other faces...

All faces have the basic eyes/nose/mouth arrangement, but each culture interprets those features differently

When a facial photograph is reduced to simple lines - no color, no shading - the face loses most of its racial identity. I became strongly aware of this as I stitched all those faces on the blue quilt. It’s also possible that a better artist could have conveyed more information with mere lines…or that older faces all have a similarity.

When drawing faces, many cultures exaggerate the eyes. Noses may be prominent or barely visible. Mouths are usually closed.

Sometimes people work hard to change the actual facial appearance….

These masks - all northern European faces - show how similar features can be distorted

Just different makeup can make a big difference in how faces are presented.

What if I took the facial representations of different cultures and reduced them all to a common cloth/stitch denomination?

Very much like I did with the faces on the blue quilt, but without the overlaid cords:

My critique group suggested that I try stitching the eyes, as a test to see if I can get the needed detail.

Looks like I can, but I want a better fabric.

I’ll be away visiting my grandchildren for a couple of weeks. When I get back, I should have some results to show you.

Stay well. Stay sane.

Diane