Grove of Trees – Part Four
I have been working slowly on my grove of trees landscape. I finished stitching down all the trunks and foreground fabrics.
So here’s a photo with it all stitched in place. Next up was adding a bunch of branches and I wanted to see how I could do that.
I took a piece of clear plastic and used paint pens on the plastic to look at various color choices. The photo on the left shows white paint pen and the one on the right shows using grey, peach and brown paint pens. The white definitely felt too stark. So I thought I would use a mixture of colors.
I looked through my stash to see what colors I had that might work. I decided to use wool thread as I wanted the branches to not stand out too much. I thought adding “shiny” cotton thread wouldn’t work well.
So I started with grey thread and this photo doesn’t really show the true colors of the thread. I used the grey on the grey trunks in the background.
Then on to adding peach branches to the peach tree trunks. I couched the threads down using the same thread for the couching stitches.
Then I needed to decide if I was going to keep going with light colored threads or add some darker branches. I tried a piece of pink thread by laying it down on the right and then a dark maroon thread in the center. I decided the darker branches would work the best. As the light in this piece is coming from the back right, the lighter branches give that feeling of light shining on them. The foreground branches would be darker with less light shining on them.
So I added a medium value red thread for the three red trees to the right side. Again, all the branches were couched down.
Then I added in the maroon threads for the darker trees on the left side. I also turned the silk that was loose on the top under to the back. I will hand stitch all of the loose silk around the edge down to the back. The piece is now hanging on the design wall. I think I will add some peach “grass” in the foreground just as I have couched down the threads for the branches. But I am letting it sit for a bit so I can see if it needs anything else. What do you think?
16 thoughts on “Grove of Trees – Part Four”
It looks fabulous – even if you don’t add anything else. The colours you chose for the branches are absolutely right.
Thank you, I will give it a little time before I decide whether to add more or not.
Ruth you’ve captured the light coming through the branches beautifully moving from light distant to dark foreground.
Like you I think adding some suggestion of grass in the foreground is needed. It will balance the upper half stitchwork & in so doing will definitely make the light source a focal point.
Thanks Antje, the foreground grass is happening for sure 😊
Love it, Ruth! Those branches definitely lend some spookiness and depth to the scenery. I want to say it’s reminiscent (to me) of Fangorn Forest in The Hobbit 🙂
Thanks Leonor, now I just need to add a few hobbits! 🤪
Ruth,
It’s almost realistic to me. I think the addition of grass, or decaying matter, would add even more realism. This one speaks to me, which of all your beautiful pieces, is unusual…but it might be because I can almost feel the crunching beneath my feet.
Can’t wait to see the next post.
Capi
Thanks Capi, glad you like this one.
I was sure that I’d posted a comment yesterday first thing, but now I remember I was interrupted and obviously forgot all about it. So I was able to read through again and enjoy the post once more. The Grove is turning into a warm peaceful place to be.
I really like the idea of a piece of clear plastic placed over the work so that you could draw on it and decide what the next steps should be.
I think some foreground vegetation is a good idea, maybe some old leaves? Possibly with the grass you are going to add growing through them in places? Your old/skeleton leaves are so good.
Ann
Thanks Ann, yes, being able to draw helps work out the design. I hadn’t thought about leaves but the scale might be too big for my usual skeleton leaves. Thanks for the idea.
It’s looking good. I like the branches. I agree some foreground to balance things would be good. There is one odd thing I see and that’s near the bottom right. There is a darker horizontal piece that looks like a fallen log but where it overlaps the tree it is both behind and in front, you can either see the tree through log or the log through the tree.
Thanks Ann, foreground grasses to be added soon 😉 Yes, on the photo, the fallen log shows through the tree trunk. In person, it is not very noticeable. It’s because I used sheer fabrics for the tree trunks. I will probably add some grass there to hide it more or I may cut out that section of the fallen tree.
I still love this work, such lovely colour, with the setting sunlight hitting the bare branches.
Thanks Marie, I’m glad you like it.
I have to apologise as I have been missing in action over the past few weeks. I feel like the impatient reader who has turned to the last page of the book to read the outcome. This is really beautiful Ruth. I have missed many steps but this result is just gorgeous. I love the idea of using the clear plastic to test ideas too. I feel that you could actually just frame the picture at this stage. That said, I am excited to see what you decide to do next.
Helene x
Thanks Helene, I am working on the foreground but keeping it pretty simple. I will show the finished piece soon.