Provence
The Sun
This new project draws inspiration from the work and life of Vincent van Gogh, whose art continues to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration. From the landscapes of the Netherlands to the dazzling light of the South of France, his vision gradually transformed, driven by a constant quest for light and intensity.
This embroidery is part of this movement. The sun, the true heart of the motif, floods the landscape, creating a dialogue between light and shadow that gives the scene its vibrancy.
The slender, powerful cypress trees create a rhythmic verticality, while the path invites the eye to delve deeper into the composition, suggesting depth and movement.
The fields, dotted with lavender and vegetation, are evoked by a multitude of stitches and directions, reflecting the diversity of nature under the Provençal light.
For this project, I used embroidery floss from DMC and House of Embroidery.
The embroidery stitches used are deliberately simple and accessible: stem stitch, long and short stitch, straight stitch, lazy daisy stitch, chain stitch, and French knots.
This embroidery does not rely on a display of technical virtuosity or a wide variety of stitches from traditional embroidery. It is based above all on a thoughtful and sensitive use of color, its contrasts, rhythms, and nuances.
It is a work of creativity, observation, and interpretation, where the richness of the result comes from the interplay of colors and stitch directions, serving the complexity of the movements.
This project will take the form of a series of articles, enriched with numerous photographs and precise instructions on color placement, to gradually accompany each stage of the embroidery process.
The drawing required to complete this project is available and can be downloaded HERE.
The finished project measures 12cm/12cm and is embroidered on light blue linen. You can purchase this fabric by emailing me.
The Sun
To get started on this project, I suggest we begin by creating the sun. As the true starting point of the embroidery, it sets the tone, light, and energy for the entire landscape.
Here are the colors I used to create this pattern
DMC 307
DMC 3078
DMC 746
DMC 824
DMC 964
DMC 3011
House of Embroidery 26C Gold
To guide you in making the sun, here are some close-up photos.
The sun is embroidered using chain stitch with two strands of thread and in a circle using all varieties of yellow thread.
The sun’s rays are made with stem stitch and 2 threads using threads 26C and 307.
Use colors 3078, 746, and 964 to form a halo of light in straight stitch with 1 thread around the sun. Begin working on the sky by adding a few lines in stem stitch with 2 threads and color 824 around the sun’s rays.
Provence part 5
Provence The left side of the fields and the shadows With this fifth and final stage of the Provence project, the focus is on the left side of the fields. Over the weeks, we built this setting piece by piece, allowing the warm colors of the flowerbeds to interact...
Provence part 4
Provence The path and the right side of the fields In this fourth stage of the Provence project, we first turn our attention to the path that gently winds its way between the cypress trees and structures the entire landscape. This path is essential and invites us to...
Provence part 3
Provence The sky In this third stage of the Provence project, attention now turns to the sky, which alone occupies almost half of the space to be embroidered. It is an essential element of the composition: it sets the rhythm, the atmosphere, and the breathing space of...
Provence part 2
Provence The Trees In this second stage of the Provence project, our gaze naturally turns to trees, and quite naturally to cypresses, the iconic silhouettes of the Mediterranean landscape. Their presence structures the scene, in rhythm and verticality, and creates an...
Provence part 1
Provence The Sun This new project draws inspiration from the work and life of Vincent van Gogh, whose art continues to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration. From the landscapes of the Netherlands to the dazzling light of the South of France, his vision...