Traffic Jam

I needed to depict a traffic jam for my hurricane (evacuation) quilt. Thankfully, I had a reference photo.

Planning a Hurricane Quilt. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

So, I made a colorful replica.

Traffic Jam, art quilt details in-progress. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

I thought it needed to be thick/padded to go with the texture of the raw-edged spirals.

Traffic Jam, art quilt details in-progress. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

However, the bright colors of the vehicles disappeared a little against the bright floral background. I corrected that by over painting the background with thickened dye, shown in-progress below.

Traffic Jam, art quilt details in-progress. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

Although it looked very dark here, it was really a thin blue-black.  You can see the result below. Surprisingly, it’s exactly what I wanted.

Traffic Jam, art quilt details in-progress. Ellen Lindner, AdventureQuilter.com/blog

In the photo above I was beginning to audition the addition of text. Of course, it will also need to be textured, so I’ll have to think about how to best achieve that.

And for those of you enduring hurricane Florence, I hope she’ll end up being a relatively minor inconvenience.  Stay safe!

Ellen Lindner

,

14 Responses to Traffic Jam

  1. Kristy September 14, 2018 at 8:39 am #

    Adding the traffic worked great. Don’t care so much for Irma. For me a generic ‘any hurricane’ allows me to relate

    • Ellen Lindner September 14, 2018 at 4:52 pm #

      Interesting thought, Kristy. Irma was the one with the major evacuation, but maybe non-Floridan brains wouldn’t understand that. I’ll have to think about it some more. Thanks for the suggestion!

  2. Sunnie Malesky September 14, 2018 at 10:01 am #

    Love this work! Vehicles were added so well!
    Personally, I relate to the “Irma” but Kristy may have a point. And how quickly we forget one bad storm because another comes along.
    Nice to see you in the SAQA journal!

    • Ellen Lindner September 14, 2018 at 5:02 pm #

      Thanks, Sunnie. I agree that Kristy’s point is a good one. I’ll have to think about it.

  3. Kristin F September 14, 2018 at 11:27 am #

    I like your new addition and how you did it. Brilliant idea!

  4. Ellen Lindner September 14, 2018 at 5:02 pm #

    Thanks, Kristin!

  5. Martha Harris September 14, 2018 at 6:05 pm #

    The addition of traffic is very good. Not so taken with the text, but maybe it could be named something like “Fleeing Irma” or ” Ahead of the Storm” The bright colors are beautiful.

    • Ellen Lindner September 14, 2018 at 11:40 pm #

      Thanks for the input, Mom. I’ve changed the text quite a bit and will add more smaller things, as well. It’s progressing. Good title ideas!

  6. lafoliefeu September 15, 2018 at 2:21 am #

    Would it be too clever too put IRMA as the number plate? Seeing as it’s a short name! I’m a quilter not a felter but I love following your creative processes,

    • Ellen Lindner September 15, 2018 at 9:57 pm #

      Hey, that’s a very clever idea. Not sure I can work it in at this point, but I’ll give it my consideration.

  7. Dij September 15, 2018 at 8:28 am #

    That is a fantastic quilt! You always come up with great ideas and the right way to pull them all together.

    • Ellen Lindner September 15, 2018 at 9:57 pm #

      Thanks, Dij!

  8. Karen September 16, 2018 at 10:55 am #

    Maybe going generic “ahead of the storm” or using the. “Fleeing the storm”
    Then it shows the hurricane and makes the traffic a flee, not a going into the sun which one of my group thought it was.
    Love your work

    • Ellen Lindner September 18, 2018 at 11:13 pm #

      Oh good thought, Karen. Maybe this only looks like a hurricane to Floridians (and Carolinians this week.) I really like “Fleeing the Storm.” THANKS for the feedback!

Leave a Reply