Thursday, April 03, 2014

Quilting Picasso Update

Thanks to a couple of quiet nights I've been able to make significant progress on my Picasso project, which presently is in this stage:



The glaringly white ribbon flower is now a lovely tangerine hibiscus color, thanks to some careful application of not-too-wet watercolor paint:



I chose this particular shade to compliment Picasso's colors and to match the hedge that bloomed outside the back door of my childhood home. I think it's important to weave a little personal history into any creative project, even when it has special meaning only to you; that is what makes it uniquely your work.

The lady now has some pretty lace and bead cuffs for her dress, too:



I'm not sure if the cuffs are too fussy for the piece, but her sleeves looked a bit naked without them, and they pick up some of the colors of the midsection beading I did. I've also decided on the fabric I'm going to use for the other half of the project:



I believe I'm done with embellishing Picasso's lady, and now I'll move on to finishing up the piece (I do have to set it aside for at least a week while I take care of some work-related business stuff, too.) I'm still sticking to a mantra of keep it bold and simple, which so far has worked out very well. For all of you who are interested, when it's done if I'm happy with it I will be giving away the finished project here at the blog, so if I don't mess it up in the very near future (end of April, beginning of May or thereabouts) it could be yours.

6 comments:

  1. Now that would truly be a prize worth winning. I'm totally in love. I think you have hit every note just right and think the cuffs are fantastic. Thanks for taking us along on your crafting adventure, it has been grand!

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    1. I'm glad you like the cuffs, Marie -- I'm still waffling over whether they were the right choice, and it's nice to hear another opinion.

      This has been a really fun project, and I was expecting it to be the complete opposite. I hope it inspires others to try something different. :)

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  2. Fran K9:39 AM

    You know, when you started out on this project I wasn't all that keen on her but your embellishments have improved her enormously. Now be very happy to win her. Along with Maries I thank you taking us on this journey with you. Great job.

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    1. I still have some issues with her hands, Fran -- I'm sure Picasso had some worthy reason to depict them as he did, but they're my least favorite elements of the composition. I have made peace with the colors, however, and I really like her face. Maybe because she's been staring back at me for weeks. :)

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    2. Fran K3:46 AM

      I think her hands look like gloves and the cuffs just finish them off. I don't suppose that's what Picasso had in mind but that's how they look to me.

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  3. I love what you've done! The cuffs are a great touch and the overall effect is stunning. I understand why he did the hands the way he did. They're the same half as the face. I've never professed to understand Picaso's art, but I do understand the relation of the hand color to the face color. I might not think it's the most...agreeable, but I understand.

    She'd have looked better with black gloves on though ;)

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