. I still love and make whimsical pieces that make me smile. I seldom make block quilts unless they have an element of discovery about them, like how certain colors mix. As I move along this road in my artistic journey I seek self expression. If I see an abstract painting in a gallery, I am only stopped by those that I can see something within. I still want to relate to art, and see the artist's self in a piece.
what do you think?
linking to
off the wall Fridays
can I get a whoop whoop Fridays  
Midweek makers wednesdays
Let's be social Wednesdays