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
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| 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."
