Sunday, November 29, 2009

How a Belly Dancer Triptych is Created

It starts with a moment that moves you,
and the thought, I have to make this into a quilt
You take your poor quality pictures and crop,
edit, play with color and value to come up with 3 images of the dancers
Posterize them to accentuate the values in Elements
Make them black and white

Do it again

And again

Print them to desired quilt size, tape together, you like it
but, realize it is not enough
Print color posterized on 8.5” x 11” paper

Print original photos in color on 8.5” x 11”
and think...

Use a light box to trace each figure from original picture on clear plastic,
then trace in the values using the posterized pictures
Scan clear design, print to desired quilt size, and tape together
Print on white 8.5” x 11” paper
Color in with colored pencils, old school style, to figure out colors and values
Spend a lot of time figuring out the right fabrics for values
Trace onto tracing paper
Tweak some values and number on template, flip
Get to work with Wonder Under, trace, press, cut, assemble,
press to hold, repeat, repeat, repeat…
Realize, this is going to take a long time,
but know it will totally be worth it in the end
This is just the beginning.

3 comments:

  1. OMG! This is awesome!!

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  2. Great job on the belly dancer. I went to school with a girl who became a professional belly dancer in NYC. Look forward to seeing the completed project. deanna in Texas

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  3. Wow! That's amazing. Thanks for showing your process. I have to share your blog with my quilting guild!

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