Stitched Portraits: Lynda Barry

(b. Jan. 2, 1956) Although I am breaking one of my self-inflicted rules and going out of order with this blog, I now no longer care. I stitched Lynda Barry on her birthday back on the 2nd of the month and last night I saw her speak and now I really can't stop thinking about how great it was and how wonderful she is. If you have not read one of her books I highly recommend that you do. My grood friend, Charles Crowley, recommended to me (by gifting one) and he was super right. Picture This is about drawing and why people stop. In it, Lynda speaks of getting somewhere when she put the brush to the paper. I feel the same with a sewing machine. It takes over sometimes and I don't get to have control. If I let it happen, I am surprised by the outcome. In this case, it was Lynda's smiling face.

For more musings, check her Near-Sighted Monkey blog.

Lynda Barry (trademark sunshine):

Stitched Portraits: Mary J. Blige

(b. Jan. 11, 1971) She is one of the most positive creative forces in the world of Hip-Hop, R&B, and Soul - standing in a class of her own. Mary J. Blige is a powerhouse, who manages to transcend taste, sell a lot of albums, and remain true.

Mary J. Blige (Queen of Hip-Hop Soul):

Stitched Portraits: Nicolas Cage

(b. Jan. 7, 1964) No matter what you think of Nicolas Cage - whether you are a Cage enthusiast who watches National Treasure regularly, a Cage apologist who tells me about how good he was in Raising Arizona, or a Cage hater who laments his explosive acting with an explosive passion - the importance of Nicolas Cage cannot be dismissed.

Reasons:
1. Nicolas Coppola threw away that pesky, highly recognizable last name (...something about films that feature Mafia things...) in favor of an obscure Marvel superhero named Luke Cage. While he wondered if it was the right choice he remembered that he was listening to a lot of John Cage too - so clearly, the name was perfect. Totally a smart idea.
2. This actually was a smart idea.
3. He has been in over 60 films and one of them is called Gone in 60 Seconds.
4. He buys a whole bunch of big houses and castles, even.
5. Peter Loew in Vampire's Kiss. In this movie that should be placed on the National Film Register, Cage plays an arrogant literary agent who descends into madness when he is bitten by a woman who he believes has turned him into a vampire. Lucky for all of us viewers, he does not become a vampire, just a psychopath with plastic vampire teeth. (depicted below)

Nicolas Cage (as Peter Loew):

Stitched Portraits: Michael Stipe

(b. Jan. 4, 1960) As the frontman for R.E.M., Stipe was gripping. As a producer of films, he chooses wisely. For me, he is the balanced scale for our generation. He exists somewhere between the sea of intellectuals, rock stars, artists - and he is just so watchable. His is a voice that cuts through.

Michael Stipe (blue glow):

Stitched Portraits: J.R.R. Tolkien

(b. Jan. 3, 1892) Thank you, John Ronald Reuel. Although you were but a Hobbit yourself, you sought to find even the grimiest and disparate places in the World, not shying away from sadness and the humanity needed to rise above it. You reveled in a simpler way of life and, with your stories of Middle Earth, warned us of an ever-growing industrialization. You get the nod and my unending respect.

J.R.R Tolkien (Having fun with it):

Stitched Portraits: Dave McKean

(b. Dec. 29, 1963) Dave McKean is one of the greatest illustrator storytellers. I could spend hours looking at and then gushing over his drawings. I remember reading Coraline for the first time and as much as I liked the story, the drawings were even better. I often think of his line work when making a picture.

Dave McKean (drawn and sculpted):

Stitched Portraits: Liu Xiaobo

(b. Dec. 28, 1955) Currently imprisoned in China, Liu Xiaobo received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010 for his non-violent attempts to change the single party communist rule. He co-wrote and signed Charter 08 which called for more freedom of expression, human rights, more democratic elections, for privatizing state enterprises and land, and for economic liberalism.

Liu Xiaobo (joyful smile, and hope):

Stitched Portraits: Clara Barton

(b. Dec. 25, 1821) There was no one more fitting to stitch on Christmas Day than Clara Barton. This was agreed by all. She was a Teacher, Nurse, Patent Clerk, Humanitarian, and Founder of the American Red Cross. In case you need further proof of her specialness, read all about her life here. It is truly fascinating.

And to all who regularly check this blog, my apologies for a three week lapse in posts. I must blame the craziness of my favorite holiday. Every year, without fail, I am both Elf and Santa, spending hours in my workshop studio, making gifts for friends and family. As we are now nearing the end of the season, I am back on track to finish this project by end of February 2013. Thanks to all who have encouraged its progress throughout 2012. At this point I have made over 300 portraits. whew. crazy, to. think about...

So, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all!

Clara Barton (strength and passion):