Took some of the art cloth I've created along with some pieces I'd already stitched together and came up with this last night. Am I art quilting again???? The colors in this just sing to me.

Complex Art Cloth - Newest Small Business Venture!

Over the weekend I realized I liked surface designing cloth more than composing and finishing art quilts (oh yes, it's true). A friend encouraged me to follow my desire because - Lord knows - in my day job world I have "musts" but shouldn't have them in my art world. Right?

The small pieces above are for sale (I'm going to try to get them in my Etsy shop tonight).

The yellow piece has at least 3 layers of techniques and measures just a smidge under 9x13". It will be priced at $10.00 for the piece.

The pink fossil piece (which looks a bit lighter on my monitor than it is in real life) is 11-1/2x13" and is priced at $12.00 for the piece. I used at least 5 techniques on this one.

All fabric is smooth weaved, premium Kona cotton. Gorgeous.

Fabric Abstract

The paintings I've been doing lately have inspired me to - once again - try to replicate these effects on fabrics. This is the closest I've ever come. I like how this cloth looks. More experiments to come...as time allows.

Artistic Fabric

Dyed fabric that was soy waxed, over painted with textile paint, then screen printed, over painted with some more paint and then both machine and hand stitched. This is a small (7x11") example of Art Cloth...meaning it is created from a whole piece of cloth as opposed to stitched together pieces. For some stunning examples of Art Cloth piece please click on this link...enjoy!

http://www.artclothnetwork.com/

Artistic Expression

I love artistic pieces that calm, serene and of a limited palette...I really do. I could look at Toni Grote's work all day, getting lost the quietness and beauty of her paintings. I find it quite interesting that what calls me isn't what comes out of me. All of my work tends to be about multiple layers and hidden depths and busy-ness. Is anyone else drawn to work that is much different from their own? Perhaps this makes perfect sense on some level...being attracted to art work that is different from my own holds an element of mystery about the artist, their method and their motivation.
I stitched together this piece from different cloths I've created in the past months.

Cleaning

Ok...so...I had the best intentions this afternoon. I was going to start cleaning and organizing some of my art materials. About 20 minutes into the task I discovered a piece of dyed fabric that demanded I overlay with some dyed silk organza. An hour or so later this piece emerged. And now there's a bit more mess to organize...tomorrow is another day, isn't it?

Trial

I put together the piece above last night using some of the fabric I had dyed, discharged and silk screened.

Then I stage it on top of another piece of cloth I had created. Do you think it works with that background cloth? I kind of like the unexpectedness of the colors and the overall tribal type of feeling it has. I'd love to hear your opinions.

Project 3

Ok, let's see if I can remember all that was done to this cloth. First I silk screened a water based resist on white cotton, then sponge painted Seta purple. After that was dry I washed the piece then submersed it in a navy blue dye bath. Next I silk screened on black textile paint then, using the same screen, I printed with a layer of russet textile paint. Afterwards I dropped in a few other colors using the same silk screen as before. This is the third project in Jane Dunnewold's Complex Cloth book. Her last suggested step is to add some hand stitching to the piece. Not sure what I'm going to do about that.

And here it is with a bit more screen printing....once it is completely dried and heat set I plan to drop in some hand stitched accents...maybe some small beads...we'll see. Its final size will be about 16x25". I'm not great with titles (although I do have one in mind) and would love some ideas if the spirit moves you.
I can't wait to read Michelle's suggestion...if she's so inclined.

It Worked!

Yesterday I spend time creating my first silk screen using the drawing in the post below, photo emulsion, sensitizer, a bright light and a dark room...and was successful! Today I started using the screen on a cloth that had gone through 3 dye baths. I am very happy with the results. Another new technique...oh, how sweet it is!

Experimentation

Ooooh, baby.....dyed fabric with oil pastel rubbings and drawing....the possibilities, the possibilities....

Project 1

I have decided to methodically do the projects in the back of Jane Dunnewold's book Complex Cloth. I've tried a zillion different surface altering techniques but this weekend realized that a more organized approach might be beneficial and help me to build up some stock.
This is project one which consisted of: dyeing cotton, then discharging it, then overdyeing it, then stamping it and screen printing it with textile paint. The final touch is gold foiling. If you click on the photo is will get larger and you can better see all the layers.

Work continues....I turned this piece around, snipped away some of the overlaying silk in certain areas and started to add some hand stitching. It's looks like primoidal soup, doesn't it?

Deconstructive screen printed cloth. I'm now well on the way to ruining 2 sinks with dye stains (perhaps a purchase of Ajax with bleach would be good - in the industrial size can). I ask you....can altered counter tops be far behind?

I have been so busy this past week getting many pieces ready for the Danforth Museum of Art gift shop (yes, they want more) I haven't had time to blog post. This piece is cloth that I deconstructive screen printed and am now hand stitching. I was going to add more layers of dye but there was something about the simple nature of the first printing that made me leave it be. I really admire artists that are able to render their visions in works that are clean in design. Of course I also admire artists whose work is so filled with detail and stuff going on that it draws you in to keep looking and looking. Heck, I am an 'art harlot'...I love it all....

Progression

I find it amazing how art pieces grow, morph and change as they progress. Of course these changes aren't always in the best interest of the art piece....or the viewer...but sometimes all is right in my own little personal art world. Be that as it may, I am happy with how this piece is developing. I'm pretty sure the title will contain the word 'ancient' as I'm going after a feel of ruins that are disintegrating but convey the hope of rebirth as represented by the shiny and bright elements still in existence. I'm looking forward to adding some hand stitching and some of these very cool brass elements I found while we were on vacation....or maybe some small fossils?.....oh, the possibilities.....

Cradle Me

Sheer fabric dyed, painted, inked with added embellishments. This piece cries out to me about being comforted and cradled in safety.

Every time I create one of these nether-world landscapes the word "Perelandra" comes to mind. This is the second book of the C.S. Lewis sci-fi triology - a book I read when I was very young. Something powerful about the imagery in his writings and the beautiful word Perelandra became strong memories for me.

I like creating these alternate universes in cloth. I wonder if I've been working on series without realizing it!

Disintegration II

Last night I finished this dyed, painted, silk screened, foiled and embroidered cloth that ended up being 13x9" when completed. I am more pleased with it than not - although I am my own worse critic and not a great judge of my own work. I would love to be in a small supportive circle of fellow artists who are able to establish enough support & trust (important, that trust thing) among themselves to view each other's work and comment on what works, what doesn't, etc. Does anyone out there have experience with a group of this sort? How well does it work? Is it beneficial?

Progress

Happily working away here in Shawangunk Ridge land. The top piece is a closeup showing the bit of foiling I added to the whole cloth I've been altering. Right now the cloth has been painted, dyed, printed and foiled enough - the next step will be to quilt it. Probably free motion machine stitching but maybe with some added hand stitched details - we'll see. The bottom photo is of a larger cairns inspired piece that seems to have morphed into a bit of the Garden of Eden. This one will definitely get hand emboidery added - and maybe a snake image or two...we'll see.

Time to get back to work!

Disintegration II

Today's creative work - hand dyed cloth altered with alcohol inks, textile & acrylic paints and a bit of screen printing. It should end up being in the double digits....12x12" or so.....still needs stitching and fabric rods. Have a dinner date with hubby and friends but want to keep working on this...patience...patience....