Saturday, June 15, 2013

A Series Evolved: Let Them Be Left

It's been awhile since I've posted, but I 'm pleased with the work I've been doing.  I'm finally at a point in my fiber art where I'm ready to take myself seriously, not too seriously, mind you, but enough to buckle down, join Studio Arts Quilt Associates and submit my very first quilts for a curated exhibit.  Although this isn't quite a juried exhibit, which I have never yet submitted anything to, this is a big accomplishment for me.  My quilts may or may not be selected but at least I brought three of them to a point of completion, on time, and what I believe to be worthy of consideration

I took full advantage of a critique group, which I found to be extremely helpful.  I tore apart one of my quilts, the original "Let Them Be Left," and made a couple of quilts from the one (one of which I didn't like at all and is not shown here or included in this series.) Then I went on to make 2 more in a series focusing on my own personal voice and responding to critiques from some other fresh and knowledgeable eyes, besides my own.


Let Them Be Left, machine pieced, quilted and appliqued. Included are digital images as well as
 hand carved and printed images.
 

Detail, Let Them Be Left, also shows some tiny fish at the top that are hand painted and transferred onto this piece.
The digital photo, actually taken by Andy Sexton in Woods Hole Harbor sewn onto a piece of eco dyed and
rusted muslin.
 



"In The Weeds" also uses some rusted fabric along with commercial fabrics and some recycled silks.  It's also machine pieced, although there are only 3 pieces, and machine quilted and appliqued with free motion thread painted details.
 


Detail of "In The Weeds."



"Sea Anemone Dream," third in this series uses all commercial fabrics and is also machine quilted and appliqued, but it is  primarily a whole cloth quilt, except for the narrow borders. It also includes quite a bit of free motion thread painting and some lightly hand painted areas.
Detail, "Sea Anemone Dreams."

10 comments:

  1. I think you are quite adept at putting the images together to make a good composition. They are very pleasing and have nice motion. Keep it up.

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  2. I think that it is neat that you didn't use traditional blues and greens that so many do when doing a sea themed project. This really shows the stitching expertise! Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Sheri, it may be from living on Cape Cod for so many years. It's so not a tropical sea experience, so when I think of the ocean I see the browns and sand colors of New England and the Atlantic.

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  4. These are great, Janis! Glad to hear you are submitting them. Studio Art Quilts is a great group.
    I had the same thought as Sheri in that I love the unusual colors you've used. "In the Weeds" is my favorite. More!!
    (((hugs)))
    Mary G

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  5. Thanks Mary. I almost automatically deleted this post without reading it because most posts from an anonymous sender are spam and I get inundated with spam. So I apologize if I've done that before.

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  6. Love these art quilts! Especially "In the Weeds." 8-]

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  7. These are just amazing! Great job!

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  8. Janis, they are lovely! I really feel you hit the nail on the head, so to speak! "Three Cohesive Pieces" - in their colors, subject matter and technique. I can't wait to see them in person!

    My favorite is "In The Weeds" too! I love the free motion stitching.

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  9. Beautiful work! Besides being a quilter, I think you could call yourself a fiber artist.

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