In reviewing 2015, I found myself quilting…painting fabric and painting felt and quilting both. I haven’t been quilting too much in the past few years, except for the 3D work I did this past year.
I think the first post best explains my process for a quilt and the second for felt. I must really like the felt pieces because I kept two of them…unusual for me. Will I do a large quilt again…I don’t think so. Will I do the quilted felt again…more likely…almost probably…definitely!
Keep an eye to the sky for another Studio 18 post soon…the AVIARY will be welcoming its first arrivals….with a special offer for my loyal readers…
Red Carpet Detail…first posted January 23, 2015
This is a detail image of a quilt I completed a few weeks ago. I have submitted it to a jury, so I do not want to show the entire piece until I know its fate…EITHER accepted or rejected. Even though this shot is a very small piece of a very large quilt, I think you can see the various painting and stitching techniques I used. The first step was to color-wash the background with the paint. Certain sections, like the green and red at the bottom of this photo, got layered with several overlapping strokes of paint, a bit thicker in consistency than the wash. When all this dried, I added the tree trunks and branches using a palette knife and many different colors. I knew how I was going to quilt the tree trunks, so I was not afraid to apply the paint thickly. If the paint is too thick, the machine needle will either break or “gum up” as it tries to go through the paint…I planned on quilting around it. The leaves were painted separately and applied to the quilt when the entire background had been quilted. In this detail, you only see a few leaves. In the entire quilt, there are a ton!! It took me days to make them all…well worth it. I’m excited to show you the entire quilt…soon…from the studio
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Second selected post…Circle of Growth…posted December 10, 2015
I completed this piece today, CIRCLE OF GROWTH. It is done using the same method as the previous pieces, but this piece is 20×20 inches square. It is cut, painted and quilted felt. Not seen in this photo, it is mounted on a gallery canvas with the edges painted black. I am very fortunate. I sold this piece today as soon as it was mounted. I am sure it will be enjoyed in its new home in California. If it hadn’t been purchased, I think it would have stayed with me in my home. The title tells the story of how I have found a new direction…new growth, not yet ready to be pruned…from the Madrid studio
studio 18 art 