I often liken my creations to visual music… or at least that is the feeling that comes to mind when I create and realize some creations… I tried to balance this for a couple hours with gloves on…. didn’t work.  Off with the gloves. Full sensitivity required..  <3

I’ve learned many things from listening to some amazing music by a variety of artists… The variety of sounds that touch my soul are in large part responsible for my perceptions and creations of beauty…  Grateful <3

“Don’t let it go to your head;
keep your feet on solid ground.
Don’t let it go to your head;
cuz what goes up, must come down.”

~ Brand Nubian

Two unrelated people have now demanded explanation for this balance.  They were both quite certain that it must be reinforced if at all possible.  According to my email an entire high school physics class and their teacher were slightly confounded at how this balance can be real. :D

I admit, this arrangement does look a bit strange.. as in possibly impossible… well.. it is definitely without a doubt a REAL balance. Gravity and rocks ONLY.. this photo was actually taken the next morning.. so the balance remained exactly like this all night.

Explanation?

DEPTH

it may look impossible from a 2-D perspective, but the balancing mass of the arrangement stretches into a non existent third dimension behind the left side of that middle rock… . Also, the top rock is considerably less massive in relation to the middle rock. The top rock, unlike the middle rock, has very little depth. it is more like a flat slab of sandstone i think.  Orientation gives a direct look at it’s broadest face.

Here is where it gets a bit more interesting (in my opinion :)

This was a really fun arrangement to play with… The top and middle rock fit together in a variety of counterbalance positions… just by manipulating the middle rock slightly, it could hold the top rock at a variety of levels.. check out the pictures :)  Here we can get a sense of just how versatile rock balance can be design-wise.. :)

Since I began balancing, it has always been a simple and effective way to create focal points, whether for nodes in a garden, meditation, performance, etc…  The balances naturally attract attention by demonstrating obvious anomalies in the natural environment and often our own understanding of possibility.  Since the creek has been frozen over, it has a quieted landscape energetically.  When I add a balance in this environment, it sticks out even more against the cold surroundings.. This is especially obvious because of the cold color tone in the snow juxtaposed against the warm general color spectrum of creek rocks and bare trees.

The more tension I perceive in a balance, usually increases its appeal as focal point. This balance is extremely tense due to it’s point/counterbalanced nature all that weight in the top rock is needed to counterbalance so close to the center axis… For the top to balance, there must also be equal tension in the middle resisting the top weight…  Through playing with counterbalances and rock shapes, this balance appears to snake skyward..

Last year around this time was when I first dabbled with my own watercolor quilt design..  I don’t have sewing skills, but I highly enjoy the creative process of arranging the 2 inch fabric squares, cut from mom’s collection. My mom is an excellent quilter. She’s done it for as long as I can remember, and has built up quite a fine collection of interesting and colorful fabrics over the years…  all of the 2 inch squares are painstakingly arranged into palettes based on color, value, and print patterns…the possibilities are endless.

The goal is simple. Blend the colors/designs/values in such ways as to make the squares “flow” and disappear into one another.  I’ve always thought that I inherited much of my designer’s eye from my mom.  When I was growing up, my mom would constantly ask for my input on her watercolor designs. 



I used two important tools during the process. A red color filter is a plastic screen to look at the quilt through.  The filter neutralizes all colors so I only see the relative VALUE of my arrangement. This process really helps in spotting unwanted lines that can appear when squares may match by color but not value.  Paying attention to both spectrums is the key to achieving a more fluid piece.



The other important tool is a reducing glass. It is much easier to spot breaks in overall fluidity when the piece is viewed from a distance.  Arranging the squares up close is one thing. But to create a unified feel, It is very helpful to alternate perspective between close and far.  :)



So here’s a picture of my final arrangement.  I also took the liberty of shooting a time-lapse of this creation. 2 inch square by 2 inch square… the final product after sequencing all the frames will look amazing :D

Let me just add that the colors in these fabrics are absolutely amazing. vivid. diverse… This arrangement is more abstract than most examples I’ve been shown from professionals. but I love the intense depth of color here. sometimes I stare at it begin seeing 3-dimensional illusions.  Tis’ a great stimulus for the eyes and imagination :)

**This quilt is available for high resolution printing. limited edition. only 10 prints will be made before retiring the opportunity..

email gravitygrab@gmail.com for inquiries..