As part of my reflection on Mary as mother this advent I decided to create an icon. I based it on an image I got off the interwebs that I liked, a beautiful depiction by painter Ann Torrini. It's a copyrighted image so I won't reproduce it here, but I can link to it. So I took the image, ran it through the Photoshop filter called "cutout" until it looked like a pretty basic paint by number. Then I used the grid method to enlarge the image onto a canvas (basically drawing a grid on your image, drawing a bigger grid on your canvas and copying it square by square - versus copying the whole image freehand). Then I started filling in my paint by number with clippings from the Economist and old comic books (instead of paint). So I found every itty bitty spot of light blue, medium blue, dark blue, yellow, gold, orange, etc. and ModPodged it on. I tore the pieces instead of cutting them because it gave more texture. Then I went back and added a few more bits to add contrast and to create details. Here's the finished product:
And here's a close up:
Currently, it seems like everyone around me is having babies, making me think a lot about what it means to be a father or a mother as I watch my friends become just that, ready or not. This season, I suppose is all about the patience, the creativity, the unknowing and the hope that comes with awaiting a newborn. Tonight I went to my friend Jack's baby shower, so I made the baby on its way (Atticus is due Jan 11) a stuffed animal because I love stuffed animals. And I made it an orca because the baby is to be born in the Pacific Northwest and its basically the official animal. And I made it out of old pants, because they're broken in and soft and they carry more character than new materials, and its a bit of my life carrying into his. Its probably bigger than he will be, but he can grow into it. Its floppy and squishy and supportive and fun. Not bad for my second project on my new sewing machine. :)
Here's me and the orca for size comparison:
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