Last month, my daughter and I went to view the Fairey Exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. She bought along a artist's pad and sketched some fairly fast drawings. I have always admired people who can render likeness in this manner. This morning, I realized I sketch with my sewing machine. Years ago I would painstakingly draw designs on work with a 'removable' pen and sew along these lines. Then spend a good deal of time erasing them. Gradually I stopped, not even sure when. Now I just place my piece at needles point and start to quilt. This process is very intuitive. Sometimes I'm not crazy about what happens but more often then not, I have a sewn drawing that totally fits the piece. It is about trusting my experience and allowing that 'flow' to happen. Try it, sit down at your machine with a small piece and quilt. Watch out for wide smiles!
9 comments:
This is a great exercise that I will definately try. I usually quilt just to highlight portions of an art piece, according to the "theme". You have just given my permission to just let loose. Thanks!
I, too, am a thread sketcher. It's as if there was a switch in my head that flipped from "sewing machine" to "pencil". I've never looked back.
I'm also amazed at how my kids have made this jump so easily. They free motion like mad.
Thanks for sharing about this.
For me it is easier to sit at my machine and just do it with the needle than try to do it with a pencil. Sometimes, if I have an idea first... I doodle on paper to get a 'feel' then just go for it. I have done some very successful 'painting' this way.
Very cool, Wen!
I think it's wonderful when someone discovers something I have known about for ever ....vbg. Free machine enbroidery and free machine quilting are very liberating once you get the hang of just drawing.
As a non-fiber-based artist, I can't imagine sketching with thread! You really have to have a very developed and strong understanding of your piece before you begin--- let the intuition wash over you!
The intuitive approach always indicates a step of confidence. It's a great way to work, so freeing! Love your sketches.
I used to draw out all of the lines ahead of time - except for background quilting. Now I take a B&W picture of my piece (8 1/2 x 11) and draw out quilting lines with a pencil. This becomes my map. I draw a few guide lines on the piece -- but most of it is free-hand. If my work wasn't illustrative, I would probably not even map it out.
Very interesting site. 'll Come again!
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