Maquette 1: I decided the center panel was too long and flat.

Although the basic forms often come together quickly for me, there’s lot of time spent fine tuning to get them right. It’s important to work these things out in paper even though I’m sometimes frustrated and want to start working on the final. It feels like I haven’t really started, even though I know that this time is the most important. All the fabrics and stitching won’t matter if the basic form isn’t right. I met with my studio mates for a critique last Thursday and they gave me a much needed push to kick these pieces out a bit. Not to stay in the safety zone of symmetry and the lovely curves I’m so attached to. It’s good advice and I’m taking it but it’s not easy.

Macquette 2: Too symmetrical, center panel too short

Macquette 3: Center panel good, assymetry good, but the bottom of the form is too deep.

Macquette 4: Reduced the depth at the bottom and added an inverse curve. Just right!