Design choice #2

 I created this image many years ago. I’m not sure what app I used to create it. I started with a photo of bare trees, turned that upside down, and added the birds with the app. Here’s the image.

The image achieves a surreal effect because it confuses our sense of space.

Here are the reasons why this composition feels like a dreamscape:

Conflicting Perspectives

• Inverted Elements: The bare trees hang downward from the top of the image. This forces us to question which way is up. Is that water at the bottom?
• Spatial Distortion: Birds appear to be flying through the branches and the water simultaneously. This blends the sky, the ground, and a water surface into a single, impossible plane.

Textural Contrast

• Graphic Silhouettes: The sharp, dark shapes of the birds contrast heavily with the organic, chaotic lines of the branches.

Monochromatic Palette

• Grayscale: The muted, desaturated tones strip away the familiar colors of nature. This creates a haunting, ethereal atmosphere that detaches the scene from reality.

I asked AI to transform it into a quilt to see how that would look. It’s certainly beautiful.

I asked AI to take the original image and make it more surreal. This image really excites me. How about that face lurking in the tree branches? I’m not sure how to pull it off, but the challenge would be fun. Plus you know how much I like grayscale. I have a lot of hand dyed gray fabrics to work with. Again these images would just be inspiration. So you can see my decision on what to make gets more complicated.

What do you think of these images? I like the one with the face as well as the original one without the face. 

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Design choice #1

 I really like this image that I created last year. 

Why it’s surreal

Indoor-Outdoor Paradox: Bare trees growing out of an indoor wooden floor.

Two Climates: The left side depicts a cold blue winter night, while the right side shows a warm, golden glow.

Weird Ceiling: A galaxy hangs directly over the pathway instead of a normal sky or roof. When I was much younger and used to use my telescope to look at things in the night sky I once had a dream that I went outside and saw a galaxy in the sky just like the image. So I can relate to this dream like image. 

Floating Lights: Magical sparks float in mid-air without a clear source.

The Doorway: A blinding white doorway sits at the exact center, acting as a mysterious gateway that anchors the entire impossible image.

I wondered what this would look like as a quilt. AI showed me. Actually 2 versions of that. One with crows added.

I like the trees growing indoors. I like the walkway leading to that door. I like the perspective in the image. I’m not sure about the crows or at least that many crows. I do like the galaxy in the sky and there are fabrics available for that.  This would certainly be a challenge to create. It would be beautiful when done. It is very dreamlike which definitely fits the theme of the show. It’s certainly one to consider. 

My quilt won’t look exactly like the image. It will be my inspiration. 

Another possibility tomorrow.

What do you think? Thanks for reading.

Chris

Looks like my next big project has found me

Our local art museum is potentially having a show next year of surreal art. Here’s the advertisement to see if there is interest from the registry artists. 

Surrealist art often incorporates scenes that feel unreal, ethereal, or pulled directly from a dream—blending reality with the fantastical. 

I have so many images that I have created that I could use to make a surreal art quilt. I just don’t know which image to use. I could be tempted by any of them. I think what I will do over the next several blogs is to show them and discuss each in more detail.

I will start with a piece that I’ve already made that is surreal. It’s the one that I did for the recycle show in 2025. So I suppose I could just enter that one. But I’m really thinking of making a new piece.

Here’s the recycle piece entitled, “From the Inner Mind to the Outer Limits.”

I asked AI to modify this image to make it more surreal. This is what resulted.

It certainly is that. I would probably not do this piece since I don’t like doing the same thing more than once. Plus it’s a pretty busy image. 

Tomorrow I will talk about another possibility.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

 

Are you a planner?

I am definitely a planner. My husband says I’m always planning ahead. It’s not just with my art. It’s pretty much with everything in my life. I’m always trying to figure out what my next project will be. Before I start something new I let the possible ideas simmer for a while before choosing one. Sometimes that process takes a while.  I save inspiration photos for years before making an art quilt from them. There are some that never lead to an art quilt.

I have a few projects before I can really pick my next major project. I’m still working on the Halloween block of the month. These are the blocks I have at this point. Some have the pieces stitched in place. Some have the hand stitching done. I will get back to this once I make my sister’s birthday gift. I can’t post that yet since it will be a surprise.

After the BOM I have this kit to make. It was a Christmas gift from a few years ago.

So what am I thinking about for my next project?  I have a few tempting AI images. 

I also have some tempting photos.

I’ve always wanted to do a quilt with stone work which is why the stone steps appeals to me.  I love buildings in the snow so the Pittsburgh alley is tempting. I’ve wanted to do a bridge. So add in a streetcar and an old car and I can see doing that photo. Then of course there is my love of buildings. I also like the forest idea partly because the colors are beautiful. 

Well it’s not like I have to decide right now. 

Thanks for reading. 

Chris