Whilst getting my samples into some order for presentation for future assessment I was struck by this piece and how different it looks on the back.
The curvy lines are much less obvious on the right side as the busy pattern of the washi paper has blurred the effect.
The back of the piece has shown that by using something plain, in strongly contrasting tones, a more definite shaping can be seen and the whole effect is more crisp with each section showing up boldly.
TactualTextiles 
on the front side, the dark pattern really stands out & becomes dominant – no matter the size and exact placement they all read the same – it seems to be quite regular and uniform. Why doesn’t one of the contrasting tones on the back also pop out & become dominant.
The closer the tone of the two colours you use the less definition there will be and the more they will have a tendency to ‘blend’. The patterned paper is black with gold through so it is both the darkest (black) and the brightest (yellow/gold) and is fighting with the burgundy – however, red is the first light wave to hit our eyes so is usually more dominant. With all that going on they sit well, and evenly. together without one overshadowing the other.
On the reverse side the colours sit quite a distance apart from each other on the tonal scale, but neither at an extreme end, and both are chroma reduced (less saturated and slightly grey). This means that they are both similarly dulled/muted but maintain interest because of the tonal difference. If one of the colours was fully saturated it would have dominated the other, whether it be the lighter or the darker one.
Claire.
Very different appearances – and a great explanation about the different values.
I like the front in your original post, but the back is really good too. It feels a little like I’m having hallucinations about a marble tiled floor.
I see it as a French street-cafe tablecloth and can visualise my croissant and coffee sitting on it while I dream away a sunny Sunday morning gazing at the Eiffel Tower.
Yeah, dream on!!!!
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