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Thursday, September 22, 2022

Marsh Crab

Marsh Crab
23"x23"
Copyright Susan Brubaker Knapp 2022

I have always loved the beautiful color variations on blue crabs. This piece is based on a sketch and water color painting I made several years ago, after photographing some crabs in the marsh on Bald Head Island, NC. 

Batik fabrics, acrylic paint, cotton thread, cotton batting, cotton backing. Fusible and raw-edge appliquéd, painted, free-motion machine quilted. 

The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus (from the Ancient Greek κάλλος,“beautiful” + nectes, “swimmer,” and Latin sapidus, “savory,” is also also known as Atlantic Blue Crab, or regionally as the Chesapeake Blue Crab, and is native to the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. 

 The following information is from https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/blue-crab :

The blue crab’s carapace (shell) varies in color from bluish to olive green, and can reach up to 9 inches across. The carapace has nine marginal teeth on each side; the ninth teeth are strong spines. Its claws are bright blue, and those of mature females feature red tips.

Blue crabs have three pairs of walking legs and paddle-shaped rear swimming legs. Males have a strongly tapered abdomen, or "apron," that resembles an inverted T. Mature females have a broad, rounded apron, and immature females have a triangular apron. Male blue crabs are known as “jimmies,” while mature females are called “sooks.”

The back

The back






Friday, September 16, 2022

October Moon

 

“October Moon”
Copyright 2022 by Susan Brubaker Knapp
17.25" square. White cotton fabric, acrylic paint, cotton batting, interfacing, cotton backing fabric. Wholecloth painted, free-motion machine quilted.



Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Orange County Artists Guild Open Studio Tour 2022

 


I’m busy getting ready for the Orange County Artists Guild Open Studio Tour 2022! Last year’s event was terrific – the first time I’d done anything like it — and I’m eager to meet new people and welcome old friends to my home studio the first two weekends in November. I’ll have lots of new work, as well as notecards and a few prints, up for sale. 

Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 6 from noon to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 13 from noon to 5 p.m.

There are 114 artists participating in Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough. For more information and the map, visit www.OCAGNC.org/tour/

Come visit me at stop #65!

Frond


Frond
Copyright 2022 by Susan Brubaker Knapp
13x41"
Cotton fabric, acrylic textile paint, cotton batting, cotton thread, cotton backing. 
Wholecloth painted, free-motion machine quilted.

Ravens

I’ve been working on a series of ravens, new small pieces, all based on the same drawing I made about a year ago. The idea is to make some pieces that are originals, but faster to make (and therefore with a more reasonable price point to sell – $175). All are about 11-12" square, and painted with acrylic paint and then free-motion machine quilted. I'll have these for sale at the Orange County Artists Guild Studio Tour the first two weekends in November. Details are at www.ocagnc.org/tour

Raven in Azure

Raven in Chartreuse

Raven in Sapphire

Wisp


Wisp
Copyright 2022 by Susan Brubaker Knapp
19" square
Cotton fabric, acrylic paint, cotton thread, cotton batting, cotton backing. 

Free-motion machine quilted, painted.