Great Blue: Judy Weiss, Sharon Rubuliak

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 Great Blue

Representative

Judy Weiss

Blue Herons inhabit many parts of North America. This particular one posed proudly for me in a sculpture garden in South Carolina in 2008. With his chest puffed out, eyes fixed, and standing perfectly still, it felt as if he was a part of the display! He has waited patiently until now for his portrait to be unveiled.

Techniques: Piecing, appliqué, painted silk, machine quilting










Process:

My process starts with thumbnail sketches,

then larger drawings,

 and then a full size sketch 

which I will use to develop the finished piece. 

The final placement photo shows the diamond sections, the heron and the grass appliqué pinned to the hand-painted silk used for the water. The diamonds would be machine-sewn to the silk by turned appliqué, and the grasses were fused in place. The now-completed base was laid over batting, ready for the heron to be added.

My goal for the heron was to raise him above the surface of the rest of the work. To give him extra loft, he was ‘trapuntoed’. A layer of batting was placed under him, and the highlights of his feathers, head, eye, beak and chest were stitched. The batting was cut away as closely as possible from the body, and he was stitched to the background. The effect was that he popped forward toward the viewer. 

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 Great Blue

Abstract

Sharon Rubuliak

The Great Blue Heron is a familiar sight wading or hunting in wetlands. We know the hallmarks - long sharp bill, crooked neck, slate blue flight feathers, hunched shoulders, plume-like chest feathers and long articulated legs. 

Patient watching nets the viewer 

a ring of ripples as the hunter 

spears a meal.

Techniques: gel glue resist, stenciling, hand painting, hand and machine quilting.

Process:

Glue resist