Since I've already worked on several series with the theme of "windows and openings", it wasn't hard for me to get into this theme of "Portals, doors and windows". I knew right away that I was going to start a new series, and that it would have a more social (philosophical?) dimension than my previous series on this subject.
Let me explain: on the same street of a city, you may find the same architectural features. But each of the windows houses a different set of people, tastes, cultural backgrounds, life histories and perspectives (not to speak of languages). So that we appear different in our lives and views but are in reality connected, linked in more aspects than we think. The street or the building is for me a metaphor of this connection. We live under the same roof, don't we? And of course, the choice of color adds an extra dimension.
Also, since I had just taken an online course with Susie Monday about using the Ipad, I wanted to try this new (for me) technique. I started looking for photos of windows that I could edit and transform with various applications on my iPad. Here are a few of my attempts:
Using one of these "doctored" photos, I ordered a print on sateen cotton from Spoonflower, and then machine pieced and quilted it, with heavy cotton thread (#12) to bring out the quilting lines.
Voisinage nocturne (Neighborhood at Night), 80 x 60 cm / 32" x 24"
And here is a detail:
In the meantime, I already have several other pieces completed for the "Voisinages" series. One of them was selected for the "Harmony exhibit" in April. If you want to see the other quilts of the same series, you can have a look at https://www.annebellas.com/portfolio
I’ve taken Susie Mondays course as well but I’m still contemplating how to incorporate it with my work. I really admire how you and Jan Soules are making digitally altered images in your own style. So fun.