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We did some serious planting of veggies this morning then I went out and took photos of what is already there: amaryllis and a shot of the pond in its spring glory. All 20 fish overwintered just fine including the four babies that hatched last summer.
I am currently the featured Artist of the Month on the Southern California/Hawaii Surface Design Association's blog. Please check it out as there are several photos of pieces from my Fierce Winds series: socalhawaiisda.blogspot.com
The yellow piece I posted last week is the second of the studies for what I hope will be a series of panels in conversation with one of my favorite things: color. Here are the first and third studies as well. The first is hand embroidered on black felt. The third looks quite a bit like the second but is actually entirely different. It is not on Timtex so is not stiff. It's cotton bonded to felt and then embroidered, appliqued and painted. It is the technique I've settled upon for the first actual panel. I need to get a couple of large pieces of insulation to use as a design wall up in the annex before I start - hoping for next week.
I was approached about 6 months ago by this publisher about having two pieces of my work included in their next Worldwide Abstract and Mixed Media volume. I checked to be sure they were legit - they are and are a serious art publishing company. Well the book drops in a couple of weeks. Lots of variety in the book including some great tapestry weaving! Sorry about how long this address is. I'm on pages 140-142. Please check it out: http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1w49r/BestOfWorldwideAbstr/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http://free.yudu.com/item/details/496113/Best-Of-Worldwide-Abstract---Mixed-Media-Artists-Volume-II&utm_source=streamsend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=15901835&utm_campaign=Announcing%20the%20Best%20Of%20Artists%20Presents%20Worldwide%20Abstract%20%26%20MIxed%20Media%20Volume%20II
I've added a variety of yellow paints trapping and integrating the tissue and kozo more thoroughly. The white is some additional gesso - still wet - used to secure fibers.
Who said quilts are just for hanging on walls??? They actually can be lain across beds for warmth - both visual and physical. I dyed the fabric in the bathtub and took it to the local long arm quilter. We're going to sleep under it tonight for the first time. There's wool batting so it is light weight but should be warm enough for a blustery 70 degree southern CA March day.
It's starting to take on real character. I have painted the piece with many different blue, green and metallic acrylic paints. You will notice the edges have been burnt and a bit of the interior has also been burnt away with the heat tool. Because there are so many layers built up on the already very stiff Timtex the overall piece is quite hard, not flexible at all. I selected these colors because I'm still looking for the ideal way to represent both the Chihuly glass and glaciers. This is getting a bit closer than anything else I've attempted so far.
I used various inks to put in the first color and dissolve the salt to pock the surface. I think the cement medium was not such a good idea though I can get a needle through it. Next time I'll use the heavy body gesso as she recommends.
I'm doing an experiment with the first series of techniques from Grey's book. At this point I have applied Wonder Under to Timtex, ironed tissue paper over some areas and then applied very heavy gesso and a bit of "cement" medium plus a smattering of coarse salt. It will be drying over night.
If you've been following my blog for awhile you are aware that I am a huge fan of the contemporary British needleworkers. I've studied with Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn for a week on three occasions and read and collect everything that I can get my hands on in this vein. My latest find, published in 2008, (how did it take me four years to find this???) is this gem from Maggie Grey who is in the pantheon of these embroiderers. Here she layers gesso upon Tyvek, upon felt upon paint and MUCH else, zaps it all with heat and magically creates the most wonderful textile art. No, I'm not getting a commission, sadly, but I do recommend this book to anyone who wants to push fiber into the world of deep texture and sparkling color. I'm playing around with some of these techniques and will post when I get some samples.
Off to FiberPhiladelphia for lots openings this weekend including Lines and Numbers at the Crane Old School Galleries where I have a piece - Harem - in the Art Cloth Network shows. Be there if you can!!
I have finished my 4th embroidery in the round robin series we call 5 Strands. This is a response to three other pieces I received in the mail last month. I don't feel free to post the others' work (yet) but here is what I have come up with. All the work is 8" x 8" There is one more round to go which will start in April then we just may put the entire 25 pieces out into the world.
For great photos of my Lamination demo for the Southern CA SAQA region, take a look at their blog posting: http://saqasocal.blogspot.com/
Please let me know if you need more info!
So I had the underlying quilt done and then I decided to add the painted tulle ghost circles. And there they are just waiting to be stitched but on top of all that laminated paper??? Am I really going to have to resort to the sewing machine? Me, the hand-stitcher? What to do. Maybe I'll have an inspiration while I'm sleeping tonight. Let's hope so, I'd hate to submit this baby with the pins still in!! (Or with any machine stitches either.) Got any suggestions?
We are rushing off to San Diego for the opening tonight of Art Meets Science at the Visions Art Museum. My piece Wood Cells is there and other than the catalog I have not seen the whole exhibition so we are excited. Meanwhile I'm posting my new enthusiasm (my answer to not being able to get Korean mulberry paper for joomchi) - cotton linters. I've been painting and dyeing up a storm with it. Better photos to come!
