Astrid From The North- Art Quilt. This is the next installment in the “Emma” art quilt series. She is traveling down to see Emma for the holidays and has stopped to feed her reindeers. After painting Ella from the east, of course, a winter picture was next on the design board. Here is how I came up with this new art quilt design.
I wanted some key elements in this picture. A beautiful cape, sleigh, reindeer, and snow. Here is my first adaptation. During this process, I discovered the reindeers needed to be larger. Not the right antlers either and the sleigh was too dominant. Went back to work and came up with my second design.
When I found these reindeer I was in love. They had those beautiful antlers. The sleigh is smaller and more of a Scandinavian design. Looking at the sky it just needed something. Maybe an aurora borealis would work in the sky to liven everything up.
My inspiration for the sky!
Generally, I paint the main features at the beginning of my art projects, This helps me to keep on track making sure the focal point is featured. In this case, the woman is the focal point. As I paint her face and then add her clothes, that is when the picture becomes real to me.
These deer are one of my favorite items in this art quilt. I painted them using a combination of watercolors and inktense pencils. Don’t they look like they are ready to prance off the fabric?
I have to be honest, I didn’t name this art quilt. It was my niece Amanda. I happened to be talking to her on the phone and sent her a text with the picture. I told her I needed a name starting with A. Immediately she said “Astrid”. She knew the meaning of this name inside and out because when she was pregnant with her daughter she wanted to name her Astrid and her husband wanted the name Kiya. Kiya is now a teenager. In this art quilt, “Astrid” lives on. Oh by the way her name is from Scandinavia, so apropos. The name made me think of cold winters…
It’s so lovely your art quilts are phenomenal! I so enjoyed your presentation at our sew group.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful art!
Thanks Rhonda, I really enjoyed sharing my quilts with the group and loved all our visiting.
well done
Thanks Dorothy, It was alot of fun to plan out.
Beautiful Karen..I love it…
Thanks Elaine, Snow can sometimes be tricky to paint.
This Art work is strikingly beautiful. I love how all the elements fit together.
Very beautiful. Kathleen
How are you doing Kathleen? I love how Astrid came out.
How fun for the Holidays! I really like the winter sky.
Thanks Lisa, You know I just couldn’t paint blue. LOL
Karen, I really do like your reindeer and Astrid. As it was frosty at my house this morning I know this season will be here before we know it.
Beautiful job sis!!!!!