Friday, May 31, 2013

Weekly Review 2013 - 05/31


 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:

"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

"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."


22 comments:

  1. 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.

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    1. I dropped by your blog, Judy. To say you do pet portraits is an understatement. Spunky is spectacular. You have captured his essence.

      There 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.

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  2. The baby is incredible! Your quilting is so good, such an inspiration.

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    1. Thank 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.

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  3. Congratulations! 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!

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    1. Thank 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.

      "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.

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  4. Congratulations. Job WELL done!

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  5. I 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!!!

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    1. Maartje, 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.

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  6. Adoration is wonderful. I am sure it will be a hit in Lowell.

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  7. Great job Gwyned. I had every confidence you would make the deadline.

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    1. Thank you, Marilyn. I thought I would, too. However, each set back did give me doubts.

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  8. The quilt is amazing. Fingers are crossed that they accept it.

    Thank you for the links on photography. I need to do something about the stuff I photograph for my blog.

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    1. 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.

      Thank you for your good wishes.

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  9. 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!

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    1. A 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.

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  10. Adoration is successful in both construction and emotion. Congratulations. I look forward to seeing it in person. Thank you for sharing the process.

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    1. Thank 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.

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  11. Beautiful work Gwyned! Thanks for sharing.

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