I did it! I made the June 1st deadline for entering “Adoration” for consideration in the ArtQuilts Lowell 2013 exhibition at the Brush Gallery. It was at the Brush Gallery, more than a decade ago, when I saw my very first collection of art quilts hung in a gallery setting. I was mesmerized. It became my goal to get my work accepted into one of the Brush’s future exhibitions. I have been privileged to have my work selected twice before. The theme this year is “Tangled Up in Blue.” Getting juried into an exhibition is always a crap a shoot. I’m willing to roll the dice on this one.
Tips,
Techniques and Thoughts:
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| "Adoration's" formal exhibition photograph. Note how the edges of the quilt can be seen, but any distracting background cannot. Also, if you click on the image to enlarge it you should be able to see the quilting, not just in clothing, but everywhere else. |
I have been
entering my work in exhibitions since 2001. This has taught me that I cannot
predict with certainty whether my work will be accepted or not. Sometimes I get
into an exhibition I think is a stretch. Other times I am rejected by an
exhibition that I felt was a sure thing. I do know that if I want my work to be
considered seriously and not rejected outright that the caliber of my
photographs is vital. I don’t have access to a professional art photographer.
My husband graciously agreed to learn how to photograph my art. I have learned
how to resize his photographs and extract the art from the background in order
to adhere to the image requirements of any call for entry. The best resource
for learning how to photograph your quilt is Holly Knot’s instructions. Gloria
Hansen’s book, “Digital Essentials” is where to turn once you have a digital
photograph that needs to be prepared for call for entry, website, blog or
on-line gallery such as Etsy.
While I
wait to hear from the Brush Gallery I will continue to work in the studio. Here
is what I focused on this week.
1)
Adoration
 |
| This is the detail image I submitted with the entry. Note how it could be work as a full quilt. Also, because it is a close up the quilting is easy to see. |
a) Finish
quilting “Adoration.” – Done!
b) Bury
dangling quilting threads – Done!
c) Square
up the piece in preparation for facing. – Done!
d) Face –
Done!
Bonus –
Completed entry for the Brush Gallery, including time spent to provide a high-resolution
image of the Adoration removed from its background and a detail image.
2) Express
Your Love
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| "Express Your Love" has been cropped. This works well for a blog image, but is a definite no no when submitting an image to a call for entry. |
a) Finish
last week's assignment from Leah Day. – Done!
b) Do
whatever assignment Leah
comes up with next. – Started.
Bonus –
Finish quilting Express Your Love!!
3) Signature
experimentation
a) Design a
new signature motif.
4)
Pictorial Painting
a) Watch
the lesson that demos how to quilt the Canyon piece.
b) Quilt
"Canyon."
5) Plan the
next art piece. – Done!
Now that
“Adoration” has been submitted to the Brush Gallery I can return to finishing
up the projects I set aside and starting my next art piece. Here is my plan for
the week ending June 6, 2013:
1)
Adoration
a) Attach
the sleeve
b) Make and
attach the label
c) Add to
my website
2) “Oyster
Shell Shards” (deadline 8/20/2013)
a) Piece
the three background strips
b) Create
the oyster shell template
3) Leah Day
a) Express
Your Love
i) Square up quilt
ii) Make binding
iii) Attach binding
iv) Make and attach label
b) Finish
last week's assignment from Leah Day.
c) Do
whatever assignment Leah
comes up with next.
4)
Signature experimentation
a) Design a
new signature motif.
5)
Pictorial Painting
a) Watch
the lesson that demos how to quilt the Canyon piece.
b) Quilt
"Canyon."
I have spent some time now doing pet portraits. Photo interpretation is a whole different type of art quilting. You have to go by what you see, but also what you don't see. I have held off on doing people, but will finally make the plunge from animals to people. Like you, I have no idea if the judges will accept me or not.
ReplyDeleteI dropped by your blog, Judy. To say you do pet portraits is an understatement. Spunky is spectacular. You have captured his essence.
DeleteThere are so many decisions that go into selecting an exhibition. Of course strong design principles and technique are givens. What isn't known is how those that pass the design and technique test will work with each other. Selecting those pieces that will fit the space and form a cohesive exhibition is the challenge for the judge/jury. When a piece isn't chosen, it doesn't automatically mean it is bad piece. It just may not have worked with the other strong entries.
The baby is incredible! Your quilting is so good, such an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I have spent years viewing the work of stellar fiber art portrait artists trying to figure out how they do it. This was my first attempt. I did use a photograph as a reference to get the pose and facial features. However, I used major artistic license when selecting color scheme and textures.
DeleteCongratulations! It looks fantastic and if you're in or not, you have a beautiful and special piece. I've enjoyed watching this one come together for sure!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. My feeling if I get a rejection notice is that there is always another show exhibit in. Even my most lauded quilts have been rejected multiple times.
Delete"Adoration" was a difficult birthing process. There was so much about the technique that was new to me. I was constantly "fixing" problems of my own making. I hoped by sharing the process, both the forward and retracing times, that I could be a roll model of how to hang in there when throwing in the towel could be so, so tempting.
Congratulations. Job WELL done!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pat.
DeleteI think I do not like portrait quilts. But I think you did a good job! I like the way you portrayed your happy look to your grandchild. It gives me the same feeling as when I look to my grandchild. It was so special to see every week a little bit more of the grandmother in love with her grandchild.Big, big compliments!!!
ReplyDeleteMaartje, I too have struggled with the idea of portraits in fiber. So often they seem to be more like an Avatar or smile for the camera type moment. The trick, I think, is to capture something universal and emotional. That is why this picture and the artwork I created from it, spoke to me. Not only does the grandmother's love for her grandchild come through, but the miracle of how a 3 week old infant latches onto and trusts an adult face is there as well.
DeleteAdoration is wonderful. I am sure it will be a hit in Lowell.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the vote of confidence.
DeleteGreat job Gwyned. I had every confidence you would make the deadline.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marilyn. I thought I would, too. However, each set back did give me doubts.
DeleteThe quilt is amazing. Fingers are crossed that they accept it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the links on photography. I need to do something about the stuff I photograph for my blog.
I fought the photography thing for several years. It was so much more fun to create in my studio. However, once I moved away from my professional photographer it was either sink or swim. Holly Knott and Gloria Hansen are two of my idols when it comes to business of websites for artists and creating professional images.
DeleteThank you for your good wishes.
Adoration turned out wonderfully, Gwyned. I hope that it gets juried into the exhibit. You are so correct about the importance of great photographs. I am very lucky to have found a local photographer who does a great job and is reasonably priced!
ReplyDeleteA good photographer is a precious gem. I feel so fortunate to have worked with two different ones in the Boston and area and to now have my husband up to speed.
DeleteAdoration is successful in both construction and emotion. Congratulations. I look forward to seeing it in person. Thank you for sharing the process.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann. This was a courageous move on my part. I am much more confident about sharing work AFTER it is completed since all the problems have been solved. Admitting to issues along the way remains uncomfortable for me.
DeleteBeautiful work Gwyned! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joanna.
Delete