Thermal Mode Appliqué Art Quilts

Applique art quilts like this one by Laurie Russman use a thermal camera mode as inspiration.
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Need a boost of color in your art quilts?

“The smartphone app that first inspired me to manipulate photos is still one of my favorites. The app changes the hues in the photos to mimic a thermal image. This filter may already be a feature in your phone’s camera or you might need to download an inexpensive app. (Search for “thermal filter” in the app store.) While these are not literally thermal images, the app assigns brilliant primary tones according to the value in the photo. Images produced with this filter convert the darkest objects to midnight blue, the lightest register as brilliant yellow, and middle tones are a range of reds and greens with a bit of orange. This transformation will bring drama to the most mundane object.”
– Laurie Russman

Download this appliqué art quilt method and many more techniques in December 2017/January 2018 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine.

MATERIALS

  • Fat eighths of fabric (preferably batik) in dark blue, light blue, red, yellow, and green (plus scraps of orange)
  • 10″ x 12″ muslin
  • 10″ x 12″ batting
  • 10″ x 12″ backing
  • Threads to match thermal tones
  • Freezer paper
  • Lightweight fusible web
  • Fabric ink pens (dark blue will be the most useful)