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I believe that art enriches and informs our lives everyday in many positive ways. Sharing those experiences, whether as an artist or as an appreciator, is part of the pleasure. I welcome your comments and hope you find something of value: a laugh, an insight, a new idea or just a happy moment. Enjoy art!

Friday, June 22, 2012

A Painters Quilt

In the mountains of western North Carolina there is a wonderful
movement to place quilt patterns on old barns across the landscape.  These are painted and
range in size from 8 feet x 8 feet to a smaller 2' x 2' depending on their placement.
Artists recreate some of the vintage patterns and tie them into the wishes of the landowners.
Sometimes folks want a custom pattern that reflects their family or lifestyle.
It was the latter that inspired me to see if I could create a pattern of my own.
You may remember my grid and planning I did killing time on an airplane:
I had decided to use the shapes of wine bottle and birds as those represent two of our
favorite deck 'activities.'  Everything must be gridded as if you were to plan
a pattern for straight line pieceing of materials.
Next I had to transfer this pattern to a canvas carefully marking off a similar grid and sticking to the formula.  The pink color has nothing to do with my plan...it was paint used to
cover up a painting-gone-awry so I could recycle the expensive canvas.  I painted in the "muslin" color to get me started in visualizing where I was going with color.
Slowly and carefully I painted in each square, or portion thereof, and later I went back and did some of the background "fabric" in a slightly different tone just so it would have the look of cloth.
Obviously my canvas was not square so I had to fill it in and write the name of our home as well as the name I gave the pattern on the space below.  It took about 2-3 coats of paint over everything.
And ta-da!  It's not on a barn for sure but it is in the mountains of western Carolina.
I think we will enjoy knowing that our "Bottles & Birds" can be added
to the quilt tour...in our neighborhood at least.


5 comments:

  1. SO perfect, Cindy. I love it! Such a lovely depiction of your "life on the veranda" up here. Can't wait to see the quilt tour in person.

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  2. Is this a photo of your porch? Personally I think this photo is a painting waiting to happen!

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  3. Yep, that's the porch, or veranda or deck or on a beautiful day: my living room. Hmmm, it could be a painting! Thanks guys.

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  4. What a wonderful idea, Cindy!!! Really brings me back home. (I'm a transplant to Wyoming, living most of my life in Arkansas.) Quilts say so much about our life and heritage. Your painting is beautiful and perfect on your porch!!!

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  5. They ARE like old journals Gail, I appreciate you reminding me of that. Thanks.

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