You know I’m game for a challenge and that I like to keep you guessing with different styles of canvases and different techniques.
Our first Mystery Class of the new year is no different. It’s a beautifully painted portrait of a lady by Colors of Praise. She is swoon-worthy she is so beautiful.
I’ve stitched various faces and I love them all. This one is different. She is larger and beautifully painted with lots of detail. I’ve put various stitch paterns on faces in the past or worked them entirely in embroidery stitches. Again, this one is different. So, drumroll please…… I stitched her all in Tent Stitch. WHAT! You know how I feel about Tent Stitch. It’s not my thing. I don’t find it relaxing. I find it stressful. It’s slow stitching. My mind wanders and I think of all the things that I could, should, would be doing.
And yet I decided to stitch this face all in Tent Stitch. Here she is.
I used a million different colors and blended them to make more. Ok, a million colors is an exaggeration. I was good until I got to the large areas of one color but still her beauty kept me going.
I could have stopped with just the Tent Stitch but details are what really brings a face to life. Outline Stitches and Straight Stitches are added next and the magic happens.
The next lesson of Lady with Lime Green Background will be January 19th. Let’s Fall in Love is coming along. Stay tuned for news on that one. Our first Embellishment class of 2020 is in just a few days!
xo
ruth
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Tent stitch or basketweave?
I consider Tent Stitch the umbrella term. Continental and Basketweave are both under the umbrella. In this large of an area you will stitch basketweave where you can. I work small organic shapes of basketweave, jumping all over the area to make the shading blend.
I have often thought that faces should be stitched in tent. Your work would seem to support that idea. It’s truly lovely.
For me it’s not a hard and fast rule. I’ve stitched lots of faces with lots of different stitches and I love them all. For me it depends upon the style of the original art. I’m all about honoring the artist’s original art.
Can’t wait for mine to arrive.
Oh WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She’s even more beautiful! So glad I signed up for this!
MMN
I love outlining — I feel that it can make an area or a detail really pop when used appropriately. This face is so delicately stitched as to be like an oil painting. I admire your skill with such fine blending Ruth!! I have loved all of your different approaches to working faces and skin tones. Tent stitch/continental — whatever you call it, it works here! I am looking forward to seeing this canvas develop.
Oh, those eyes!!
The Face and Details was such a fun and challenging lesson. My first attempt she looked like she applied her blush in the dark. That was pulled out and my second attempt had all the depth and dimension she was painted to have! Can’t wait for lesson two!
YAY! You are having fun. xo