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People & Portraits Book Review and Giveaway

| JP Dawes Artist
I am a lucky person. I received a copy of this wonderful book from Lark Crafts to review on my blog. I’ve had it for a few weeks but was waiting for the Blog Tour to tell you how great this is.  Lark’s books presentation is always first class from the cover images to the quality of the printing.  Their Art Quilt Portfolio series is one of the best on the shelf whether you are an art quilter, gallerist or simply love eye candy.
Anyone who paints or draws knows how difficult the human figure can be to get just right. The challenge is interpreting a 3-D object into a 2-D space without loosing the nuances that make each figure a unique being. Now take that challenge and interpret it in fabric. Soft, drapey, sometimes mind of its own fabric. The artists in Martha Sielman’s book met this challenge with artistic mastery.
There is no way to talk about each of the artists featured so I  will pick out a few of my favorites. I will tell you that my favorites are from artists who capture the essence of their subjects without printing onto the fabric.
One of my all time favorite artists is Lori Lupe Pelish. Her work can be found beginning on page 118. I’m fascinated with the way she used commercial fabrics to create lush textures and shadings.  It is the mark of a real master who can start with a chalk line on black fabric and build her composition using snippets of fabrics the way a painter uses a brush stroke.  For me, what she does with fabric is what makes me love the medium.
Sprinkled within the chapters are quilts created by artists who are not featured with interviews. They are no less important to the book.  On page 81, Nancy L. King’s Backyard Boys captures the essence of summer. The clothing, the pose of each boy gets the message across loud and clear. This could be any backyard in the summertime.
On page 56, Julie Duschack’s  Monk in the Doorway is another of my favorites. Her use of negative space and angled lines draw your eye to the solitary figure of the monk. Is he welcoming the new day with the bright light shining on his golden robe?  Art that makes me wonder is appealing.
This is just a small sampling of the book’s offerings. You will have to see it for yourself to experience it all.  I’m writing this before the tour begins so I hope I have offered you different insight than the other bloggers.
Oh!! I almost forgot!!! Leave a comment before July 1st and I will pick one lucky winner to receive a copy of this book directly from Lark.  I’ll announce the winner here on Independence Day. Also check out Nina Marie’s Off The Wall Friday.

My dad’s sewing machine

| JP Dawes Artist



I had previously given my dad [who will be 90 yrs old this fall] my old Viking machine since it is lightweight for him to pick up. He used to make his own boat covers and upholstery so he knows how to sew. Now he just hems pants and sews up ripped seams. Well, there were too many settings and he would get the Viking hopelessly messed up. So in his basement I found my mom’s old Necchi Mira machine that he always used. I had to clean 40 yrs of gunk and oil off it and repair the bobbin winder but it works like a champ. (I had planned on bringing it home to mount in my treadle base. The machine is a depression green color and my treadle cabinet base is painted depression green..and my weaving loom is a Mira so I thought that darn Necchi was just screaming to come live at my house with all those coincidences.) Ron and I moved the Necchi Mira into my mom’s old room so it is easy for him to get to.  I must say that since my mom passed away 3 years ago, that room has looked way too well kept and the addition of the machine and cabinet in there looks very much at home and puts a little life in the house. I think if my mom is looking down on him she approves.

Some day the Mira will come to live with me and that day may come sooner than  I would like. Oh, I tried to convince him that he needs to make a quilt but he didn’t take the bait!