Appliqué Portraits
Each portrait is made up of small pieces of patterned fabric that are fused and sewn onto a larger piece of fabric. I mainly use cotton quilting fabric, but I also incorporate old clothing, bedsheets, curtains, and upholstery material into the work. Corduroy is one of my favorite textures to add! While a few of the portraits have machine pieced and quilted backgrounds, a majority of the artwork is hand-stitched. With two different strands of embroidery thread, I meticulously stitch each seam with a zig-zag or straight stitch, accentuating every detail.
Many of these appliqué portraits have been shown in exhibitions throughout the United States, and I have been taking on custom fiber art commissions since 2010.
Mister Monopoly Bags
2015, fabric and thread, 27 x 36 inches
Toni
2018, fabric and thread, 27 x 36 inches
Ode to Joy
2016, fabric and thread, 23 x 23 inches
Dreaded Self-Portrait #2
2015, fabric and thread, 10.25 x 26.5 inches
Young Man with Hat and Pipe
2016, fabric and acrylic on board, 24 x 20 inches
Looking Back
2015, fabric and thread, 30.5 x 17.5 inches
Static
2015, fabric and thread, 26 x 19 inches
Girl with the Octopus Tattoo
2016, fabric and acrylic on board, 44 x 17 inches
Commissioned Portraits
If you are interested in a custom fiber art commission, please send me an email at riana@rianabovill.art. Each piece of artwork is unique and handcrafted, so all estimates are provided on a case-by-case basis.
