A few years ago, I was working with a group on an art journal doing a study series on any subject we wanted. I started with figs and have several pieces on my website which resulted from that journal. Then I started on lemons. Got a couple of pages done and life being what it is....got derailed. BUT....I always remembered one of the challenges from this journal experience. The challenge was to do a piece that interacted with more than just the sense of sight. hmmmmm...... interested me very much. I thought and thought and decided I wanted to do a lemon piece that also appealed to the sense of taste!! Now...how to do that. At that time I purchased lots of various shades and textures of yellow fabric.....and it sat and sat.....waiting for inspiration. Knew what I wanted it to look like, just wasn't sure how to get from here to there.
One day just recently it all came together. I had always envisioned a large tear drop crystal at the tip (big drop of lemon juice). THEN there were these wonderful blog posts (at ...And Then We Set It On Fire) on beading and I saw the final piece in my mind!! Found the crystal opalescent beads in various sizes that were perfect. Then the problem was the big tear drop. None were big enough. Then.....there is was....hanging on a hook. Not a tear drop at all...but a more organic shape and I LOVED it....and bought it, of course.
Using some of the guidelines offered by Beth in this fascinating stroll through all things beads, I started out. Got some great suggestions along the way, and here is the final result. My goal was to get those little taste buds that register sour to start watering. Don't know if I accomplished just that, but I have to admit....I had a ball giving it a go!!
A lemon yellow satin makes up the "meat" of the wedge, white mulberry bark for the pith and a darker yellow satin that has small dots in it for the peel. I stitched the lemon yellow satin to muslin, manipulating it to get the puckers I wanted. Added the peel and then the mulberry bark. The next step was to add all the beads to the lemon wedge for the droplets of juice. The whole lemon wedge was then stitched to a 18" X 24" stretched and painted canvas. Finally, I stitched on crystal beads to the canvas itself. I hope it makes your mouth water!!!
When Life Hands You Lemons
When Life Hands You Lemons - detail
2 comments:
I think you have captured the effect you wanted. The beads work perfectly and the way they are coming out an an angle rather than straight down really adds to it.
Thank you Regina!! I do appreciate your feedback!
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