I may have jumped the shark here. Many such cases.
Last year's project wasn't exactly up to my standards. I mean, its fine, but its not exactly worthy of the holy title of Super Project. Super Projects allow me to experiment with something wholly new with people I hold in high regard, or with one I hold in particularly low regard. That said, the idea for this year is a quilt. The one thing I've never made,ever, even as a casual sew-person-thing.
This is my fifth year drawing Stef, but my third year making a formal Super Project. It's genuinely crazy how much my relationship between her has changed since then. Like, she's currently my best friend, no one comes close. She's so unbelievably important to me. I don't want to imagine a future where we stop being friends. No pressure, right?
I have a thing about sunsets. I like sunsets. One of my favorite pictures ever is a sunset.
This was, initially, the last year I would be making normal art before I would sunset. So, I kind of wanted to leave my friends some special stuff behind. That said, the color scheme would be sunset colors. That's actually it lol. The project literally could be done with anything, but the whole premise was based on sunsets.
Well, I suppose it would be inaccurate to say this was completely based on, the end. A while back I did have a dream involving Stef regarding sunsets. The short of it is, I saw a future with very little light in between, but there was still light. Fast-forward a bit and I'm swimming in Rockport, while on drugs, at eleven at night. As I'm deep in the waters, I see a warm glow of light in the horizon surrounded by a purple sky. It was beautiful, if there wasn't a chance of dolphin rape, I think I would have swam further. At this point in time, the big plan to sunset has been neutralized, but I'm too invested in this project to change course.
Sunsets in general make me reflect on change. I don't even talk with the people I went to the beach with anymore. I didn't plan on cancelling project Sunset Man at all. I was ready. Maybe the sunset doesn't have to represent the end.
This is my first time doing something like this, so I'm approaching this thoughtfully. I can't apply too much detail, because then this would take forever. Luckily, the lighting was mostly neutral, making this a non-issue. To make the template, I'm using a reasonably big sheet of bristol paper. First I'll draw out the big details, then work down. I must be mindful of what can be sewn and not sewn. Lashes will likely need to be embroidered. Her skin will be shades of yellow. Her clothes orange. Her hair red and the background will be purple. Adjustments can be made as needed because I'm no one's definition of rich and I have a budget.
Once the template is applied, I'll set it on the light box and put scratch paper over it as needed. The key is layering from big to small. To make pieces to cut out, I'll trace the intended shapes, then add little flaps along the side as to prevent fraying.
I have plenty of scrap fabrics and shirts so I think I will be fine there.
Update: Stef's ankle has turned into fine dust. That said, this is getting prioritized.
Update: The injury isn't as bad as previously thought, will still apply effort day by day.
I used the lightbox method for the most vital part, that being the head shape. The rest of the shapes I cut close the size it needed to be and folded from there. For more precise things like the eyes and fingers, I couldn't exactly tuck it so I am hoping the quilt will be cared for otherwise it will fall apart. For the background I decided to go for a black and white split. The white is above the black in a sort of optimistic way. Tight Bowser has been an intergral part to the super projects so I thought it would be fitting to have this nintendo fabric I bought a long time ago serve as the backing. The border was this cool skull fabric I had. For stitching the three layers together, I started with the body. It was difficult with the machine I had but I attempted to give slight curves when possible. The hair had the prettiest effect with the contours. The black background I wanted to keep the lines straight and bright, almost honed on the subject. As for the white background, I went for the sun, again. It's much less realistic than I had planned, but its charming. It was difficult but enjoyable
When I make these projects, I usually have a dedicated playlist. The playlist will consist of songs, or just a song, recommended by the subject.
Here's the thing, I ask Stef for music recommendations all the time. This may get messy.
This was supposed to be the finale piece so I'm treating it as such. Will this actually be the finale piece? Unless something happens, proabably not. She doesn't like it when I talk about dying in any capacity and while I see myself as entirely disposable, her vision couldn't be more different. These projects have a lot of different meanings within them and out of artistic integrity, it's seldom I outright say it. A quilt is a mighty big undertaking. What am I trying to say here? Rather, what am I trying to express? Its complicated, the best things in life are.
During my research on quilts, I came across a big book that talked about its history and the story-telling aspect of the art. Quilting is basically art for poor people, at least, during its inception. A quilt is generally composed of little pieces of fabric that make a bigger piece of fabric. Anyone could do that, and many have when it comes to repurposing old and worn fabric. Beyond Warmth, it can also help block out light, surpress sound, and act as a beautiful cover of sorts. Nowadays, blankets, comforters, and sheets are heavily produced. The idea of spending so much time on something that seems function obsolete seems almost insane. So, why do it at all? Why spend so much time and money when you could go to walmart, buy a comforter, and call it good for the next ten years? That reason varies person to person, naturally, but for me, it's about exploring the art form. Plus I have a certain tenderness towards these crafts. I used to sew a lot and crochet and cross-stich and embroider. While the art itself is very new to me, its also so familiar at the same time.
This project holds a great deal of importance to me. Stef is so, so special to me and I didn't want to disappoint her with this. I put so much effort just to make this special, even if I was radio-silent about the project for the most part. I'm hesitant to use this word because of how the word and idea has been weaponized against me, but I also understand that I wouldn't misuse it like others have. Above all else, the project is an expression of love and appreciation. I love you Stef, you are a blessing, an amazing, smart, funny, S U R RE A L friend and I hope we can be friends for a long time. Yeah, I think the quilt expresses something like that. 🌍