Before I share the notes I took during Ania Knap’s presentation to the Tin Pedlars at our Nov. ’17 meeting, I want to thank her for allowing me to take (to share here) whatever photos I wanted of the many hooked items she shared during her presentation.
It was fun to hear how she started her rug hooking journey at an Adult Ed class and how the scientist she is impacts how she looks at it for the art and solutions to questions. The natural world and color drive much of her creative exploration. You will see Ania’s favorite color throughout her shared work – ORANGE!
Here’s my personal take-away from Ania’s presentation. ~~~
There are many ways to hook circles, triangles, etc., only thing important is to have fun while you are hooking and learning along the way.
Always look for the pattern and deeper for the reflection in the pattern.
Symmetry is really what makes something pleasing to the eye. It is found throughout the natural world and it is how we simplify what we look at. Symmetry does not always equal mirror image. You can find symmetry within smaller components like in this pasley piece.
Look for symmetry to get to the simplest pattern when working a piece.
Symmetry also does not have to be perfect. Sometimes the surprise is important. Think about how when you buy one kind of bulb to plant there is often 1 odd one in the batch.
This piece shows rotational Symmetry. It all starts with the center flower. Diagonally you notice the design compares, but it is not a mirror. The symmetry works as you rotate viewing the rug. There is also symmetry within the smaller components.
Notice the bits of reflection from the pieces of fruit onto each other…… It’s easy to see the red in the pear by the stem point. Then the purple from the grapes in the lower edge of the pear.
This is the wool that was used to hook the background. The worms were cut across the stripes.
Flora and fauna. Ania worked it from the point of Primary Colors – notice the border – red / yellow / blue. Looking more at the rug you see the flora are all cooler – blue / yellow / green. The fauna is warmer – red / yellow /orange. You will also see purple in both flora and fauna, but the depth of color is cool or warm following along with the overall idea.
This rug is all straight line hooking of a dyed wool that progressed through colors.
The worms were cut along the whole dyed piece to get each of the colors. Often we cut the opposite way to get wools from just one color area. The back view clearly shows the straight line hooking.
When you get to dying wool how many get concerned that there will be white spots – no dye? Well, white spots on dyed wool when hook provide the look of light hitting and reflecting in the piece. So those white spots are actually pluses.
Then how many have heard of “snow dying”? Well, what if you don’t have snow? Ice works, but you need a lot. Solution: Freeze your wool before dying. When the dye hits the frozen wool the colors separate.
And here’s my favorite!
For me this piece shows everything – color, reflection and symmetry.
~~~ Debbie Arcaro
