Optical Illusions for Quilters

by Karen Combs

The world of optical illusions has fascinated artists for centuries, and quiltmaker Karen Combs has been intrigued by them for years. In Optical Illusions for Quilters, she unravels the mysteries of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0891458921
• ISBN13: 9780891458920
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: American Quilter's Society
• Length: 168 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.0" x 8.5" x 11.0"

Customer Reviews

Optical Illusions for Quilters

I had the pleasure of taking one of Karen Comb's classes and she is the best teacher I have ever had. Her book is very informative and will help with all aspects of quilting. Very well written and a pleasure to read over and over again. Just a GREAT book to own. Thank You

The Illustrated Quilts are Worth the Price of the Book Alone

Karen Combs does a fine job gathering examples of each "tool" used to create illusions. I've just read through the book and I feel very inspired to piece a cube. The quilts she's chosen to illustrate different techniques are amazing. If you're up for something different, this book is for you.

Technique and Inspiration

This is a technique book that goes to great lengths to illustrate the variety of methods used to create illusions. Using a flat surface, angles, perspective, colors, shading and values all work to trick your mind that you are seeing depth.Use this book to drive your creativity as well as inspire you to gain more skills in this hobby. Study each of the illustrations as they are marvelous examples you learn something new each time you view this book. Art quilts are hear to stay and this is a great book to leave on your coffee table to show off to your guests that quilting has indeed come quite a long way. The face of quilting is everywhere around you, not a steriotype of our Grandma's cutting up old shirts.Enjoy this book and learn new techniques to add depth and enjoyment of this art/hobby of quilting.

Informative and Useful

Karen Combs has done an excellent job of condensing several books on 3-D and perspective into one readable, useable source. She takes the reader step-by-step through various types of perspective problems. Not only does she do this with drawing techniques but also with a delightful and inspiring quilt gallery and a few sample projects.The reader should realize that this is not a project book; this is a design book. It is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to add persepctive to their quilts. I read this book cover-to-cover when I was creating a quilt for the APNQ "Invoking Spirits" exhibition. I wouldn't have designed as nice a piece without this valuable resource.

An eye-opener for all quilt enthusiasts

Glance through "Optical Illusions for Quilters" and you'll be struck first by the gorgeous array of quilts of every type, from traditional pieced designs to pictorial applique. It's a top-notch quilt show you can stroll through at your leisure, with entries from nationally known quilters like Charlotte Warr Anderson and Carol Breyer Fallert as well as spectacular but less familiar works. Take a moment to read the text with each photo, though, and you'll find you're actually on a guided tour with a very knowledgeable hostess; one who will open your eyes to aspects of these works you might otherwise never notice. Karen Combs explains how these master quilters have used line, color, composition, and other visual devices to convey depth, transparency, motion, and more. With clearly written text and plenty of illustrations, she shows how you can apply these techniques in your own quilts. Whether you are a traditional or contemporary quilter, this book will help you! appreciate the quilts you view, and enliven the quilts you make. This is a book to read and enjoy, and a reference to keep close at hand.