Departure

Yesterday I wanted to try something different from the same 'ole, same 'ole so I took a piece of cotton painted it with dye print paste, cooked it by the woodstove, rinsed it out, didn't like how washed out the colors looked and then proceeded to overpaint the design. I like the simplicity of this and the colors. I am handstitiching it (it's about 8x10" so this is do-able). If you click on the photo is will get LARGE and you can see some of the stitching details. I hope to do more of these in the future. Feels a bit folk arty, doesn't it?

Pastel Painting

I can't wait for the warmer weather...not hot, mind you...warmer...like 70 and sunny and no wind. I might just get this Bowl of Cherries & Pits framed and give it as a b'day present to a family member. I think she'll like it.

A New Twist

This piece was created from an old, tattered quilt that I painted. The inspiration from this came from Kathy who is a fellow member of Planet Textile Threads. Kathy does some great surface design and often provides lovely visual eye candy. I'm getting pieces ready for a local 'Starving Artists' show (nope, don't look like I'm starving) and think I'll include this piece.

What Lies Beneath

A collage I made last night while discussing emotions and how they can effect your health.

The photos aren't so great but the top piece was created from an old tattered quilt with an added hand dyed and stitched center focal. The bottom piece is a revised version of one of the collages from yesterday's post. I'm working on developing better color contrasting skills and think that this version works much better.

Mixed Media

I'm having my own little love affair with collage mania here in the Hudson Valley this morning. Life is good!

Apple Shrine

Given my affinity for apples (both as food and as imagery) I chose to paint this still life in pastel class last night....and boy-oh-boy did I ever struggle (1/2 the painting has been cut off since I'm hating it). Even though this painting wasn't easy for me I do like this finished image...more for it's weird ribbony effect and odd composition than for anything else.

Meanwhile I woke up with inspiration - love inspiration, don't you???? Why can't I paint and texturize artist gallery wrapped canvases and then stitch on my fabric paper and other collage elements as desired? I have an art mission this weekend. Yea!

Another day, another couple of ATC's.

Process

Here are some photos of wip's (work in progress) of some deconstruction screen printing I did this morning.

This is dye print paste painted on a screen.
This shows the first pull that was done on cotton.

This is the second pull that was done on silk.

And this is the third pull done on another piece of silk. All three are now cooking by the woodstove.

A small piece I made using scraps and bits of fabric that I gelatin printed, silk screened, shiva sticked, discharged, dyed and otherwise altered. Good weekend, everyone. I intend to savor every minute.

Writing on the Wall

Lately my brain has been toying around with an idea for a new business venture. As I've shared in this blog my current day job is filled with stress and basically sucks out my life's blood (how's that for a graphic description of current conditions in the corporate world?). I'm envisioning a non-profit workshop/seminar center that would relate to the Hudson Valley's past, present and future in regards to the arts. These arts would encompass a wide range including home arts, garden & farming, music, acting, writing, woodworking, etc - you get the picture. The center would celebrate and continue a sense of community by educating and encouraging people to know their roots and help them to imagine their future in this beautiful and history filled part of the country. Programming would be offered for both adults and children, with many scholarships available. I know a bit of a sketchy outline, but what do you think?

And...the piece above (whose title is The Writing on the Wall)...painted, altered cloth with machine and hand stitching. It's available in my Etsy shop.