Nude with Rope 1
December 10, 2006
Well this has been a productive weekend. I’ve managed to finish the top of my next quilt. This one is called ‘Nude with Rope 1′. Yes there will be at least a second, maybe more. I love this image. It is from a photograph taken by Alex Treacher, a friend of mine. He very kindly gave me permission to use some of his images, which has been invaluable as at them moment I don’t have anyone to model for me. The image is about lifesize, so it has been a bit of a squeeze. I have a large board I can put on my ironing board to get a bigger pressing surface, but it is only half the size of this quilt.
I was especially pleased with being able to make the image in two parts. This meant that I didn’t have to add any extra joins in the pieces. Even the biggest areas can be cut out of a 1m cut. All the fabrics in this quilt are Moda Marbles. I find this range works especially well for these quilts, so I went to the Moda site to see the whole range. There are 199 fabrics in it. It is amazing. Unfortunately there isn’t anyone locally who stocks them all. I think one of my goals is to have enough spare cash to get a couple of meters of each fabric in the range. I would love to have that kind of palette on hand.
While I was making this quilt I found it very hard to see the image. For some reason the rope looked like a spine to me, hopefully now it is finished it won’t have that effect on other people.
Just before I made it I showed the source image to a friend. She felt it was a bit too racy. What do you guys think, is it too provocative? I would like to be able to enter it in quilt shows, but I don’t want to upset too many people. I know that the female form will always upset some people, ‘Miss Baltimore’ was considered very shocking by a significant number of people who saw it at Sandown last year, but I thought this was quite tasteful.
Beautiful! I think it would be amazingly wonderful to view this piece in a show.
Cool. I am hoping that most people will feel that way. Thanks
This quilt is incredible! Have you thought about doing a tutorial (or a book!) on your method for getting the human form nailed so perfectly in fabric?
Sign me up for a copy when you do.
I hadn’t but I will. I wouldn’t have though many people would be interested.
Your work is absolutely beautiful. It should be seen by others. Do not listen to a prudish censor.
This piece is so well done, it should definitely be in a show! I think those who are opposed to this piece are put off by the rope, which hints at bondage. However, since the rope is only laying on her and not actually tied around her, I feel they are being too uptight. Unfortunately many people in the US are more used to censored types of images, because of religious upbringing.
She is lovely, your work is well done, and I feel she is less explicit than some of your other pieces, which I feel are all nicely done.
What I really like about the rope, is it is big heavy and kinda scary, yes it does sort of suggest bondage, but…
it actually hides the shape of her breasts, and therefore is preserving her modesty. The rope is what my friend thought would be a problem. Ultimately I want to mount this piece in a frame made wooden poles with metal eyes set into is. I will add big eyelets into the quilt so I can lace it into the frame with white rope. This will make it almost impossible to ship so will have to wait until after the quilt has been shown.
Exquisite — with my first glance at it, I thought “quilt? – or photograph?” and had to look at the enlarged picture to be sure!
Beautiful. It doesn’t appear to be an art quilt, but a photo. I don’t find it offensive, and it is difficult to distinguish from the position of the body whether the individual is a male or female. It isn’t a provocative pose – at least I don’t think so.
Lynda
This is one of the most stunning quilts I have seen, how could anyone be offended by such beautiful work
What a beautiful image! Is it too racy? Not taken as it is but if you look at the rope in terms of sexual imagery–who knows? I rather like it and just wish that I could develop the skill you have with fibres. Well Done!!
Amazing, a wonderful quilt which I hope to see exhibited soon. Congratulations, Christine
This is absolutely gorgeous! Nothing offensive about it…
Ferret, it is lovely, tasteful, and needs to be seen by the world. I hope you find a venue where the size isn’t a problem.
Don’t listen to that friend. It’s a wonderful piece.
this piece is stunningly gorgeous – Racy? – I THINK NOT!!! People need to grow up, get a grip. The female form is one of the most beautiful things one can look at. Everyone will want to see this magnificent piece!
anna rice
Stunning
I think this is truely beautiful, in fact, it took my breath away. Don’t let anyone tell you different, just listen to your inner voice which must be telling you you’ve made a stunning piece of art!
I very much enjoyed looking at your pieces at FoQ – I thought they were fantastic. and here is another one! I would love to see it in the flesh – not racy at all imo. (I would be interested in a tutorial also, please)
Could you crop a small section and put on blog…don’t care what or where…so we could see a really close up view….even trying to get your photo larger..didn’t satisfy my wanting to see more.
I think is excellent and hope that you continue with the series… I also think that it should be shown, it is exquisite.
How could anyone be shocked by Miss Baltimore? Surpised maybe because she isn’t an album quilt. But if they were shocked by Miss Baltimore, you can bet they will be shocked by Nude with Rope. The pose seems very sensual, and the rope does perhaps hint at bondage. But don’t hide your wonderful quilt to avoid offending a handful.
Wow, Ferret, what an amazing talent you have! The piece is incredible. To me it’s not so much sexual as perhaps sensual — societal bonding/repression/ and/or freedom from said restrictions? Your passion for art as life as art vibrates — Love it, love it, love it. Makes me want to look and look and absorb and look some more.
Oh my God, Ferret, this is amazing. I also had to look twice to see if it was fabric or a photo. I would love to see this quilt up close in a show. Listen to your heart, not to your friend.
Incredible job! Do take the time to find suitable venues to show it off. I would love to see it in person.
Unbelievable. Ferret this is gorgeous. I have just the place for it!
Don’t worry about offending, this is fine art and should hang in a gallery.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
This is just beautiful, I think it needs to be shown, there is nothing offensiv about it or maybee having grown up in Germany made me open to a lot more and see it in a different way. It does not matter show it, Rita in kansas
What a gorgeous piece of art! Such beautiful form, high lights, line and texture! Not only do I see a wonderful human masterpiece playing with light and shadows, but at a distance on my monitor, I see another form…. mountains, trees and even her arm forms a stream making it a wonderful interpetation of a landscape.
Just to add your nude work gets better and better . I am sure you saw the nude in the quild mag and I have to say your new one is much better.
Lindy
I love the nude with rope. I am a QA member and would love more information on how you did it. I also agree with you about the sizes for shows being an issue. Susan
It is an exquisite quilt for sure! I see a man contemplating suicide though.
Well, I too thought it was a photograph. I hope you find somewhere to exhibit this so we can see it in “person”. It really is fabulous! Brava!
Laura
I think it’s beautiful! Would like to see a bigger image to really see all the details. Hope you find a venue so others, like me could see it!