Color scheme advice please!

[colliemommie]

Cross-posted to crossstitch

I've been asked to stitch an icon for my church (I'm Ukrainian Catholic, so icons are an integral part of the religion, and there is a tradition of stitched rather than painted icons from the time of Soviet rule, when it was illegal to worship). I have a gorgeous pattern of the Holy Family, drawn by a Ukrainian priest who did a whole set of icon patterns after the fall of Communism, to preserve the craft.

There is no key for threads, so I have to make a lot of decisions. (Within certain parameters. Mary always wears a blue robe with a dark red mantle overtop, for example, thats how you instantly know who it is.) I'm using as much silk as I can afford for the main colors, because the richness of the colors is similar to the painted icon colors.

My problem is with the tone on tone background. I don't really like the bright gold yellow with the greeny yellow pattern over it. I happen to have a good-sized piece of tan gold linen, and a skein of Belle Soie Sandy Beach that match beautifully.

Both material and fiber are a shade or two yellower than the picture.

So should I do the cross motif with the silk and let the fabric show through for the rest of the background, or should I choose two shades of brighter gold and have the background fully stitched?

If I do the subtler background I will still use a bright gold for the haloes and for the Eye (the circle top center).

I would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!

Comments

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

I would let the fabric show through for the rest of the background, if it was me. First, because I think it would look nifty, and second, because you can always change your mind and stitch the rest of the background, but going back and unstitching it is not a good idea.

Not to mention that it cuts out a lot of boring background stitching, but that's just me [g] -- I've been cross-stitching for about forty years now, and my tolerance for boring backgrounds is commensurately low.

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

That's the way I'm leaning too. I'm worried that, if I use two shades of bright yellow, it will end up being very bright and loud and distracting. I think having a subtler background will make the figures stand out more, and it is a pretty busy picture as it is.

[sio.livejournal.com]

that's pretty! i'd try the background showing first. like the other commenter said, if you don't like it, you can fill it in.

[colliemommie.livejournal.com]

Hey! Good to see you again! I was thinking the other day that I hope you haven't not been around because this year is as stressful as last year was for you. (Crazy syntax ahoy...I hope that made some kind of sense.). I hope your 2013 is much better than 2012, is what I mean.

[sio.livejournal.com]

thanks. i think i just forget about LJ sometimes now that i'm on facebook.

as for stress and this year being better, yes and no. my sanity has been largely saved by volunteering for the local no-kill rescue (here's our FB page), but i'm getting nowhere job-hunt wise and my unemployment just ran out :/ i MIGHT have qualified for the Pell Grant but i have to call the school tomorrow to find out the details. if so hopefully i can go back in the fall for medical assisting. guess we'll see.

[northernwalker]

I vote for leaving the background plain- I'm not a fan of that yellow/faded lime green look.