Well that’s just great!!

I started to think about the streetcars in the image I wanted to use for the recycle show. Here’s the image. It turns out those streetcars are not Pittsburgh streetcars. We never had green ones and that round one never came in yellow. As far as I can figure they are Boston streetcars. Pittsburgh in the 1960’s had red and cream colored cars. 

I tried to decide if that was important or not. I tried making both cars red, but that was just boring. I made one car red, but the yellow one is not historically right. Does that matter? I tried to convince myself that it did not. Eventually I decided it did matter since my memory is Pittsburgh. I wanted the story to be about Pittsburgh.

So I began thinking about taking a different approach. Why not have a real Pittsburgh streetcar from the 60’s in the city? My story doesn’t have to be about rusted streetcars. My husband found this image that I modified several times to get an image to work with.

A few of these have perspective issues. I saw that and spent a lot of time trying to get that right. Eventually I settled on the following image. I wanted the once upon a time to be about me as a young person in the  60’s waiting for a streetcar. I remember being so relieved on a cold night when the streetcar was finally coming. I will have to look at this image to make sure it’s OK, but this is where I am. I rode the Shannon Library car. So this once upon a time went from rusted streetcars to a more personal story. 

Here’s the streetcar a bit closer. Looks like I lost the conductor!

Title: Steel City Memories (my husband hated the last Journey)

Artist Statement:

Once upon a time in Pittsburgh, the red streetcars took me everywhere — to school, to Saturday art classes at the Carnegie Museum, and on shopping trips in the city.

I wanted to capture a piece of that memory: a snowy winter night when the shop windows glowed warmly against a cold, a Pittsburgh street, the CAR STOP where I waited in my wool coat with a simple tote, and the red 1706 Shannon-Library streetcar coming down the tracks — a part of my life that is gone.

I chose to make this piece from materials that might otherwise be thrown away — recycled plastic shopping bags and used dryer sheets. There is something fitting about using plastic bags to remember something that has disappeared. The streetcar is gone, but the plastic remains.

Size 18 by 24

Now about the surreal piece. I’ve decided to stick with my original plan with the raven. Done….end of story…enough anguish.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

I have to stop thinking….

I was wondering if I could incorporate a Pennsylvania bird into the surreal image. Ravens are Pennsylvania birds, but what about a barred owl? So I added it and it looks so cute. The owl is probably a bit too light, but does make the image different. It’s certainly unexpected.

Here’s the original with the raven.

Then I wondered if a combo Raven and owl would work. Is that surreal or just weird? I do like her eye looking down at the bird.

So I need your thoughts. Please weigh in. The choices are raven, owl, or combo bird. Or maybe a completely different bird.

Here’s the show advertisement. 

For the owl.

Unspoken 

As I worked on this surreal image it became a portrait of home.

A Pennsylvania white oak rooted in dark water and a barred owl keeping watch.

She is rooted here, holding what can no longer stay buried.

It doesn't come out as words.

It breaks through the surface as light.

For the raven

Unspoken

I started out just trying to make a surreal image. It turned into something more personal — a reflection on isolation and what it feels like to hold things inside for too long.

The moon feels distant. The raven is simply present. She remains rooted in the dark water, carrying something that can no longer stay buried.

It doesn’t come out as words.

It breaks through the surface as light.

Thanks for reading. 

Chris

The meaning of an art piece

After struggling with this surreal piece so long I began thinking about whether it had any deeper meaning. Was it more than just a pretty image? What does the piece actually mean to me? I began to think about a title and an artist statement. I wanted a short simple title and a personal artist statement. I wanted a statement that went beyond just describing the elements in the piece…a woman tree, a raven, a moon. If you ask AI for a statement it basically does just that. It looks at the image and describes the elements in it. In other words it does not do a good job. So if you want an artist statement you have to do that for yourself.

Unspoken 24 inches by 30 inches 

Unspoken

Artist statement 

“This one started out as me just trying to come up with an interesting surreal image for the show. I kept going back to my original idea of the woman in the tree, with the moon and raven framing her.

As I worked on the image, though, it started to become more personal than I expected. I began thinking about isolation and what it feels like to hold things inside for too long.

The moon feels distant. The raven is simply present. She remains rooted in the dark water, carrying something that can no longer stay buried.

Sometimes words just aren’t enough. Whatever she has been holding in doesn’t come out as words. It breaks through the surface as light.”

I’ve mentioned that I will be using Jennifer Sampou sky ombré fabrics to create this beautiful moody image in fabric. Here’s a plan for it. The title is different because AI chose that as the title. Although that’s not a bad title. 

For this surreal show I wanted to create an image that was not just a bunch of surreal things thrown together. I wanted more than that. I hope I accomplished my goal.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!"

If you watched the Sopranos you would recognize that line.  This surreal image has become like an itch that no matter how much I scratch the itch won’t go away. I tried a lot of different variations yesterday and they were just too cluttered. I keep coming back to my original idea of the woman/tree, raven, and moon. 

I kept asking myself what is not right about it that I keep looking elsewhere for an idea? I finally hit on the answer. There’s no connection between the woman/tree and the raven. She is not even looking at the raven. I missed that connection so I tried to make a physical connection between them with the tree branch as well as having her look at the raven instead of past him. 

Here’s the original and the new version. Finally I feel excited about the new version (at least for now). It will be a challenge, but with Jennifer Sampou ombré sky and chalk and charcoal fabrics those color and value variations can be tackled. At least I hope so. The moon, raven, and the face form a nice triangle.

Original 

New version

Here’s Jennifer Sampou storm sky ombré. The face would get the lightest part of the fabric. I would have to see it in person to know if it’s the right one. I have a few of her sky fabrics already. I don’t know if I have that one.

Or if I want less blue and more gray her slate ombré might work. Again I would have to see it.

I’m sure the new version will have plenty of tweaks when I start creating it. That’s just how it goes. I guess I’ll see if I’m up for the challenge. 

At this point I am done with this. This time I mean it. 

Thanks for reading. 

Chris

I’m so done thinking about this surreal image

I’m going to stop thinking about this for now. I’m sure you’re glad to hear that. I’ve thought about completely starting over with a new idea, but since the woman in the tree or the eye in the sky proposals were accepted I might have to stick with one of them.

Before I called it quits for now I decided to see if I had any images I could add to the right hand side. I had this one and added it. Below that image are several versions of it added to the eye in the sky proposal. A lot of the edits had to do with simplifying the trees along the walkway or changing colors in the sky.

Still plenty of editing to do if I make this one. My brain is done for now and I have other things to do.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Insomnia

We’ve all had that. I woke up at 3 am and couldn’t fall back asleep. Of course I started thinking about my surreal image and what could elevate it. You all know I love making quilts with building and I keep wondering how I can incorporate buildings into this surreal image. 

The original image is all about nature. It certainly is surreal.

How can I add buildings? How about a deserted neon city at night? Create an image of a city and nature. Remove the cat. Keep the crow and make a realistic moon. 

I think I like this better. What do you think? 

There are neon fabrics so I could do that city. I think I would call it insomnia.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

I’m in

My proposals for the surreal show next May and June at the local art museum were accepted. Now I actually have to make one of them. I like both ideas, but feel a bit more strongly about one of them.

Here’s the ideas. I am going to make the one with the large eye in the sky. To me it looks more surreal. None of the ideas in either piece are novel. Tree people, large eyes, or stairs going into the sky are not new ideas. 

This is what I’m thinking for a title and short statement. In the statement I did not want to explain anything. It will be 24 by 30 and utilize Jennifer Sampou fabrics….sky ombre and chalk and charcoal as well as some silks and whatever else I need to pull this off.

Eye of the Night

There are places we enter only in dreams—where memory shifts, time disappears, and the familiar becomes strange. In the darkness, something waits. Something watches. Something knows.

So now I have to rethink my schedule. I usually wait until January to start working on my recycle piece. It’s due by April. But with the surreal piece as well I think I need to get started on my recycle piece now. 

The theme is once upon a time. I will be using this photo of decaying streetcars as my inspiration. I think it will be about 12 by 16.

Here’s my potential title and statement for it.

The Last Journey

Once upon a time, these streetcars were filled with people going places. Over the years, they fell into disrepair and now sit quietly on decaying tracks.

I grew up in Pittsburgh and rode streetcars to school, to art classes, and into the city. They carry many memories for me—of places I went, things I saw, and a time that is now gone.

They are my once upon a time.

Plastic bags, however, do not disappear so easily. I chose to create this piece from discarded plastic bags, bringing together two very different remnants of the past—one remembered with affection, the other left behind with consequences.

My sister received her gift yesterday on her birthday. It’s a table runner with a family photo of us with our hats. I took the photo and played with it to make it look like Halloween. She loves Halloween and loved the table runner. I forgot to take photos before I sent it. She sent me some, but I’m waiting for one with it on her table with some Halloween decorations. 

Here’s one not so great photo. I think she has it sitting on her bed. I hope to get some better one.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Now we wait

I think I’m done designing this surreal piece. I’ll wait until I hear on Wednesday if any of my proposals have been accepted. If I’m in I might start pulling fabrics, but meanwhile I have to get back to the Halloween BOM. 

Here’s the design in color as well as some images of it in a few apps including an outline sketch.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Memory of Trees

Is it a sin to make a detailed plan for a quilt before even cutting the fabric?

If it is then I am guilty. I definitely do a lot of thinking (overthinking) about a project before I commit to it and before I actually start making it. I like to know where I’m going. Most of the time things change along the way as things come up, but generally I have a pretty clear idea of where the project is going to go. Even so surprises do occur. Often times the original idea is not exactly what I end up with. Usually that’s because translating an idea into fabric or recycled plastic bags results in necessary changes. Things need to be simplified and rearranged. Using a photo or a digital image for inspiration can be difficult to translate into fabric. It’s a whole different world than creating a painting where you can create infinite colors and shades and blend them.  

Quilting is somewhat limited by what fabrics are available. Fabrics manufacturers have certainly given us more choices than ever. How did we live without batik fabrics, Stonehenge fabrics, mottled texture fabrics, hand painted and dyed fabrics, and fabrics that look like abstract paintings? I do love the challenge of working with fabrics to create art.

So planning is just the way my mind works. I’m pretty sure that my science brain has contributed to that. I have learned to embrace it. All the quilts that I sold at my exhibit in July were planned. So planning does have its rewards! Idaho Beauty (Sheila) commented that’s what she thinks it is.

I know a lot of people like improv quilting, but that’s not my thing. A few years ago there was a person who was an improv quilter that insulted the way I work like improv is the only way to do things. I’m basically terrible at improv and am not really impressed with some improv quilts. I guess the closest I come to improv is when I make a scrap quilt. I remember discussing this with a teacher that I admire and she said improv could do with a bit more thought and planning!

I’m also not great at taking an in person class for the same reasons. I’m not a create on demand person and feel awkward in a class. I still take those classes, but feel a bit out of my element at times. A lot of the pieces I’ve made in classes were not great. They needed more planning and thought. I’ve had mixed results with mystery quilts. If I don’t know where a quilt is going it’s hard to pick out the right fabrics for it. Knowing you need light, medium, and dark fabrics is not a big help.

My least successful recycle piece did not have enough planning. I just quickly went with an idea without much thought. The original idea was based on a photo we took of an art exhibit of ghostly figures in a forest. I used my husband’s old jeans as the recycled material. I was going to use used dryer sheets for the ghosts. That did not work at all. I ended up adding a pack of wolves to the forest instead. If I had done more planning I would have picked a different project. Here’s the end result. Should have spent more time thinking. I did end up using used painted dryer sheets. If I had thought this through more I would have just glued the closest trees in place without stitching them with zigzag on the edge.  That flattened them. Glued alone would have made them pop forward and be more dimensional. Live and learn.

Cold dark orb 18 by 18

So most my experimenting occurs during the planning.  I like to try out ideas on paper or my iPad  before getting out the fabric and scissors. A sketch or photo doesn’t cost much except a little time. Or in my case a lot of time!

Here’s where I am with the surreal show at this point. This is the image of the woman and tree house and reflection of an old person. This will be too hard to make. Especially the old woman reflection. 

I keep coming back to my original idea. Maybe it’s because that’s the one I need to make.

At this point a bunch of editing needs to happen as I create it.  I like certain things and not others in these 3 images. The moon reflection needs to go. The brighter roots are good. The tree branches need editing. I’m leaning toward this one. This is the proposal I submitted weeks ago. Next Wednesday I’ll know if I will proceed with making it. Size will be 24 by 30. Potential title is “Memory of Trees” from the Enya song. 

So is this the one??? 

Thanks for reading. 

Chris

A Quiet Delusion

Did you think my obsessing about this surreal piece was done? I wondered what would happen if I combined the 2 ideas.

First idea

Second idea

With a lot of tweaking I got this for the combined image. The woman in the tree is still there and the color scheme is still blue gray. Surreal images should have something unexpected. The unexpected elements are the house in her head and the reflection that is old and has its eyes shut. I did a bit more research on surreal art this time before creating this image. If I make it the size will be 24 by 30.

Any comments? This is it on this for a while….I hope.

I finished my sister’s gift. Shipping it today. 

I think I will be teaching a class on making an original gnome next fall at the local art alliance. The potential title will be….

Character & Form in Soft Sculpture: The Art of the Storybook Gnome

You can see my gnomes here.  https://chrissquiltinguniverse.blogspot.com/2025/02/last-gnome-coming-up.html

The class will be all hand stitching.  The materials will be wool felt, wool roving, fur, stuffing.

Thanks for reading.

Chris

Just to muddy the waters….

I was cleaning out photos last night and found a surreal one I created a while ago. Here’s the image and some changes including how it might look as a quilt.

Then of course I wondered and worried if this kind of image was better for the surreal show.

Here’s the info on the show.

Jennifer Sampou has a couple of sky ombre fabrics that would be perfect….storm and sea glass.

What do you think? Here’s the latest images of my old idea.

Or how about a cross between them with a face change?

I wait for your comments. Meanwhile I’ll be finishing my sister’s gift. 

Thanks for reading.

Chris