Detail:

(Finally, Blogger has unlocked the blog and we are posting our pieces.) This is my illumination piece for the 12 X 12 challenge. I was inspired by paintings by the masters that seem to glow. The term for this is chiaroscuro.

Chiaroscuro – In drawing, painting, and the graphic arts, chiaroscuro (ke-ära-skooro) concerns the rendering of forms through a balanced contrast between light and dark areas. The technique that was introduced during the Renaissance, is effective in creating an illusion of depth and space around the principal figures in a composition. Leonardo Da Vinci and Rembrandt were painters who excelled in the use of this technique.

I love pears — they have such voluptuous curves and look so wonderful in a still life. I had some hand-dyed fabrics that just screamed pears! This is how the composition looked before I added the gold foil.

I think this would have worked as an illuminated piece, but i just had to add the foil. The background is silk dupioni.

I really enjoyed this challenge. I wonder what theme Terri will come up with for our next challenge?