People have told me that the art I create...whether in fabric, mixed media or pastels is filled with a sense of emotion. The first time I was told this I was a bit taken aback and considered it a lone remark. By the 3rd expressed observation in this same vein I started to believe it. Then I started to analyze it. I like earthy. I like organic. I like real. I like heartfelt. I like substance. I like deep thinking. I find these qualities attractive in people and in art. The work in progress above is constructed from my own surface designed fabrics. It may not be a masterpiece but a lot of real work, effort and feeling went into its creation.

Yes....I still do textile work! This piece is now ready for some hand stitching with some nice chunky natural linen thread. I surface designed all the cloth used in this piece by dyeing, gelatin printing, silk screening, breakdown printing, painting, discharging and/or a couple of other treatments that I can't remember right now.

Last night I started another series of pastel painting sessions at the Wallkill River School. I think I might use this for Christmas cards this year. I was lusting after that bittersweet. It's been a busy week but I hope to mess around with some surface design stuff on cloth tomorrow. Although the pull to do some more 'advanced finger painting' (as Shawn calls it) is strong.

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.

Commitments

In the upcoming months all my best intentions will be directed towards:

1.) Finishing the series of 4 pieces that will part of a new group's show & website (more about this in the near future). The photo above shows a glimpse of one of the pieces that I've already completed.

2.) Write (can't say finish because I haven't started it yet) the article for the magazine that expressed interest in my submission inquiry.

3.) Complete scarves and itty, bitty ATC's for the Danforth Museum of Art and get them sent off.

4.) Sketch every single day - even if a small doodle.

5.) Lose another 10 lbs.

6.) Submit a piece for the Surface Design show.

7.) Get every medical test and probe done that I've been putting off.

8.) Try to be more patient and tolerant.

Wish me luck!

And another.....I tell you nothing takes dye like silk!

Collecting

My latest passion is collecting vintage wood printing blocks. These blocks can have a huge range of prices with some of the very detailed, ornate, large ones in primo condition going for hundreds of $. Then there are the orphans, the less desirable (to some) smaller blocks that are simple in design and can be gotten for a few dollars - like the one pictured above. I find it amazing what a bit of hand dyed silk, discharge paste and an antique textile printing block can do. More experimentation to come.

Hills and Valleys

I love to look at pieces done by artists that work with cloth, dyes, screen printing, painting, etc. I see such beauty and emotion in their pieces. They call to me and I am fascinated with the layers, depth and textures they are able to achieve...so much so that I am struggling to teach myself some of these techniques and working to carve out a small niche for myself in this world of altered cloth. But last night I realized something as I finished work on this small piece. What I did with this piece is as much surface design and cloth complexing as the most incredibly rendered print & dye techniques. The tools we in the world of textiles use to convey our messages are varied and each of us has our own unique expression.