Use your camera to quilt!
Posted By margaret on September 18, 2009
Want to create something really special for that loved one in your family? Why not use your quilting skills to create a one-of-a-kind memory quilt; not a t-shirt quilt to remember the good times, but a portrait quilt to remember that special someone.
Do you have a favorite photograph of grandma or grandpa that’s fading, never to be seen again? Convert that flat image into an extraordinary tactile expression of heartwarming love and affection with simple pieces of fabric and an easy appliqué method. Give it a try, you can do it!
A great portrait quilt begins with a good photograph. Not the subject of the photo, but the contrast and size of the image. Let’s think about the technical aspects of the photograph selection. Of course your subject is worthy of a quilt, but the photo might not work “due to technical difficulties beyond our control”.
If possible, when selecting the photograph, look for a photo with just the head and shoulders, assuring a really close up image. It’s important to find all the nuances of the face to produce a truly realistic portrait in cloth, and this can only be achieved if those subtle expressions are visible in the photograph.
When auditioning a photo, look to see if the subject’s face exhibits contrast? Is the face all the same color with no strong shadows showing? Is the face too dark and no highlights are available? Next, check the eyes, can you see
definition in the eye area? To me, the eyes are the most important area of a portrait quilt; think of them as the focal point. If the eyes aren’t correct, how can the quilt “speak” to you? Don’t forget about the highlights in the eyes. They help reveal the inward emotion, and those small details are so important.
What if no head and shoulders photo is available? Look for a photo with as large an image as possible. Don’t select a 4”x6” photo of a small child playing in a sandbox, it simply won’t work.
How about group photos? Can one achieve a successful portrait quilt with multiple subjects? Yes. Just look for the same criteria for each subject in the photograph.
How about pets? Pets are terrific subjects for portrait quilts. If your photo is of your favorite black and white dog, with black around the eyes, don’t go there. The eyes will not show up on the quilt; not enough contrast between the black fur and the dark eyes. Is there enough contrast in the rest of the fur to create interest?
How about black and white photos? Color photos? Both will work well for a portrait quilt. In fact, when developing a pattern for a portrait quilt, I use the computer to change a color photo into a black and white photo. With image editing software, one can change many areas of the photo, not just change the color mode. If a photo is a bit too dark, lighten it; if hair is out of place, straighten it; if only one pet is in the photo, add another one. One’s imagination is the only limit in using image editing software.
How about a memorable landscape photograph? Technically, it’s not a portrait, but certainly an excellent subject for a quilt. When selecting a photo for a pictorial quilt, use the same criteria as for a portrait quilt; however, one must take into account the composition within the photograph itself.
Composition involves several areas to consider. First, is there a focal point? Is there one area that deserves the most attention? Perhaps, the photo is of an old barn in a field; are there any trees around? Is there a fence? A silo? A tractor? Hills in the background? Decide upon the focal point and all other areas simply support the focal point, not compete with it. A good landscape photo has a background, middle ground and foreground as well as a focal point.
Excellent arrangement dictates not putting your focal point in the center of the photograph, or quilt. Don’t divide the photo in half, move the horizon upward so more ground is showing, creating more interest. Guide the viewer to the focal point through good composition. This can be accomplished with image editing software, or directly on the quilt. If the barn is too small in the photo, enlarge it; move it to the side rather than in set it in the center.
Whether one is planning a portrait quilt or pictorial quilt, photo selection is the first step in producing a memorable piece of art. Selecting the perfect photograph is the first step to creating your masterpiece. Start clicking that new quilt!
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