World Painters Challenge / 2

If you were asked to create a work of fiber art representing a work of a famous painter, or to make a design of your own choice in the style of that painter, what would you create?  This World Painters Challenge was issued to groups of quilters in Japan, France and the U.S (for details, scroll to the bottom of this post.) This outstanding exhibit is touring AQS QuiltWeek throughout 2016; here is Part 2.

Pablo Picasso

Jan Potter, Oregon  

Jan Potter selected a portrait that Pablo Picasso did of  his friend, the photographer Dora Maar, in 1937. Jan tried to feature the simplicity of style that Picasso used in creating two aspects of the face simultaneously: both facing the viewer and in profile. Jan's techniques include raw edge applique, hand and machine stitching, textile paints, stamping, and surface embellishment.  

Claude Monet

Mireille Schaal, France

In this interpretation of Monet's "Water Lilies", Mireille Schaal focused on placing bright spots of blue and green hues, with a touch of pink here and there to capture the look of blossoms on the pond. Mireille's techniques and materials include silks, laces, ribbons, tulle overlay, free motion quilting, machine applique, hand embroidery, and acrylic paint.

Alphonse Mucha

Linda M. Steller, Oregon 

Linda M. Steller writes, "I chose Dance from Mucha's The Arts series. As a longarm quilter, I love the long flowing lines of many of Mucha's works, especially the hair of many of his female subjects. I used powdered pigments mixed with fabric medium for the base painting and then shaded in with Derwent Inktense Pencils.  I love how the color blooms when those pencils are exposed to moisture."

Edgar Degas

Bethanne Nemesh, Pennsylvania

Bethanne Nemesh states, "Many of Degas' ballerinas were painted at practice, at rest, or when they were socializing before a performance. My ballerina captures this same feeling in her resting stretch. I used a two tone wholecloth approach: one to capture the ballerina and the other to place her, as if she were actually.....a painting, in a gilt frame. The fabric is silk dupioni with polyester and silk threads. "

Utagawa Hiroshige

Maki Shimada, Japan

For her subject, Maki Shimada chose the cherry blossoms featured by the artist Utagawa Hirosige. Because Maki lives close to the house where Hiroshige used to live, she feels as if she and the painter have seen the same cherry trees. Maki notes that in creating this work, she felt the superb elements of nature.

Kanou Eitoku

Kuniko Saka, Japan

Kuniko is impressed with the ability of the painter Eitoku, who lived from 1476 to 1559 and created Chinese-style figures of lions. Eitoku was an artist on retainer to two warlords, Nobunaga Oda and Hideyosi Toyotomi; and his works flourished in their service. Eitoku was given both Oda's and Toyotami's crest of family in appreciation for his work. Kuniko admires the heroism of both warlords in this turbulent time in Japan's history.

Marc Chagall

Daphne W. John, Oregon

Daphne W. John explains, "I begin a project with a specific idea or theme in mind. The final result may be quite different as the fabric has a way of shaping itself and saying to me, 'Nope - try it another way!' I find it very difficult to define 'art'. If pundits throughout the ages haven't been able to agree on a definition, why should I try? My hope is that my work will cause the viewer to think, to laugh, to feel something!"

Joan Miro

Ginny Steller, Oregon

Ginny Steller says that although some of Joan Miro's artwork is childish with a sinister twist, she wanted to represent his work in a lighter moment. She used dark lines, solid colors, and defined shapes. Ginny wishes a very happy day in the garden to the kitty cat shown here.

Paul Cezanne

Yolande Guibert, France

This work by Yolande Guibert features the French post-impressionist painter Paul Cezanne, who painted  Mount Sainte-Victoire, in the Provence region of southern France.

Raoul Dufy

Chantal Gruais, France

Chantal Gruais wanted to highlight the tastes and themes of the French painter Raoul Dufy, who liked to depict music, horses, racetracks, and open-air scenes of nature, such as golden wheat fields.

The World Painters Challenge

Image credits:  Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2016 AQS QuiltWeek in Phoenix, Arizona.