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.

Painting

Went to pastel class last night and did this. I've been toying around with the idea of trying oils (never, ever have touched them) but think I'm just going to continue working with pastels. Like Shawn Dell Joyce is fond of saying "It's advanced finger painting".

I think these primitive images will become a silk screen. I can see them on a piece of cloth with lots of hand stitching.

Child's Play

I posted this awhile back after I painted it. Last night I finished all the handstitching on it (if you click on the photo it will get large and you can see more detail). I am very satisfied with its funky playfulness. I think I'm going to do some more folk arty type of work in the future and already have some thoughts spinning around.
Good Monday all.

Spring

I painted this on cloth this morning.

And then started laying in some hand stitching.

A friend of my husband's passed away unexpectedly this week. His fall down stairs caused a life taking injury. Something that could happen to anyone of us at any time...quite unnerving.

This month has been emotional for me. Not quite sure why this is but I am longing for a sense of contentment to return. Have to say my husband is hoping (praying on bended knees?) I return to myself. He has been a less than willing target of some of my internal conflict....poor guy.

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!

What does this image look like to you? I drew this while sitting and relaxing (relaxing is not something that comes my way too often so I savor it when it can happen). I'm going to try and make a silk screen with this over the weekend - the real way with emulsion, a transparency and a bright light. I'll post the results if I'm successful.

Experimentation

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

More on Longing

Sometimes I feel a longing for something just a bit beyond sight and reach...just beyond my human understanding and knowledge. Can anyone else relate to this feeling?

Bittersweet

I belong to a small, intimate artist's group called Studio 33 (see their links on the sidebar). It seems Amy's recent scribblecast video struck a few of us with it's emotion and the emotion seems to be one of longing. Longing is an up close and personal feeling for me. The odd thing is I often can't define what I'm longing for...what I'm missing that leaves this empty sense inside. Perhaps longing is part of our human condition? Or just a piece of our creative souls? Perhaps longing is the spark that keeps us seeking a better way?

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.

Art Cloth from Art

If you visit this blog once in awhile you might remember this collage from a couple of weeks ago. Welllll...someone told me about Spoonflower . Spoonflower (don't you just love that name?) enables you to take your image and have it printed on fabric. Below is the fabulous cloth that arrived in the mail yesterday. Both the print quality and the fabric are high quality. I am very happy and ideas are swirling - big time - in this head.

Soon the barren trees will have lots of new growth. As soon as I put the finishes touches on this fiber art post card it's going to my Etsy shop.
Lots of snow and slippery weather stuff here in NY today. I am fortunate (I guess) to be able to telecommute from home for my day job in bad weather. So today consisted of lots of conference calls and emails all done in sweats. Perhaps it is time to comb my hair though.

Spring

The museum suggested (if I was so inclined) to create some work for their shop with a subliminal spring time feeling. So...I thought...why not some abstracty eggs?..eggs being a great rebirth image. I painted these this morning and might try some machine stitching this afternoon.

On another note, last weekend the Wallkill River School had a 'starving artists' sale and 5 of my pieces sold (!!!!). As many of you know proceeds from much of my artwork sales goes to help fund the art scholarships my husband and I have created that enables many area youngsters to participate in art programming at this school. To all of you who purchased work I thank you and send out a huge hug.