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Friday, August 31, 2012

From Photo to Quilt Tutorial - Off the Wall Friday

I selected this post to be featured on my blog’s page at Craft Blogs.
The last couple of weeks I've had some questions on how I develop an idea for my figurative work.  I mean, anybody who knows me, knowwwsss I can't draw.  So what's a girl to do if she's sketch-challenged?  Well use photos - of course!

This week while I was pinning and top stitching down the Beauties (which is done thankyouverymuch!) I started working on the final sketch for my next piece.  You see, I finally am going to show at a fiber invitational at a local gallery.  The show's theme is Seasons and I've chosen summer and fall.  The Beauties have summer covered  - I just gotta get the Fall going.  Ohhh and did I mention they are both due the end of September - sighhhh.

Anyways. . . . . back to how I got this final sketch without drawing . . . .

  1. I had this cool photo of a swing.  I love the angle of it.
  2. I also had this great picture of a barn - just a straight on shot.
  3. I cut and pasted them into a Word document so that I could get them into the size I would want them for my sketch.
  4. Then I used tracing paper and traced both of them  - taking out any lines I didn't like
  5. I sat then and made any adjustments to the sketch that I like - there might be a lot - there might be a little.

Once I was satisfied I just set that aside.  I wanted to add a tree to the side of the sketch.  I took more tracing paper and started sketching different trees until I found one that would look good imposed on the Swing/Barn.  I then just traced that one onto my sketch for the final drawing.
 
So with that done I used my value exercises from last week to make a value sketch. 
Finally ready to pick out some fabric!

I am linking this post to Judy's Design Wall Mondays - for more design wall inspiration.




 

I selected this post to be featured on my blog’s page at Craft Blogs.

14 comments:

  1. Lisa ChinAugust 31, 2012 at 1:00 AM

    Great tutorial. I think everyone starts sketchbook challenged but if they just keep drawing and drawing and get someone to give them pointers they get better and better. After all, it takes 10,000 hours to get good at anything. It's just a matter of IF you WANT to get good at that thing. haha It looks like you have found a wonderful solution until you make the time to spend those 10,000 hours in your sketchbook. ;)

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  2. Quilter BethAugust 31, 2012 at 1:16 AM

    It is very interesting to be able to follow your steps. I REALLY can't draw, so I could definitely see where this method would be useful.

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  3. SylviaAugust 31, 2012 at 11:40 AM

    I have a few ideas of how to use this technique, thanks for sharing!

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  4. Susan LenzAugust 31, 2012 at 5:03 PM

    Thanks so much for providing this wonderful way to share WIPs. I'd gotten to a point of blogging mainly when completing work. I'm excited to change this bad habit and especially to view the work of others as they share their creative process on current projects!
    Thanks!
    Susan

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  5. SandyAugust 31, 2012 at 6:24 PM

    I did similar things with 'drawing'. Today I set up a 'still life' with bananas... photographed it and then did a bit of trying out in Paint Shop Pro before printing it off and cutting out the bananas to use as a template to cut the ones for the piece.
    I am pretty good at freehand cutting for things that just need a suggested shape, but if I don't want people wondering if it is a banana or ?what? I do like you do to get the shape right.
    Sandy in the UK
    PS I am really enjoying the motivation of this link party thing!

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  6. wholly jeanneAugust 31, 2012 at 10:25 PM

    This is, for this non-drawing girl, like finding a treasure chest filled with indescribably goodies. Thank you for being so clear and so thorough, for making it sound so simply.

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  7. RobinSeptember 1, 2012 at 8:14 AM

    Congrats on finishing the Beauties.
    The tutorial is great and your final composition turned out wonderful...guess that practice makes perfect thing might be onto something:))

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  8. Deborah, Daisychain Quilter September 1, 2012 at 5:20 PM

    It is amazing how each new elememt to your design changes the finished drawing. I love how the tree brings depth to the design. Thanks for hosting 'Off the Wall Fridays'.

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  9. AnonymousSeptember 1, 2012 at 10:39 PM

    I am always looking for ways to develop my designing skills. This tutorial is quite helpful. Lisa Chin commented that it takes 10,000 hours to develop a skill.... that gives me hope.... I must be getting quite a few hours stocked up towards that total. Thanks.

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  10. scraphappySeptember 3, 2012 at 9:04 AM

    Loved seeing your process.

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  11. TeaquiltsSeptember 3, 2012 at 9:14 AM

    Thanks for the tutorial; very interesting.

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  12. CarolSeptember 3, 2012 at 10:03 AM

    You make it look do-able, even for a person like me who can't draw a decent stick figure. I'm not much of a photographer either, but I could probably get my daughter to let me use one of hers.

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  13. quilthexleSeptember 4, 2012 at 12:30 PM

    thanks for sharing this great tutorial !! I'm seriously challenged when it comes to drawing, too ... so be sure, I'll give this a try !!

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  14. Mary RitterSeptember 7, 2018 at 11:14 AM

    Thanks for the great tutorial. As Lisa Chin says, we all can learn to sketch and draw, but this method does help us get started. The more you do this process, the more you will find yourself adding little details and eventually sketching most of it. Starting with a photo does help with proportions a lot.

    I do this process on my iPad, using apps that turn a photo into a sketch or a painting. (Moku Hanga/Waterlogue/Pencil Sketch). These are all available in the App Store. You can trace these and remove unwanted lines or you can put them in your graphics program and make alterations. I use Graphic Converter - a shareware program. If you use all your own photos you don't have to worry about copyrights, and working with photographs is also an art form!

    Thanks again! I like this process a lot!

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Thank you so much for your comment! Its great to get feedback!!!