Shape in Art….Through Tapestry
Shape is one of the seven elements of art.
We, as tapestry artists, have many options for creating shapes!
If we follow the “grid” of our “canvas “ (the warp and weft) then geometric shapes are our best option. Squares and rectangles can be made very easily and simply with slits, creating a hard edge shape. Or we can use various joining methods to soften the edges.
We can create triangles and other shapes such as octagon, rhombus, parallelogram, hexagon, trapezoid…by weaving angles.
Angles, smooth and “stepped”
Angles can also be used to create rectilinear shapes, as in Wedge weaving where the weft is built up and woven diagonally.
And then there are circles (although trickier in tapestry to master)! They involve careful planning to increase, weave straight, then decrease at the right ratio.
Organic and curvilinear shapes (Michael Crompton’s work is a good example of this) can be made row by row, or eccentrically. With row by row, the weft is gradually moved over one or more warps each pass. It usually involves a cartoon or drawing on the warp threads with a permanent marker. Eccentric weave opens up more possibilities and does not follow the fell line.
Shapes within shapes in cartoon for Echinacea study
Organic shapes in tapestry can also often involve shapes within shapes to create an image. For instance, when a photograph is converted into a tapestry.
We can create overlapping shapes with transparency techniques - (see this blog post for images of Barbara Heller’s and Joan Baxter’s work) or implied shapes with cutbacks. Implied shapes can also be created by leaving slits open (not sewn together) forming shadows - or with partial shapes that run off the edge of a tapestry. This is referred to as a continuous shape in art.
We talk about all these shapes and more in my Elements: Art Through Tapestry course in the Shape module. If you’ve been curious about this course but reluctant to join, I have created another option just for you! You can now purchase a stand-alone version of the Shape module to help you decide whether this course is for you. This smaller course includes the entire Shape in Art and Shape in Tapestry modules, complete with slide shows, techniques, and exercises. It does not include our monthly critiques, study groups, or the introductory material to Visual Communication.
UPDATE 1-22-23
This mini-course now also includes access to one critique session approximately 6 to 8 weeks after the start date. Date to be determined.
Ready?
You can check out the contents of the course before you purchase.
And win/win: if you do decide to sign up for the larger course, the price of the stand-alone Shape module can be applied to the full version when you’re ready to join us!