New sketches in my 4"x6" journal

I didn't get much art made this week. Here this week's sketches in my new journal that I talked about here.  

While I was editing the photo for the blog, I decided to covert the photo to greyscale to check see if the values are balanced. The sketch on the left has a better value balance than on the right. You can see that there is a good balance of light, medium and dark values.

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Green Scrap fabric book

This weekend I organized my bookmaking supplies and found the 4"x6" fabric book cover that I was going to bring to a workshop to use as a sample. Instead of adding to my stash of unfinished book covers, I decided to make a book. It's been since I have sewn a book. I cut up some Blick's White Sulphite Drawing Paper then used waxed white linen thread to sew in the signatures with the Gather Long stitch and Link stitch. I'm finding that attaching a ribbon to use as a closure adds a nice detail. This ribbon is navy but looks like black in the photos.

Green Scrap Fabric Book - 4"x6"

Green Scrap Fabric Book - 4"x6" front cover

Green Scrap Fabric Book - 4"x6" back cover

Green Scrap Fabric Book - 4"x6" outside covers with spine detail

Green Scrap Fabric Book - 4"x6" inside covers

Green Scrap Fabric Book - 4"x6" with 5 signatures; 50 pages

Green Scrap Fabric Book - 4"x6" fore edge and spine details

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New sketches in my 4"x6" journal

Here a this week's sketches in my new journal that I talked about here.  

It was a bit hard for me to decide if these sketches were finished. I found that taking a photo then posting on Instagram helped in the decision progress. Once I post a photo of my sketches, there's no turning back and adding to it. I have to keep reminding myself that these sketches are not individual pieces of fine art. They are sketches in a journal. A way to create a little bit each day.

This second set of sketches were finished this morning. Trying hard not to overthink it. Just create!

 

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Mini Matchbooks

To be honest, I was always a bit intimidated by creating tiny artwork. Then I realized that I can adapt my loose, abstract, collage style to fit in a small space. I created these Mini Matchbooks.

"Mini Pink Matchbook" and "Mini Green Matchbook"

Deciding what to use as the substrate took some experimenting. I found that this style of matchbooks had strong enough cardboard and shape to work as the substrate. I deconstructed each matchbook so I had a piece for the cover and a piece for the box to hold the pages. There are many artist who use matchbooks so I can't say that I discovered this medium.

The accordion style book works well with a matchbook. I used Blick's White Sulphite Drawing Paper for the base of the accordion pages. Leftover scraps of altered bleeding tissue paper was used to decorate the covers of each book. Each page has a different artwork that was created using paper scraps, acrylic paint and markers.

"Mini Green Matchbook" front view - 1.5"x2"x7"

"Mini Green Matchbook" back view - 1.5"x2"x7"

"Mini Pink Matchbook" front view - 1.5"x2"x9"

"Mini Pink Matchbook" back view - 1.5"x2"x9"

 These two books are on display in eXtreme Fiber Art exhibit at ideaXfactory.

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New sketches in my 4"x6" journal

Here a this week's sketches in my new journal that I talked about here.

I decided to change it up a bit and make a 2 page sketch. I'm happy with the composition, colors and materials on this one. I haven't used bleeding tissue paper in my art in quite some time. This material adds some nice texture and color variation to a sketch.

The next sketch, one on the left below, is drastically different than the way it started out. I wish I had taking process photos along the way. It was dark brown, red and turquoise. Needless to say it turned out very muddy looking. With a quick swipe of white gesso, the mess was gone. More bleeding tissue paper was used along with watercolor and oil pastel. I pushed this 80lb drawing paper to the limits with all the layers of paint, etc. and it held up nicely.

The sketch on the right started down the same path as the one on the left. I pulled in the reins and kept the sketch simple.

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Loops Book with French Link and Copitc Stitches

I decided to give the French Link with Coptic Stitch another try. You can see my first attempt here. "Loops Book" has 20 - 4.5" square individual signatures that are sewn together using black waxen linen thread. I painted the loops using Turquoise and Red acrylic paint and thin black Sharpie. 

This attempt was a more successful than the last. There is something to say for practicing. Right? Next time I try this stitch I will use signatures with more paper. The bulk of the signatures will showcase the French Link stitch because there will be more space between the stitches.

"Loops Book" - 4.5" square

"Loops Book" - 4.5" square

"Loops Book" - 4.5" square

"Loops Book" - 4.5" square; all the pages

As I mentioned here. This book is on display at the eXtreme Fiber Art exhibit at the ideaXfactory.

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eXtreme Fiber Art exhibit as ideaXfactory

I am thrilled to have my colorful books in the eXtreme Fiber Art exhibit at the ideaXfactory.  

eXtreme Fiber Art exhibit

ideaXfactory

351 N. Boonville Ave.

Springfield, MO 65806

Exhibit Dates and Hours:

September 7 - October 12, 2018

Tuesday and Thursday 3pm-7pm

 

"2018" Accordion Book (front view) - 4"x4" to 4"x20"

"2018" Accordion Book (back view) - 4"x4" to 4"x20"

"Little Red Book" - 4"x4"

"Loops" book - 4.5"x4.5" to 4.5"x9"

"Mini Pink Matchbook" - 1.5"x2"x9"

"Mini Green Matchbook" - 1.5"x2"x7"

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New sketches in my journal

I have started working in my new journal that I talked about here. I'm finding that I like the size (4"x6") and, surprisingly, I like creating on a blank page. My previous journal had pages that were monoprinted with acrylic paint. Both journals used the same paper as the signatures, which is Blick White Sulphite Drawing Paper in 80lb weight. Even though this paper is made for drawing, I found that painting with acrylic paint and gluing collage papers work well. Granted I wouldn't use watercolor. When adding felt markers like Sharpie, I find that the marks don't bleed through to the backside if it's applied on top of the paint. If the felt marker is applied directly to the raw paper then there has been some bleeding. All in all, I like using this paper for my journals.

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Beyond the Edge Fiber Artists' "Exploration in Fiber"

 

"Renewal" - 20"x20"

In previous posts, I have mentioned that I'm part of an amazing group of fiber artists called Beyond the Edge Fiber Artists. We exhibit locally and nationally. This weekend our exhibit, "Exploration in Fiber", will be opening at the Potocki Center for the Arts.

The Potocki Center for the Arts is located at:

27301 La Paz Road

Mission Viejo, CA 92691

949-470-8470 

Exhibit dates:

September 8 - November 3, 2018

The exhibit will feature a wide range of fiber art. If you are in the area, please stop on by!

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