Help me learn "Value"
#21
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,660
#22
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Central Ia
Posts: 1,120
First of all, I sure hope the Judge did share something positive about your quilt! Did s/he?
As already said, keep in mind this is only one Judge's opinion.
Entering the same quilt elsewhere, a different Judge may sing praises of its beauty and glory.
Your piecing is very well done with straight lines/seams, and great corner joins/matches.
It's a bright and cheery eclectic scrappy mix!
A Judge is not supposed to let his/her personal ideals influence their choices.
Unfortunately, it happens and it's really too bad we cannot "defend" our entries!
Some Judge's seem to only give notice to bright and bold wow-pop quilts.
(Or whatever their personal quilting style is.)
Sadly, some impressive work goes unnoticed ...
... and can sometimes leave the viewing audience left asking whyyyyyyyyy?
I've been there, done that ... standing dumbfounded when the grand champion hand quilter at that show, looked at my machine quilted work, and spoke out about it vs. the 1st place quilt. I let her chat away for awhile, then told her it was my quilt. TBH I think she had a better understanding of quilts and judging than the Judge did!
As already said, keep in mind this is only one Judge's opinion.
Entering the same quilt elsewhere, a different Judge may sing praises of its beauty and glory.
Your piecing is very well done with straight lines/seams, and great corner joins/matches.
It's a bright and cheery eclectic scrappy mix!
A Judge is not supposed to let his/her personal ideals influence their choices.
Unfortunately, it happens and it's really too bad we cannot "defend" our entries!
Some Judge's seem to only give notice to bright and bold wow-pop quilts.
(Or whatever their personal quilting style is.)
Sadly, some impressive work goes unnoticed ...
... and can sometimes leave the viewing audience left asking whyyyyyyyyy?
I've been there, done that ... standing dumbfounded when the grand champion hand quilter at that show, looked at my machine quilted work, and spoke out about it vs. the 1st place quilt. I let her chat away for awhile, then told her it was my quilt. TBH I think she had a better understanding of quilts and judging than the Judge did!
The rest were VG(Very good)
Positive comments; "great use of florals'
She liked my my choice of using a pieced binding.
She liked the variegated thread used in the topstitching
Piece work was VG despite not all my seams were accurate.
Visual Impact: VG
Binding needed to be consistent(some places were not as full).
I am not unhappy.
I can truthfully say; I'd make this quilt all over again.
#23
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,827
Yes, 2- E(excellent) for the long armers work(tension, smoothness of backing).
The rest were VG(Very good)
Positive comments; "great use of florals'
She liked my my choice of using a pieced binding.
She liked the variegated thread used in the topstitching
Piece work was VG despite not all my seams were accurate.
Visual Impact: VG
Binding needed to be consistent(some places were not as full).
I am not unhappy.
I can truthfully say; I'd make this quilt all over again.
The rest were VG(Very good)
Positive comments; "great use of florals'
She liked my my choice of using a pieced binding.
She liked the variegated thread used in the topstitching
Piece work was VG despite not all my seams were accurate.
Visual Impact: VG
Binding needed to be consistent(some places were not as full).
I am not unhappy.
I can truthfully say; I'd make this quilt all over again.
I'm impressed with the amount of comments you were given.
So many, say so little ... sometimes next to none ... this is great!
I know you are not unhappy ... but sometimes comments like this without real explanations,
can ruin the experience. Don't let this one ruin it for you and continue on for greater things to come!
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Anchorage, AK
Posts: 1,397
When I think I'm questioning the relative 'values' on a block/quilt, I take the picture I have of it, and filter it to be black and white - it's much easier to see where there's contrast or not between pieces. When this (very pretty honestly!) is filtered to black and white...some of the floral outer borders of each square tend to 'blend' with each other...but I guess it's really a matter of what the judges are looking for - I really like your quilt!
#27
Since you asked for help learning value, I offer these ideas. When one fabric seems to melt into the one beside it, (or surrounding it, in the case of your ‘square in square’ design), then there is not enough contrast in value. It obscures the pattern and makes the quilt more boring than it would be with adequate contrast. You do not have to have high contrast, just enough so your pattern shows up. When some of your blocks have high contrast and others have almost no contrast, it is visually confusing. I think that is what the judge meant by “value issues”.
There is is an easier and quicker way to see value/contrast in your quilt than taking the black and white photo: Just squint. Look at the work with squinted eyes and the values become readily apparent. You can’t see details, just the pure darks and lights. I was taught to squint at my work by a brilliant art teacher in high school, with regards to drawing. Been squinting at my work ever since. It never fails to give you a good ‘read’ on your darks and lights and how they are working together.
There is is an easier and quicker way to see value/contrast in your quilt than taking the black and white photo: Just squint. Look at the work with squinted eyes and the values become readily apparent. You can’t see details, just the pure darks and lights. I was taught to squint at my work by a brilliant art teacher in high school, with regards to drawing. Been squinting at my work ever since. It never fails to give you a good ‘read’ on your darks and lights and how they are working together.
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Greater Peoria, IL -- just moved!
Posts: 6,168
There are books specifically about color theory both in quilting and art in general. I was lucky enough to have had an elective in college about History through Art which had an excellent text book (the only college book I kept) as well as basic art classes in high school, and then there were always crafts and Camp Fire Girls and things like that to expose me to concepts.
I've mentioned before that the book Scrap Quilts by Judy Martin really changed my approach to quilting, now pretty much everything I do is scrappy. We've evolved a bit past the cutting directions, but the discussion in there as well as the pictures of "controlled" scrappy are still good stuff.
Another book I've kept in my reference section is The Magical Effects of Color by Joen Wolfrom. It is about color as it relates to quilting not about re-creating projects.
Sort of related to that, if you've never made a color wheel there are projects and directions and it can be a good learning experience you don't get by just viewing a color wheel. Here's a good site about color wheels for quilters, she also has a good discussion on value among others:
https://shannon-brinkley.com/blogs/s...he-color-wheel
Another book in my reference collection is Symmetry: A Design System for Quiltmakers by Ruth B. McDowell. Not at all about value or contrast but a very good and clear explanation about symmetry. While it may seem rather abstract I use concepts I got from the book when I'm arranging scrap blocks and I consider it valuable as a reference even though I've never made any of the projects.
All three books are older, easily available on Amazon or used book stores or maybe even your local library.
I've mentioned before that the book Scrap Quilts by Judy Martin really changed my approach to quilting, now pretty much everything I do is scrappy. We've evolved a bit past the cutting directions, but the discussion in there as well as the pictures of "controlled" scrappy are still good stuff.
Another book I've kept in my reference section is The Magical Effects of Color by Joen Wolfrom. It is about color as it relates to quilting not about re-creating projects.
Sort of related to that, if you've never made a color wheel there are projects and directions and it can be a good learning experience you don't get by just viewing a color wheel. Here's a good site about color wheels for quilters, she also has a good discussion on value among others:
https://shannon-brinkley.com/blogs/s...he-color-wheel
Another book in my reference collection is Symmetry: A Design System for Quiltmakers by Ruth B. McDowell. Not at all about value or contrast but a very good and clear explanation about symmetry. While it may seem rather abstract I use concepts I got from the book when I'm arranging scrap blocks and I consider it valuable as a reference even though I've never made any of the projects.
All three books are older, easily available on Amazon or used book stores or maybe even your local library.
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 653
There is excellent information in this discussion. I have learned so much by reading your comments and going to the suggested links. I will be using my new knowledge whenever I am picking fabrics for a quilt. Thank you to all of you.
#30
I think the quilt is lovely. It's how a scrappy quilt should look. It appears to me that the center blocks are color coded to the strips around them. Sometimes I will do the Black/White photo to see how it looks. Remember, if YOU are happy then that's all that matters. Judges bring their bias into the room, we all have it. Like you said, it was started as a learning experience. You WON.
E.N.D means Effort Never Dies
E.N.D means Effort Never Dies
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bearisgray
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
65
02-01-2024 09:04 AM
bearisgray
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
5
04-29-2019 09:08 AM
bearisgray
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
8
06-18-2016 06:07 PM
craftybear
Links and Resources
4
04-07-2011 04:41 PM