You know about the left and right sides of the brain, right? The left side excels at logical thinking. Categorizing, sequencing, etc. but sees things mostly black and white. The right side is the creative side. It considers many options and sees many shades of grey.
Well, I’m mostly left brained. My brain automatically sorts, sequences, and plans. Yes, I can create art, but it’s not as automatic for me. Sometimes I need some warm up exercises (or days!) to get me into the creative groove. And it tires me out after awhile. I’m envious of those of you who can work on your art all day. I HAVE to take a break and go read my email, balance the checkbook, or do SOMETHING that’s black and white, rather than open ended. All those art choices can wear me out!
My left brain was quite happy with my recent tomato quilt. After all, I basically copied a photo with fabric as the medium. There’s nothing wrong with that and I like the quilt very much.
Vine Ripened
But, as I was finishing the quilt, I had a nagging dissatisfaction with my process. Not the quilt itself, but my thinking. I’m an artist, after all. Did I really bring my hand, my vision, to the piece? Did I alter it to make it better? Well, maybe a little. But, it seemed like I had maybe taken the easy way out. I wanted to push myself more. To abstract the image somehow.
In the past, I’ve had luck creating torn paper collages from magazine pages. The inaccuracy of tearing causes the image to be looser. This can often be a good way to abstract an image. So, I decided to give it a try, again. I tore a bunch of images and text from a magazine and got to work.
Hmm. It was starting to look just like the fabric version. Not really what I wanted.
This is as far as I got before I became completely bored with the exercise.
Well, that was no great success, but what did I expect when referencing the same image? Clearly, I needed to change my focus. Maybe I’d have better luck with a single tomato. My favorite one, with the great curving leaves.
Using photo editing software, I loosely drew the main components of the tomato, putting each leaf and shape on a separate layer. That way, I could manipulate each item individually.
I began to ask myself some questions about this tomato:
What is my favorite part?
What can I leave out and have it still represent a tomato?
How can I represent the round shape more abstractly?
After LOTS of experimenting I came up with this sketch.
What do you think? I was kind of in love with it. It was my first ever graphic abstract design.
I didn’t really intend to make another quilt when I started this process, but I just couldn’t resist. Here’s the start.
It should go quickly, so stay tuned.
I’d love to hear your ideas for creating abstract designs. Please comment if you have tips.
Also, I’m going to need a name for this piece. Send me your suggestions.
Ellen Lindner
I sympathize with the left brain stuff. My background is in science and math and sometimes my over analysis gets in the way. I took an abstract class with Elizabeth Barton which was helpful. Here is one of the quilts I made in that class.
http://chrissquiltinguniverse.blogspot.com/2016/02/midwinter-night-done-and-lessons-learned.html?m=0
This is how I came up with the design.
http://chrissquiltinguniverse.blogspot.com/2016/02/how-did-you-come-up-with-that-design.html?m=0
Hi Chris. I really enjoyed seeing this quilt and reading about your process. You and I are very like-minded.
I’ll be taking a class with Elizabeth in the fall and I’m really looking forward to it!
“Summer’s Perfection” because nothing is more perfect than a homegrown vine ripened tomato!
Great title suggestion, Vicki!
I really like your left-brain approach to figuring out how to be more right-brained: “I began to ask myself some questions about this tomato – what? where? how?” In truth, the results of your artistic efforts have always been fresh and creative, regardless of your mental methods. I enjoyed and benefited from this post – and hope, inversely, to use some left-leaning thoughts to tighten up my own unorganized methods.
Lisa, you’re right: I’m using a left-brained approach to being right-brained! I hadn’t thought of it that way. It’s funny how we each approach and process things.
Thanks for your compliments and encouragement! And good luck with tapping into your left brain.
If you want it to be abstract, why does it have to look like a tomato? Couldn’t it be more vaguely reminiscent or just red and green? and round?
You’re absolutely right, Deborah. Abstraction can be minimal or all the way to non-recognizable. It was my personal preference to have something that could still be identified as a tomato.
But, I love to experiment, so maybe I’ll take it further next time. Thanks for commenting!
Love this exercise! Both graphic designs are intriguing….anxious to see the result. “Summer Fruit” comes to mind, or “Heirloom in Red”. The best way for me to cut out the detail is with a time limit…and a sense that it “doesn’t count.” Sadly, that means my best stuff is done on inferior backing down….
Cindy, I think your work is wonderfully loose and playful. (Kinda glad to hear that YOU need tricks to get there, too.)
Thanks for the compliments and the name suggestions. I like “Heirloom in Red.”
I once had someone tell me he had never met anyone with such a balance right brain/ left brain. These days I just hope to hang on to my brain! I love your design and I’m not even a fan of abstract. Like you, my quilts are mostly based on nature. I find it hard to step away from reality and look for the essence of the subject. The questions you asked yourself made it possible. I find it hard to step away from reality and look for the essence of the subject. The book you suggested a while back (and a second book) by Elizabeth Barton arrived today. I have already previewed one, and I’m looking forward to improving my design skills.
HI Michele,
Sorry that I overlooked your comment until now. I hear that it’s good to have a “balanced” brain. But, like you, I’m just happy to have one these days! (That comment cracked me up.)
Oh, you’re really going to enjoy those two books. Here’s an important point, though: you have to actually DO some of the exercises for that stuff to sink in. 🙂 I’m doing exercises in a new book which has me painting randomly without any purpose. Fun stuff!
Enjoy the journey!
Ellen, I’ve been thinking about this left brain thing since I read this last week! It is so interesting to me. I think I am more of a left brain person, and that is why I also get tired by mid-afternoon, sometimes just from thinking about creating. Thanks for writing about this.
Exactly, Debby! I go to these retreats and most quilters can go all day creating. Not me! I need to go read my email or do something different for a while. It’s good to know your personal tendencies, so you can go with the flow and work WITH your strengths, rather than fighting them. (For instance, I’m good at organizing, which many artists hate. That’s thanks to my left brain.)
Glad it got you thinking. (That’s good, too.)