Smart Editing
Keep the good bits and discard the rest: that's the goal in all creative work. This wisdom is true for making fabric art inspired by a photograph, designing fashions for a Project Runway competition, cooking a meal, or writing a blog post! Creating art always requires some smart editing.
Here is the reference photograph I used to create a commission piece for my friend Teri. Her grandson is seen with Teri's dogs. He is posing, standing in the center of the photo in the shade. The dogs are black. There are a lot of trees. All of these things are challenges.
There are things to make the most of too. Those are the good bits to save. The pose is very cute, there are highlights on the dogs and the child's arm and hat, and the zig zag movement of the bright green grass calls for further attention.
I simplified the shirt, kept the bright green, and used fabric and stitching for kid and dog highlights. I eliminated details of the background by using a batik fabric that suggests the texture and smell of a forest.
Here are more examples of reference photos and the artwork that they inspired.
How did I communicate the idea of wind?
Each month I share a recipe at the end of the blog. This month I am borrowing a recipe from Dec. 2017. My grandchildren really love Mexican Lentils. Soak 1 1/2 c. dry lentils in salty water for 4 - 8 hours. Drain and rinse. Add lentils to pot along with 1/4 c. raisins, 1/2 bell pepper chopped, 4 minced cloves garlic, 1/4 t. dried red pepper, 1 t. each chili powder and ground cumin, 1/2 t. dried basil, 3-4 c. water. Simmer for 40 minutes and add one 6 oz. can of tomato paste. Stir well before serving. It is good topped with yogurt or sour cream.