The road in to the castle
It took a certain amount of puzzling to come up with a choice of colour for the path. I wanted it to help to anchor the scene, but at the same time, I didn’t want it dark enough to challenge the horse, and it seemed logical that it would share some tones with the stonework of the castle. I wanted some wheel ruts as well, although of course they run togther into a single line quite soon.
And then there was stitch direction to think about. A stitcher’s thinking is never done!
Well, a bit of thought, and the stitch direction was obvious – horizontal. The stonework is angular and archway is vertical/follows the curve, so horizontal seemed a good contrast.
Similarly, I settled on using both the pink and the grey from the stonework in the needle. I thought the yellow might brighten the road a bit too much for comfort!
Once the path was done, I could move on to the grass. I thought of doing some rather mad tussocks, going up and over the castle walls, but in the end it seemed to me that the area close to the castle wouldn’t be neglected to that extent. Whichever fairy tale I want my viewers riffing off, I don’t think the briar-overgrown castle of Sleeping Beauty is the one!
The road with its ruts works well as a visual lead into the castle gateway. Is the grass going to stay as lines or be filled with other shades of green?
I like your use of direction in your stitching of the road.
The road works well and certainly leads the eye. xx
Yes, the eye follows the path easily into the castle, I like the choice of colours, too.
I think your thinking came up with the right plan.
As others have commented, that road really gives the feeling that there is somewhere to go to on the other side of the archway, and the stitch direction works well giving a sense of flat ground being trotted upon. I wonder how you are going to develop that rolling grassy sward and, most important, what will be glimpsed in that slender space beyond the archway?
You’re so right in your comment about a stitcher’s thinking never done… for me it goes on and on.
I like your thoughts on the tidiness near the castle walls, and how you approached the road. I think I enjoy the thinking behind a piece as much as the finished result!