Learning to stitch portraits ...

 

I love to take advantage of online courses & recently joined a 5 day stitch club portrait workshop. 

I have long admired stitched portraits but always find facial features to be difficult so I was keen to follow along & learn the techniques needed to produce something vaguely recognisable. 

A choice of threads - which skin tones are needed? 

The great grandparents large photo that my photo came from. 

I find this embroidery stand to be very useful for projects like this. 

We had to choose a photo that was about 6x8 inch large & I looked around & then my eye fell on to the one of the great grandparents. I had taken a photo of the framed image that hangs on my wall (the 4th generation to have it) and they seemed like the best option. 

I assumed that I know them because I have seen them daily for most of my life but looking carefully at the photo really gave me insight in to details like the colour of their eyes, their clothes, his watch chain & waistcoat, her brooch on her dress ... 

The technique is basically to trace an outline of the image - I scanned the photo for ease, then trace it on to paper or directly on to the fabrics.  A few months ago, I bought a flat bed light box cheaply off ebay - it uses a usb power supply & while it is not the most powerful light, it is adequate. 

I split the image in to the head / face / neck as one shape in neutral calico, then traced their clothing on to the fabric taking inspiration from the photo. 

I did Bernard as my workshop portrait but was conscious that they are very much a pair ... 

I was nervous about how to do the features but the sketchy stitch approach worked really well & I completed his outline in one afternoon alongside the workshop to my great surprise. It is done in single strand embroidery thread which gives it a lighter feel.  I am thrilled with his portrait. The rest of the week was adding in shading in various colours to reflect light & shadows & then finally working on the details on his clothing. I am surprised at the likeness & have been hesitant to do Catherina because I was not confident I would do her justice. 

However, after almost a month, I traced her on to fabrics, cut out the body & positioned it alongside him. I decided to give her a lacey top as a nod to her Dutch origins. From my painting, it appears that her eyes are a hazel colour (his was blue) so I added that. Her one eyebrow is slightly raised in a quizzical gesture that is very becoming. 

Looking at the pair of them, I think I have somehow managed to sew a slightly younger version of them - about a decade younger than their portrait & that is interesting because it would have been young love. He was a fairly recent German arrival,  she was Dutch & I loved this combination of heritage in a beloved maternal grandfather. Looking at his parents so closely has somehow connected me more deeply to them & it has been a very interesting new technique. 

I still have to finish the details on her, the fading light is not good for the fine details with single strand embroidery thread so I will come back to her. I kept the threads I used for the first portrait handy which means the two portraits will sit well together. I still need to add in more shading on her hair & face but I am pleased with her … 

Do you challenge your skills & learn new ones along the way? Tell all .... 

Thank you for stopping by, for sharing or leaving a comment, it is always appreciated. 

Dee