Dreams of Amarna – a complete rethink!
In the intervals of stitching, I have been wrestling in thought with the background to the second panel of the Dreams of Amarna. My original idea was to balance “The Map of Amarna” with “London to Amarna, 1929″, but I have been struggling to envisage how to set the elements into a harmonious pattern. Then I had a conversation with my mother, and did some more leafing through my photographic sources, and all my ideas turned upside down…
Rough Layout of the first panel
Here you see a very rough layout, to give you an approximate idea. I’ve laid out the Map of Amarna and the linen for the side and corner panels, and then put the patches on the side panels.
Of course, the patches won’t be set out in this arrangement. Not least, I am considering putting the cartouches of Akhenaten and Nefertiti on the horizontal panels, which will mean that there would be no space there for any patches at all. Fortunately I can double check that I have the right hieroglyphics, because the Egypt Exploration Society have been very helpful!
There is a fair mix of shapes and sizes of the patches, and the colours seem to be working well, so for the moment I am very pleased with the way this is looking.
Scene At The Dig
Copyright The Egypt Exploration Society
And Panel Two?
Well, I am now thinking about showing the travel in patches around the sides, and showing a section cut from this photo of the excavation in progress on the main panel.
This will give me plenty of opportunity to use the different threads I used in the Map to differentiate all the people from each other.
At least, if I get it right, it will…!
The colours work beautifully together. You said this is not the final arrangement for the patches but I really like the random placement of them. It reminds me of a pin board and I can imagine something like it at the dig where someone might have put the map on a pin board and surrounded it with photographs of their favourite finds.
I echo Coral-Seas’ comment. The colours together are really evocative of Egypt and the randomness of the arrangement makes me want to go up close and look at everything one at a time, to see the details.
I too like the randomness! How wonderful to see it all gel in your mind (and through your hands).
Fascinating!=)
How effective the pot of gold looks in this photo!
I’m looking forward to seeing how it all progresses.
It’s looking good. Best of luck!
I love/hate this thinking stage. I also like the randomness of your arrangement.
[…] the process of my recent replanning, the corner design turned into twins – there will be one for each panel. The design has also […]
You really seem to have got your second wind with this project. You’re in danger of finishing it! As for this general thinking stage… you can’t rush it. It takes as long as it takes.
I have no doubts you will ”get it right” as you say…..you think deeply, you consider…