Artist Ellen November combines quilting with cartography to reinterpret how we look at a particular location. To see more of her work, please visit her website.
![Santa Monica](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/artsysharky-9-2.jpg)
“Santa Monica” Fabric, Thread, 0″ x 23″
Art quilting is a convergence of me as an artist and quilter.
![Manhattan Beach](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/artsysharky-7-2.jpg)
“Manhattan Beach” Fabric, Thread, 31″ x 24″
With maps as my inspiration, I interpret lines, shapes, colors with new and upcycled materials creating a richer, historical vision of a specific location.
![LAX](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/artsysharky-8-2.jpg)
“LAX” Fabric, Thread, 29″ x 25″
Trained as an illustrator at Art Center College of Design, the path to cartographic maps has been a steady progression combining my love of color, pattern drawing and photography.
![Portuguese Bend](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/artsysharky-3-2.jpg)
“Portuguese Bend” Fabric, Thread, 33.5″ x 23″
I recently completed a series of 12 art quilts that are interpretations of the coastal areas of Southern California. The paper Thomas Guide maps are my inspiration. I am attempting to show the unique personality of each of our coastal areas in Los Angeles county from Malibu to Long Beach.
![Marineland](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/artsysharky-4-2.jpg)
“Marineland” Fabric, Thread, 33″ x 28″
In creating a cartographic art quilt, my goal is to reimagine the way we look at a location from a geographic and historical perspective.
![Long Beach](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/artsysharky-2-2.jpg)
“Long Beach” Fabric, Thread, 28″ x 21″
Each piece contains an aerial view as well as a focus on a something representative of the particular location. For example, with “Santa Monica” I chose the iconic Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel. For Long Beach, the Queen Mary is the focal point.
![Malaga Cove](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/artsysharky-5-2.jpg)
“Malaga Cove” Fabric, Thread, 32.5″ x 26.5″
Each piece begins with the initial laying of the background and a building of layers that incorporates not only quilting fabric, but clothing, men’s shirts, my photos printed on fabric, embroidery and illustration. I machine quilt as well as hand sew.
![Getty Villa](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/artsysharky1-2.jpg)
“Getty Villa” Fabric, Thread, 29″ x 25″
My latest projects include quilts of iconic Los Angeles locations: The Getty Center, USC Campus and Cedars Sinai Medical Center. On The Getty Center piece I have begun doing hand beading to represent the landscape features. I learned quickly that beads can rapidly add weight to a piece.
![Pt. Dume](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/artsysharky-10-2.jpg)
“Pt. Dume” Fabric, Thread, 28.5″ x 23.5″
The USC piece features Tommy Trojan and the USC campus and surrounds; including freeway intersections and the Staples Center. The Cedars piece incorporates its current location blended with its original building, when it was called Cedars of Lebanon.
![Redondo Beach](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/artsysharky-6-2.jpg)
“Redondo Beach” Fabric, Thread, 31″ x 24″
I am currently working on two different pieces that are interpretations of the Redondo Beach King Harbor. I discovered old nautical maps at an estate sale which became the inspiration for this work. I dyed cotton cheesecloth which I have sewn to represent the water and waves.
![Artist, Ellen November, giving lecture at South BayContemporary Gallery in Palos Verdes, CA](https://www.artsyshark.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/rsz_enovember2_2.jpg)
Artist, Ellen November, giving lecture at South BayContemporary Gallery in Palos Verdes, CA
I love discovering new materials that enhance the look and feel of my work.
Ellen November invites you to follow her on Facebook.
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