Forest Floor Update
I have continued to make slow progress on my forest floor piece. Since I showed you last, I have stitched down the rocks and added some shadows.
I decided on the final rock placement and then stitched them in place. I moved the rock that is now on the top right over from the left since it was much lighter. This reinforces the feeling of the light shining from behind the trees. Once the rocks were stitched in place, I decided they needed a bit more definition as they kind of looked like potatoes to me.
I remembered a book about nature journaling that I had checked out from the library by John Muir Laws. I decided to look him up online to see if he had some information about drawing rocks. I found a wealth of information on his site about drawing in nature. If you would like to improve your drawing skills, this is an excellent resource.
I took the photo from above and printed it out. Then I used a piece of tracing paper to sketch the rock placement. Then I used hatching techniques to give some shape to the rocks. These aren’t specific rocks. I find it much easier to draw/sketch when I have a photo of what I am trying to draw or I can look at a specific rock or landscape. But they look more like rocks than potatoes now.
I decided to use the same blue that is already in the nuno background for the shadows. That would tie all the blue bits in as shadows and move the blue over on to the right side of the composition too. I used a straight stitch to do the “hatching” on the rocks using #12 Sulky cotton thread. Once those shadows were in, I knew I needed to add cast shadows from the rock on to the ground. So I brought out my navy blue sheer fabric to create some cast shadows.
Here’s the piece after adding the sheer fabric around the rocks. I stitched the sheer fabric down with #40 machine thread with tiny stitches. Now guess what? I need more shadows in front of the trees. It’s always funny to me that I am working along and when some shadows are added, I can immediately see that I need more. So the next step is more sheer blue fabric to add the cast shadows from the trees. Then I will begin adding more leaves and the white flowers so that it will resemble my original collage below.
33 thoughts on “Forest Floor Update”
This is really looking very good now, I love nature scenes and tree’s etc, and your picture has now got a lot of depth an shade and form in it. I hope you are going to hang it in your home Ruth when its completed.
Thanks! As I said, everytime I put in a shadow, I see where more are needed. Still a few more to go. This is one of the pieces that I will sell in a Missoula, MT gallery.
That is coming along beautifully Ruth. After you added the shadows in front of the rocks, I immediately thought “agh now the trees need shadows too”. I should have known that you’d see that straight away.
Thanks so much for the link to John Muir Laws, it is very timely. I am trying to create the inside/outside of Aladdin’s cave for this year’s panto, without the guidance of my friend, the artist who usually does this “just like that”, and I have found it very difficult. Now however …..
Looking forward to your next instalment.
Ann
Thanks Ann, you definitely can see what shadows are missing when you step back and view the piece from a distance. I usually see what’s needed best from a thumbnail photo. I hope the John Muir Laws tutorials are helpful for you. They have been for me.
Working on more shadows so more coming soon.
Fabulous. Thanks for sharing your process you are very generous, it has taught me a lot.
Thanks, I’m glad that you are finding my posts helpful.
That stitching really did change your spuds into rocks – simple but brilliant! Still loving all the colours you’re using 🙂
Thanks for the link – what a resource!
Thanks Ladies! I find that the simple stitching is usually the best for my pieces. And as you say, it transforms the piece more than you would think. John Muir Laws site has extensive information on drawing nature and has been quite helpful to me.
Thanks for the link. And thanks for posting on your process. It’s beautiful and so helpful to see it come together bit by bit.
You’re welcome Dani, it’s kind of a slow process but it will get done eventually.
The pieces is really coming together, Ruth. I am looking forward to seeing the tree shadows. I popped up the like so I will have a look at that next.
Thanks Ann, the shadows are always interesting, add one and another is needed. I will have another update soon. I hope you enjoy the link, it’s a really helpful site.
It’s looking lovely, Ruth. I suspect it’s one of those pictures you could go on adding to for a long time so I hope you’re enjoying the process.
Thanks Lindsay, it is one of those pictures that could keep having additions and details added. I do enjoy the process and I don’t mind it takes a while. Now to figure out when I should stop 😉
It’s progressing beautifully Ruth and its always interesting to see the different stages your work goes through.
Thanks for the link, what a great resource! I must admit I thought John was a very weird looking guy till I realised he was celebrating Bob Ross Day!!🤣
Thanks Karen, I’m glad that you think minor changes are interesting 🙂
John’s site is definitely a great resource. I must have missed the Bob Ross Day celebration!
Oh it was so funny, not the content which was very interesting, but John’s “Bob” look! He had some strange facial hair and a ginger afro wig😱 Not having seen John before I thought that was how he normally looked🤣 I only twigged when he mentioned it was “Bob” day and I saw another guy in the video with a black afro wig!!
That sounds hilarious, at least he has a sense of humor 🙂
As a felter, I am wondering why you are hand stitching everything in place vs hand needle felting? I like your coloring and can appreciate the time and effort you have utilized toward your project. As I perused the picture, I visualized needle felting vs hand stitching. Thank you for sharing your project with us.
GiGi
Hi GiGi, thanks for your comments. I use a lot of mixed media and I don’t particularly like needle felting. It bothers my hand/arm so I don’t do it most of the time. I find I like to do a variety of stitching techniques and wet felting and I combine them in different ways. I am sure that needle felting could have been used to attach the felt pieces but I don’t like the holes it leaves in the surface nor the compaction that occurs with needle felting. The sheer fabrics that I am adding for the shadows would disintegrate with needle felting and the appearance would be totally different. Everyone has their own methods of working and mine just doesn’t include much needle felting.
I suspect that, even if she was an avid needle felter, Ruth wouldn’t use that method of adding to her pictures. I do use needle felting in my felt “paintings” and I don’t like the results you get trying to needle felt something into a fabric which has been Nuno felted into the background. The needles completely change the look of the fabric – causing puckering and pulling threads. As Ruth says “everyone has their own methods of working….”. We’d be interested in seeing your work some time.
Ann
Your forest floor is looking so good. Love all the colours, and the rocks are great. Looking forward to next stage.
Thanks Marie, it helps to start with a lovely piece of nuno felt made by a friend and gifted to me. Still working on more shadows so another post soon.
Every time I think you’re almost done with this work, you come up with more wonderful add-ons, Ruth! The cross-hatch technique looks great, and I really like that you’re using the same blue as the background, it looks so much more realistic than using black 😀
Thanks Leonor, every time I think I’m almost done… I hadn’t tried the cross hatch stitching before and it worked better than I thought it would. And the blue is definitely better than stark black 🙂
Again, I find myself in awe of your work. It’s going to be a stunning Art piece, and I love seeing the progress. I can see the differences, once you have made the changes, but I wish I could see what you seein the before! It’s a deficit that I am only now, in my 6th decade, beginning to realize.
I really must thank you, Ruth! It’s through watching you going through your artistic processes, post after post, that it’s become so clear. I have been puzzled by this issue for years, and now I’m going to allow myself to let it go. 🙏🏼 It’s a little thing in the big picture of life. I will learn as you continue to unveil your insights.
Thanks Capi! I’m glad you’re enjoying my updates. I did not originally create work this way and I have learned so much through my classes at Gail Harker’s Creative Arts Center. So it is a learned skill and just takes a lot of practice. It isn’t something that comes to me naturally. So keep working and learning as you go!
Somewhat late to the party….
Ruth you have beautifully transformed your plonked potatoes into grounded rocks and I totally agree with your choice of the blue.
Yes, you will now need tree shadows to strengthen the play of light coming from behind….just be careful as the shadow passes over your left hand rocks. Maybe a dark shadow around the tree base and a much lighter hint/suggestion over the rocks! Just a thought 🤪
Better late than never 😉
Uh oh, you’re getting ahead to my next post. You have seen what is going to happen once I add the tree shadows. But I worked it all out in the end which is my next post!
I have managed to beat Antje to become the last person to arrive at this wonderful party Ruth.
I immediately gratefully accepted your invitation and tossed myself into the rabbit hole that is John Muir Law’s link (I must return to this). Your work on the rocks is so realistic and I love what you have done with the shadows. Each step brings the piece closer to realism. Looking forward to see how you tackle the tree shadows and the flowers.
Helene x
Too bad there aren’t prizes for being the last commenter 😂
Have fun with John Muir Law’s site. You could spend days …
I have another post coming right up so you can see the changes.
I’m sure a ‘special’ prize could be organised ……
Looking forward to your next post. x