Sunday, June 09, 2013

Future Perfect Tense

I already took a few risks and confessed that I am taking an online art course.

Teri confessed that she is taking this class, too.  Teri and I have become experts at messaging "in progress" photos to each other.  I am beyond blessed to be able to share ideas with her and grateful that technology can let us work together, separately, in our own studios (60 miles apart), at the same time.

I am going to take yet another risk and show you this week's assignment:


I needed to submit an artist statement with the assignment:

Using cotton fabric, cotton batting, and assorted threads, I machine quilted this 17 x 22 -inch quilt.  I used a medium-weight black cotton thread to stitch most of the straight lines, a heavy-weight black cotton thread to define the large circles, and a light-weight black polyester thread to create texture.  Over the top of the quilting, I used thick variegated rayon threads to add more texture. 

Quilting is my passion.  Everything I do, see, experience, or feel can be realized by fabric and thread.  When considering Fantastic Art, I was intrigued by Jean Arp and wanted to incorporate an element of chance in my design.  I rolled a die to determine the placement of the large circles in relationship to each other.  The colors and shapes are representative and not true to scale.

What I learned:

1.  Do not micro-quilt with black thread for 4 hour straight.  I am now blind.
2.  Anguish is part of the process.  I was ready to destroy this quilt about half way through.  Fortunately it looked better after a few hours of sleep.
3.  Deadlines are a good thing, but not when binding is involved.  I promise that I will bind this quilt eventually.  No, really, I will.

I have not yet had the strength to look at the next assignment.  This one nearly wore me out!

8 comments:

David Sandritter said...

This is stunningly GORGEOUS!! Great job. I don't know how you do it with your schedule, but you do!

Sue Sandritter

Unknown said...

What class is it?

CWood-Wilson said...

This is a beautiful piece. I look forward to seeing more of your work in class. I hear you about the binding part. If you check out my pict, you will see how I tackled that beast this time around. It will not always be appropriate, but for this fantasy assignment, I felt it was it worked. Again, GREAT PIECE.

Kim said...

That is really fun to look at, I wish I could hold it and look at it more closely. Nicely done, you have a great imagination along with your super technical skills.....a winning combination.

Happy Sewing and learning

Debby Brown said...

CWood-Wilson, Thanks! I cannot find your photo. Can you post a link?

Debby Brown said...

I am taking the class through Coursera:

https://www.coursera.org/course/art

Kathy said...

Your work is amazing...as always

jdqltr said...

Wonderful project. You are an artist with that needle. Wow! Oh, and I have learned it not only looks better after a good nights sleep, it looks wonderful after a few days away as well. All those doubts disappear! Way to go!