Less is Sometimes More
Snaps from your travels can inspire effective (and simple) design ideas.
Using a photo (similar to this one) of the historic trulli houses (Singular ‘trullo’) in southern Italy, I decided to see how removing detail could result in a very simple design for either thread sketching or appliqué.
Trulli are dry-stone huts with conical roofs and were used as store-houses, permanent homes, or temporary shelters. They were constructed from limestone or tufa rock.
Begin with exploratory designs
Beginning by sketching an interpretation of the roofline, various ideas for stitching or embellishment were explored. (Images 1, 2, 3).
Image One – exploring shading ideas
Image Two – exploring simple stitch ideas
Image 3 – exploring colour and background stitch ideas
Simplify for a power punch effect
Images 4, 5, and 6 show a much simpler interpretation – the silhouette.
Images 5 and 6, in particular, demonstrate the power of contrast and how different background colours can affect the ‘feel’ or ‘mood’ of a design.
If you’re creating a thread sketched/thread painted picture and want a design that is simple, eye-catching and effective, you can’t go past the silhouette.
I’ve used this silhouette technique a number of times, one being my small thread painting Balinese Temple Sunset.
This design grew from a photo I took on a trip ‘off-the-tourist track’ on the beautiful island of Bali some years ago.
We happened to be there at a spectacular time of day, having gradually watched the sun descend while paddling across the lake in canoes to the temple.
The humidity, heat, and utter stillness around us was truly magical.
It was a memory worth preserving as more than a photograph.
What stitch technique was used for Balinese Temple Sunset?
Stitching this piece was less complex than you may think!
Using ordinary, straight, free motion stitch, horizontal bands of shade and colour were worked over the design to create the illuminating background to the silhouette.
I found this article particularly interesting and helpful, thank you Deborah. Sometimes I forget simple may be better.
Me too, Davina! It’s a good reminder for myself as well – sometimes I try to reinvent the wheel! Thanks for your comment and I’m glad this little tip was useful to you.
This is very helpful Deborah. I think I often over complicate a sketch, making it look too ‘busy’, so your article is a timely reminder. Thanks
Hi Ann – yes, I have to remind myself not to overcomplicate things sometimes, too!