Self Portraits

Here is Sharon's first self portrait:  "The small self portrait was completed in a 15 minute challenge to portray myself as quickly as I could using what was on hand at my table at the moment. Not over thought or overwrought, I quite enjoy this vision of myself playing with joy and abandonment in my fabric."

Sharon

 For her second one she said: 

"Every bit of this self portrait contains portions of my life. In a small school of fish, I am swimming the other way. The hair is made from the ruffles and seams of my old prom dress, the brooch was my grandmothers. There are embroidered words of who I am closest to my face, and other words of what I want to be and to have in the future further away. There are mirrors to show my reflection on life, and holes of different sizes to show my fear of not knowing what I don't know. Even not knowing, I will still dive into the future, accepting what lies ahead (the beaded silhouette). Hand stitched with seed stitch embroidery on shibori fabric I dyed, and hand beaded."

Sharon

Marsha said

"As I contemplated my self-portrait, I wanted to portray my love of reading. I've been an avid reader since I first learned the skill and it has been a constant my entire life. I printed photos on fabric for the face and hands and then added the other details with raw edge, fused, machine applique. The book titles represent other aspects of my life, including my daughter, dancing with my husband, quilting, traveling and my careers as a museum historian and a librarian."

Marsha

Judy did two as well:

Tools of the Trade

Judy's hands

"Tools of the Trade"

"My self portrait was interpreted to mean, "What I use to create". Therefore I took a picture of my tools. Transferring the photo to silk and then quilting. In the border I added a ribbon tape measure, to remember the rule. Measure twice, cut once."

Self Portrait Challenges

We decided to do two short term challenges and only have 6 months to complete them.   The first is the self portrait challenge and the other doing a one block wonder inspired quilt using the same fabric.
Here is Wendy's self portrait and artist statement:

"My self-portrait is about two activities that describe and sometimes consume me -- quilt art and the practice of tai chi. The improvisational log cabin blocks are made from two silks. The solids are silk scraps from the installations at the 2012 St. Louis Chinese Lantern Festival where my group participated in the 100 Man Tai Chi Demonstrations. The patterned silk is from yardage dyed with men's silk ties. The photographs are printed on organza. Three of the photos show various elements of the Yang 32 Sword Form. The final photo is a standing meditation...with a "nod" to ironing since that, and sewing, can be meditative. The quilting is done with invisible thread."

Yes, that is an iron

Here is Jane's self portrait and artist statement:

This is for everyone we have ever let into our lives.....good or bad....we are changed and we can choose to embrace those traits or learn who we don't want to be like.

So, one should read this poem with someone in mind, then read it again with someone else in mind.

A first love, my newborn child, someone that doesn't treat you with respect, a best friend, an expected grandchild.

This is a love poem to those who have helped us carve out the person we are today. BRING ON TOMORROW !

Cathy did this for her self portrait and artist statement:

"My self-portrait represents my heritage from both sides of my family. My maternal grandparents immigrated from Scotland just before my mother was born. And my father's family was originally from Austria and married into the Citizen Band Potawatomi Tribe of Shawnee, Oklahoma. Therefore, my 'portrait' shows my dual heritage of Sunbonnet Sues holding their mutual quilt - representing their shared passion. The fabric used for the Scotland Sue is my family tartan, the Gunn plaid. The fabric used for the Native American Sue is the same fabric used for my regalia worn at various Pow Wows in the area."

Klonda's self portrait and artist statement:

"I decided to "go out of the box" and my comfort zone and try and do a realistic self portrait rather than a cartoon look. I kept seeing articles about portraits using Marilyn Belford's technique and book.

Marilyn's technique is a process of creating a fabric portrait requiring no paint and achieved strictly with fabric. It is a step by step process using fusible web, fabric and thread painting. Using a photograph that you posterized on your computer then choose and apply fabric. Next bring the fabric to life with thread painting"