Ominous Strangers

 

I machine-basted three pieces of fabric together and tried Matisse’s improvisational style of cutting, but having shapes in mind based on Eric Freitas’ steampunk clocks (which are really fascinating, and you should check them out).

When the pieces were cut, un-basted, and laid out, they seemed to suggest one of those scenes from an old western where a trio of silhouetted, gun-slinging hombres saunters into town…possibly with ill intent -- hence the name.  Before machine appliqueing the figures, a watery wash was added at the bottom of the background fabric to hint at shadows and a foundation so the pieces wouldn’t just float on the white background.

The piece is 22” x 28”.  Feedback is welcomed.

 

Robert Hartley

Blue Form

This could have been any color, but since the challenge was blue....  Yes, it's sculptural, but note that it is composed of five sections, each of which has backing, batting, and front fabric, all quilted before assembly.  So, is it still an art quilt or quilted art? Do art quilts have to be flat, 2-D?  You make the call.  Feedback is welcomed.

It's 9" tall and approximately 10" wide.  It's not a a soft sculpture; it's hollow.  Contour mesh (aluminum screening) adds structure to the lower portion.

Robert Hartley

Cubed Bass

This was an interesting challenge.  Even though I’m familiar with Picasso, Braque, Cubism, and the general visual style, I had a hard time bending my mind around the concepts and how those might be implemented.  I wanted to do something “painterly,” but that was even more challenging given the nature of pre-printed fabrics.

Some time back I had snapped this picture at a local street festival when a musician laid down his double bass for an intermission.  The image had good visual detail and creative potential, so I attempted to apply Cubist concepts in the form of distorted perspective, abstracted shapes, deconstructed imagery, and alternate colors.  Since I really enjoy play with color, that part came easily, but I struggled with the planer aspects of Cubism and being looser with the composition.  This is what I came up with.

In the end this challenge helped me appreciate Cubism as the profoundly groundbreaking moment it was and the instrumental role it played (and continues to play) in modern art.

Feedback is welcomed.

Robert Hartley

"Wild" West

Even though he did many paintings of western scenes, when I think of Remington, I think of his bronze sculptures, so I chose “The Outlaw” for inspiration. By use of color, line, and shape, I improvised my own form of “abstraction” in an attempt to capture the energy, drama, and movement of the original work -- just not in a representational way. The overall shape references the sculpture, but the colors and surface design techniques are in keeping with my own artistic point of view.

If nothing else, since I finished it yesterday on July 4th, it has an explosive, fireworks feel fitting to the day, hopefully not unsimilar to the explosion of power represented in Remington’s “The Outlaw.”

The piece is 13.5” x 17”. Feedback is welcomed!

Robert Hartley

Fresh Fish!

This piece began with sun dyeing muslin using Dye-na-Flow, cut paper shapes, and plant material [read: weeds!] from my yard. It’s a fun, quick and easy process. A fellow art quilter loaned me a wonderful Fred B. Mullet fish stamp that I applied with black and gold textile paints.

As I worked on the piece, this narrative kept going through my head: Five fancy fish, freely floating, fleetly flitting, and fitly finning from Fiji to France, from Finland to Formosa. Fascinating, friendly…and flagrantly flirting! -- Fresh Fish!
I had notions of somehow including that text via free-motion quilting, but I’m just not that good! Maybe one day.

12"x26"

Enjoy, and feedback welcomed.

Robert Hartley

Iris

The iris of the eye is named for the Greek goddess Iris who was goddess of the rainbow, so I chose to incorporate the whole of the rainbow as the color of this eye.

This was a fun challenge.  I'm most pleased that I was able to pull all the colors from my scrap bin -- except for the rainbow stripe and black & white background fabrics.

The finished piece is 15" square.  Comments/critiques are welcomed.

Robert Hartley

Window of Imagination

I improvised this window from somewhere in my imagination. More accurate details would have been caught with a reference photograph, but I wanted to use the challenge theme to let the window open a door to imagination. I went for a painterly, impressionistic approach, so it’s not meant to be exact. In fact, the lines are hardly straight and things are rather askew, but I’m generally satisfied with the results.

Glass and reflections are so tricky to replicate. That’s where a reference photo would have helped. I think there should somehow be more life and light radiating from inside the window, but I’m not sure how to go about that.
I chose the yellow border thinking it would accentuate the window frame, but seeing it finished I’m now questioning that choice and considering changing the yellow border with a paint finish or other approach. Feedback is welcomed.
The piece is 11”x13.5”

Robert Hartley

Sea Anemones

I enjoy the visual texture of "micro quilting" and attempted to do that for the background using a piece of hand-dyed fabric.  The quilting was then emphasized by use of acrylic paints and ink.

The "anemones" are paper mache and twine that have been painted gold.  Solid color fabrics were then applied to the dimensional forms.  The gold star-shaped beads were a lucky find since they somewhat mimic the color and shape of the anemones.  It wasn't planned as an underwater piece or anemones specifically, but that's what it suggested in the end.  I'm happy with both the visual and actual textures.

The piece is 12" x 20".  I hope you enjoy it and feel free to provide feedback!

Robert Hartley

Auspicious 4x4

This piece is 4”x4”, which was a challenge in itself doing something so small, but 4x4=16, and that just happens to be my birthday! Besides the four large crystals, there are 12 square sequins for a total of 16 embellishments. Also, in one of the links provided with this challenge, it says my personality number is 4, and while that’s not a good number to the Chinese, it works for me, so my personality is represented by the four large crystals that I tried to balance in the composition.

Happy new year to all! Hopefully 2013 hold auspicious numbers for everyone.

Robert Hartley

Button Plant

I know who the button thief is in my house -- it's my female cairn terrier.  She chews the buttons off the laundry.  She's crafty and clever, so I keep checking Etsy thinking maybe she's putting together a line of button-embellished designer bones!  Otherwise, I'm not sure just where the buttons go.  Here are ones she didn't get.  I tried to stay in a limited palate tonally, both with the fabric and buttons.  I'm not sure there's enough contrast to make the leaves pop.  Thoughts?  Suggestions?

Button, button, who's got the button?
Robert Hartley

Wide Eyed Loopy-Finned Stickleback

I'm one of the new members this year and have been waiting excitedly for this first challenge.
I imagined our exploration of aquatic planet Loopiland in search of life. We identified and catalogued the indigenous flora and fauna...and I found the Wide Eyed Loopy-Finned Stickleback!

The challenge loops make up the side and lower fins, and since this piece is sculptural, there are fins on both sides for a total of ten loops! I'm considering adding something more to the tail to balance the numerous and exuberant back spines...thoughts?

I enjoyed making this bit of whimsy, and I hope it brings a smile to you, too!

Robert Hartley