Choosing a Subject or Image To Make into a Quilt

Most landscape quilts begin as a photo or drawing. Whatever image you choose, there are some things to keep in mind:

• Your image should have a strong focal point, but generally, the focal point shouldn't shouldn't be smack in the middle. Choose an image that has a background, middle ground and foreground because this is more interesting than a flat subject with no perspective.
• If you do not have much drawing experience, it is best to choose a relatively simple subject for your first effort. Don't start by trying to do a portrait for example. Buildings can be a good choice since they are usually a collection of straight lines. Natural elements like foliage, mountains, rocks, seascapes, are also good choices because they are organic shapes--who's to say your rock or mountain is wrong??
• Look for images with strong value changes. For example, pale tulips against dark tree trunks. Places where the lightest light is against the darkest dark are dramatic.
• Look for an image that tells a story. A dog sitting on grass doesn't tell a story, but the same dog, sitting on the same grass looking up at a cat in a tree tells a story.
• Your image should have elements that move the eye around the whole composition. Things like secondary focal points, value changes, and use of color can pull the eye around the composition.

In the end, the most important factor is that you really like the image, because you are going to be working on it for a long time.

NEXT:  How to enlarge a photo or   drawing to make a full-size pattern

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