The Calling.
So....Once upon a time I surfed. Not well. But I did. One summer I decided it was time to learn after living in California for several years, so I did. There are several reasons I hadn't done it up to that point. For one, the Pacific Ocean is freaking cold, at least here in San Diego. And two, thoughts of crashing hard at my age, or sharks attacking or getting hit over the head with my surfboard and drowning always lurked somewhere in the background like that great white I was always afraid of meeting. But mostly, the water was too cold. However, I was often inspired but other women who surfed and did so many adventurous things, and I could not be left behind. Surfing is such a big part of Southern California culture, and many of my pieces have been inspired by it. Experiencing it first hand only inspired me more to create textile art that captured the magic of it all.
This quilt is one of my favorite designs. It’s very clean and graphic and each line and/or image is calculated. I only used the four fabrics and played with positive/negative space to portray this bold woman checking the break, listening to the call to come and ride the wild ocean waves. I like my girl designs to be strong and powerful, so I’ve always used bold prints and colors, just like I do in the boys' quilts. When I was first designing quilts, I was struck by how many times I saw designs geared towards boys that were strong and bold and colorful, and the girls' designs were always pastel and soft and flowery. I guess I’ve always been drawn to the stronger images and have always tried to depict that in my work.
When I first saw these batiks, I knew I was going to put them together. I loved how the four fabrics go together, but not really. They don’t match, they don’t exactly coordinate. But something about them drew me to put them together. I stitched the quadrants together and then hung it up and stared at it for a couple of weeks trying to decide what the quilt would be. One day I was flipping through my sketchbook and saw a sketch I’d done of a girl holding her surfboard looking out at the waves, like she was getting ready to answer the ocean's call. I immediately knew that was the design. I played with line and negative space, keeping it bold and simple. I loved the black fabric for her body because it had a tribal feel, and the electric blue plumeria in those thin lines looked like tattoos. I kept her cheekbones high and angled, her face turned towards the water but not too much so you can still see her shape. I added the flowing hair to soften her a little bit. I did the free motion quilting in a simple design, following the clean lines of the shapes. I didn't want to take away from the look of this one by adding too much stitching. I still love to look at this quilt. Or at least the photos...it sold a long time ago to a man who walked into the studio, pointed at it and said "I want that one."
Most of us are a combination of strong and soft. I don’t think it always has to be two different things. She is both. So am I. Though I’m sure she surfs better than I do. But, I'm getting back out there this summer.
Me TRYING to surf!
Time for patterning
One of my favorite backing fabrics.
Loved these four batiks. Background layout.
Trying to get the right scale.
Detail of the sun quilting
Quick sketch of my idea.
Next, add the appliqués
Love her strong jawline and the prints.
Simple, clean stylized ocean design.
