I don’t usually have a hard time finding the right fabric for the right spot, but on occasion there is something that just baffles me and requires a lot of auditioning before I am happy.  This is one of those times.  I decided to share the options with you, and talk about what I like and don’t like about each one.  I find when I teach that showing students what is wrong and explaining WHY it is wrong is more instructive than showing them something that works and expecting them to see why.  So here goes, like standing in front you all in a bathing suit!

Option #1

This works, the value is different enough from both the dog and the man’s pants to stand apart, and I like the lines in it.  But I am afraid this is just too literal, and I really want to break out of the mode of directly translating a photo without a little pizzazz.

 

Option #2

Love this fabric, don’t love it here.  Too dark, too busy and too distracting.  Back in the stash it goes.

 

Option #3

I would definitely use this so that the pattern ran horizontally, put it in like this to evaluate color and value.  Not loving this choice, too dark to distinguish the pant legs clearly, too much pattern fights with the great print in the dog’s legs.

 

Option #4

Sometimes when a fabric is too dark, the perfect solution is the back.  Not in this case.  Just like the original I spent so long pulling out, this is just too close to the dog and it all blends together.

 

Option #5

Again, love this fabric, but not here.  Too dark, pattern is too swirly.

OK, so let’s move away from being so literal and only considering gray fabrics.  Let’s move onto other colors.  So far I have decided that the pattern can’t be too strong and that horizontal lines work well.  Moving on–

 

Option #6

Seems like it would be right, horizontal pattern, right value.  Looks like dirt.  Next…..

 

Option #7

ARGH!  Looks like they are standing on a giant pillow.  Nope.

 

Option #7

Hmmmm, like the value, love the writing on the fabric, relates to the writing on the dog, gives a wonderful sense of dimension.  But I still am not sold on the brown color.

Let’s think about colors.  Reds and oranges will blend in with the traffic cones, which I quite like so they are out.  Yellow?  Too much.  Purple?  Eh.  Green–too much like grass.  Maybe I need to look at blue fabrics, being careful not to make them look like they are standing in water.

 

Option #8

Like the horizontal, like the color.  Interesting….

 

Option #9

Nope.  Too close in value to the dog.

 

Option #10

Didn’t even consider the front of this fabric as it was the same value as the pant legs.  This is the back.  Interesting, changes the whole look of the piece.

I haven’t made a final decision yet, I suspect it is for one of two reasons–either I haven’t found the one that resonates with me yet or I have been at it too long and need to walk away for a bit so I can see it again with new eyes.  The take-away from this is to remember that not every piece, no matter how experienced the artist, goes together without changes and exploring the options.  (Usually not this many!).  But you have to keep trying until it clicks for you.

If you want to make an omelet, you have to crack a lot of eggs!