New year. New project. Here we go.

This in-between-holidays week has provided some good studio time. I am beginning on a new large quilt, continuing the series of the journey of the little girl, with a dream-inspired vision of a house in blue shadows.

At the beginning of the week I had parts. And a vision.

Now it’s time to use the parts to fulfill the vision.

Here’s a computer mockup of where I’m headed.

It helps me to do a little computer composing so I get a guide for what I need to create and how to size it. It’s a test of the parts next to one another, and determines the final quilt size. (This work will be approx. 47” x 50”. The photographic images—house and window—are my original photos, already transferred to fabric.)

I have a scratchy-line section on the right that’s dark. And a scratchy-line section on the left that’s light. My work this week has been to turn those shorthand notes to myself into printed/painted sections that accomplish their role in the overall story and composition.

(Note to myself about the process of surface design on fabric. This is the “so-what.” I’ve created some fabric by varying means that’s interesting to look at it, but so what? How will it be useful? How will it accomplish an artistic purpose?)

First the dark for the right-hand stripe.

I began with the fabric shown top left. It’s a random relief print of some crescent-shapes. My plan is to overprint it with a dark blue-black in tree limb patterns. That’s what’s shown in the bottom part of the photo.

And here how it is evolving in the constructed quilt, with dark stitching to accentuate the limbs.

Next the light section for the left side.

I actually started with a printed tree pattern in medium value blue against a dark background, here:

My plan is to overprint it with a mixed color that includes white – to make a lighter value, and to make the paint opaque.

Here’s the printed result. (I have not stitched this section yet. But I will)

Along the way I have been creating some other tree-inspired fabrics to fill in those undefined rectangles in my original mockup, and the splashes of burnt orange.

As I look at this work-in-progress on my easel, I realize what a wonderful and amazing experience this is. To have an idea. To translate it into a composition concept. To create the parts. To watch it all come together. A joy-filled, meaning-filled way to spend my hours.

. . . . .

I also love the opportunity to come out of the studio to meet with and exhibit with other artists. Here are a few opportunities to see textile exhibits. I am pleased to have work included in these upcoming events. You are invited!

If you live near Venice, Florida I hope you’ll visit this exhibit. Thirty works be Florida textile artists, all of whom responded to the theme “Awakening.”

If you live near DeLand, Florida (my hometown) I hope you’ll visit this exhibit by members of ArtsEtc. This group of diverse artists has been meeting together for a long time—some as long as twenty five years. We have exhibited in DeLand City Hall for about six years. The work is displayed in the City Commission chambers. It’s available for viewing during the regular business hours for City Hall and when the chamber are used for other public meetings. The work will be up through March, 2024.

. . . . .

For all the artmakers: Happy creating
For all the art lovers: Happy appreciating

Thank you for reading. I always enjoy questions and comments.
--Bobbi

bobbi@bobbibaughstudio.com

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