Ode to Paul Klee

In March our InspiredArts Guild chose Paul Klee's picture "Red Balloon" for this year's challenge piece.  The idea is that each member would design and create something of their own based on this picture. 

I was very excited about this because as I looked at the picture, and saw all of the very delicate shading used, I thought it would be a wonderful exercise for my punchneedle skills.  I determined to copy the picture by using thread and punchneedle.  Well, that didn't go too well.  I carefully worked on it -- but soon realized that it was becoming a chore, not a pleasure.  I didn't like the way it looked, disliked the heavy colors I'd chosen, disliked the disjointed appearance of it and certainly didn't seem capable of duplicating the shading.  Obviously Mr. Klee had no competition from me!!

And so I gave up my first try and decided to start anew.  This time I made up my own design.  I did keep the balloon and I also kept the idea of the 'boxes' that appear in the original painting.  Otherwise I was off and running with a new design, new colors and a whole new outlook.

I used the colors of coral, yellow and green with a darker rust thrown in for contrast.  This piece is larger than any others I've done at 8" x 6".  Amazingly, once I had thrown out my original idea and actually developed my own design the whole project went much faster.  Best of all I truly enjoyed what I was doing and loved seeing the design grow beneath my needle.

"Art does not reproduce what we see; rather, it makes us see". - Paul Klee

2011 Challenge

Our InspiredArts Guild met the last week.  On the agenda was a decision regarding the 2011 challenge.  Several suggestions, ideas and random thoughts were made.  We ended up choosing Paul Klee's painting "The Balloon".  Everyone is fascinated by the images that this painting evokes.  The colors are a plus too - although we are not limited by color nor even by design.  Each of us will take this picture and redesign it in our own way.

Among our members' skills are felting, rug hooking, punchneedle, jewelry, beading, photography, stitchery - need I go on!  I can only imagine what each person will create with inspiration from this picture.

Luckily for us, and by design, we have given ourselves until the August meeting to meet the challenge.  I can hardly wait until the unveiling in August -- but then I don't want to hurry it because I too will be meeting this deadline and no there's no fun in hurrying!

"Art washes away the dirt of everyday life" - Anonymous