by Sandra | February 25th, 2009
Boop, you asked me a really hard question to answer on a blog succintly. I think I may create more questions than answers, but here goes.
When the idea hits, I think about it a lot in my head before I ever pick up paper and pencil. I let it come together into a clear picture so I have a starting point and a focused direction of what I want to draw. Sometimes this can take years after the original idea hit my pea brain. If I am unsure of how to draw a subject once I have my idea fully formulated, I then refer to my morgue. Don’t panic, it is not anything macabre.
In illustration, as in other graphic professions, we have what we call a “morgue”. A morgue is our library of visual reference materials that we can use when we need to illustrate a subject we are not familiar with. Don’t confuse that with using these images for tracing and copying. These are reference materials we can refer to during the drawing process for accuracy and direction. I think a lot of people think illustrators draw everything off of the top of their head without difficulty. This can be true in some circumstances where we are experienced with the subject matter or style, but there are many times when we need a reference in which to get a feel for the subject we need to draw and have no visual experience with.
This is an old sketch idea from my "morgue". I can see by my sample on the left why I abandoned it (yuck). However, it is still something I may use in the future with some editing. There are a lot of scribbled notes across the pattern and some rough changes so none of these are ever pristine patterns.
Remember that everything, and I mean everything, consists of the basic shapes i.e., circle, square, rectangle etc. Find the shapes in the subject matter first and then refine the drawing from there. Break it down to its most basic parts and then it won’t be so menacing.
I have gone to drawing most of my designs directly on the computer now in Adobe Illustrator. I can re-size easily and have nice clean lines, which I feel is essential in an applique pattern. I also have the added capability of being able to send my files directly to the professional printers and get full size patterns (some are the exact size of the finished quilt) back via mail or pick-up. No more pasting, taping and stapling. Kinkos online ordering is great for projects 34″ square or less.
Sometimes I can see something in the design is not going to work or something needs to be added during the process. 90% of the time, no probably more like 99% of the time, the finished quilt has deviated far from the starting point idea. Don’t be afraid to switch gears midstream.
As soon as I know I will eventually run with a quilt idea somewhere down the road, I start collecting the fabrics. It may be two years before I use them, but I will have a nice pallete to work with that isn’t hostage to current color trends only. Yes, it makes a difference.
I hope this gives a bit of an insight on how I begin “the process”.
©2009 Sandra Leichner
Thanks for taking the time to explain . It was very helpful , to know and understand how you proceed. I especially like the morgue idea . I do a little of that when I do my bulletin boards for the library .
I’d be happy to have that sample as my finished work , but it is good to know that you don’t always get the finished piece right awayand that it takes work and doesn’t come all at once.
I guess I’ll try out an idea and see if I can develop it for starters .
Maybe I’ll just go back to learning how to draw first , it has been a long time since I have done that .
I won’t have any problem collecting fabrics , LOL !
Thanks again !!!
Sandy ,
do you use dyes or inks for your shading ? What is best to make a highlight ? Do you start with a lighter fabric and go dark or dark and add paint , dye or clored pencil ?
can you use colored pencil on a large surface?
I have used Fantasix and like that for some things, but was wondering if there are more options to choose from .
90% of the shading in my applique is in making the commercial fabrics work for me. This is why I like batiks, tone on tones, etc. If after fussy cutting, I still don’t have the contrast I need, then I will use only *touches* of colored pencil to emphasize the highlights and shadows.
I do not use paint because it alters the hand of the fabric. I am making usable quilts.
I do not use those inks because control is a huge issue and they are very limiting (to me) as far as my color palette goes. They also don’t allow for correction.
You could use the white Tsueineko (sp?) ink to make a highlight. Make sure you have rubbed off almost all of the color from your foam tip and with a feather touch start applying the color in gradual steps until you have the desired transparency or opacity.
Does this help?
yes it does help ! Thanks
You are most welcome Boop!
Oh and also the larger areas take a little more finesse to make everything blend well. The techniques you would employ for larger work is a bit different than for smaller complex applique. I have not done a whole lot on larger applique, but disguising demarcation marks of the colored pencil would be a bit more difficult.
Have a nice weekend!