Stitching Times serves up stories, examples and tutorials about needlework related crafts, especially quilting and crochet. Almost all of the projects shown have been designed by Kay Stephenson

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Portrait Quilts

I’m really fascinated with making portrait quilts and am in the beginning stage of planning several. Take this photo
I need to decide how complex to make the face, so I’ve been playing with the cutout filter in Photoshop.
Should I simplify just a little bit?
A bit more?
Quilt a lot?
Or go so far that it’s only the suggestion of a face? That final image would certainly be easier to cut out and assemble, but is it pleasing?
I’ve also been playing with photos of our dog.
For "Lady at the Pond" I think this is about right. Five levels, with edge simplicity set at five, and edge fidelity set to one. Even at this simplistic a cutout, I may still need to  achieve some of the detail with thread painting rather than fabric.
And I may use the eye area from this 8 level version, as well as the tongue and teeth detail. 

If all this talk of cutouts and edge simplicity is making your head spin you might want to check out a wonderful publication called Quilting Arts. I have learned most of what I know about art quilt techniques from this magazine, and the writers regularly feature articles on how to leverage technology for better quilt-making. 
As for the projects I'm contemplating, I would love to hear what you think. We are headed off for a week at the beach in a few days, but one of these projects will be the first order of business when we return. Well, one of these, or another Ansel Adams tribute. We’ll see.

1 comment:

  1. I like the second photo of the young man... But all of them would make stunning quilts... Your idea for you puppy is good too....
    I thought I would just drop by and visit ;)
    M

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