Stitched Portraits: Amy Sedaris

She brings happy on many levels and I wanted to pay tribute to her on her birthday with a portrait that said, "I'm cute but please don't make my portrait."

I heard her explain once how she acted out emotion when playing her most famous character, Jerri Blank.  Say the emotion into the camera and make a face.  She is also proof that celebrity can be formed on your own terms.

Amy Sedaris (making a face):

Stitched Portraits: Lady Gaga

Part 2 of 2.

The Gaga turned 26 yesterday and she always has something to say about the past through her fashion, music and overall style. She is often criticized for stealing from it, but I like to think of her as a young historian, compiling her influences into a cohesive new story. She is both classic and of the moment. And damn - can she write a JAM.

Lady Gaga (in the lobster mask, nodding to Swanson in the Schiaparelli):

Stitched Portraits: Gloria Swanson

Consider this portrait the first in a 2 part, 2 day conversation between histories.
Although there is no account of Gloria Swanson wearing the famous Elsa Schiaparelli Lobster Dress, this portrait assumes it so. And since they were contemporaries - Swanson most assuredly influencing Elsa's designs - I thought it fitting.

Gloria Swanson, silent movie darling (in the Schiaparelli Dress):

Stitched Portraits: Robert Frost

Yesterday I was set to stitch Leonard Nimoy, but I changed my mind due to the beauty and pain in this man's face.

"We love the things we love for what they are"

Robert Frost:

Stitched Portraits: Elton John

Yesterday was Elton's birthday and I've loved him for so long. I kind of liked the awkwardness of this portrait, so I'm sharing it. Two in one day!

Elton John. The bitch is stitched:

Stitched Portraits: Ric Ocasek

Friday, March 23rd was Ric Ocasek's birthday. I'm so glad I chose to make his portrait on Friday. Mostly because it became a Cars themed weekend, leaking into an Ocasek themed Monday - listening to Weezer, Bad Brains, and Suicide...

Here is the portrait that made me very happy all weekend:
Stitched by Rick Stitched of Ric:

Stitched Portraits: DJ Premier

Yesterday certainly felt like DJ day thanks to this and this.

I celebrated by drawing one of the best of all time.

From Gang Starr, I present to you, DJ Premier:

Stitched Portraits: Mister Rogers

Here is a man who did A LOT for my childhood and I'm sure, many others'. Apparently he also brought a judge to tears in his plea for more federal funding of public broadcasting. Fred Rogers was a real life hero. I was so happy yesterday when I saw that it was his birthday.

Fred Rogers with King Friday XIII:

Stitched Portraits: Josef Albers

On St. Josef's day...
I think I'll have to do one of his wife Anni on her birthday.

Stitched Portraits: Stéphane Mallarmé

This weekend saw the portraits of Flavor Flav and Alexander McQueen stitched, but it was the Stéphane Mallarmé from yesterday that bared sharing. Some time ago I met Maya Angelou in a bookstore and she asked if I was a poet. I told her that I write stuff on blank pages. She said that it was Mallarmé who spoke of the blank page.

Here he is as the subject of a blank piece of fabric:

Stitched Portraits: Akira Yoshizawa

Yesterday marked the 101st birthday of origami legend, Akira Yoshizawa. (Thanks, Google!)
Here is my rendition, complete with origami influenced face:

Stitched Portraits

For the past month I've made it a habit to draw *one* stitched portrait a day. The rules are simple. Pick someone famous who was born on that particular day, find a good image, and stitch it. Although I most likely will not be posting every day, here is a sample from yesterday. As it was my birthday I thought it might be a good place to start.

Charo!