Screen Printing Revisited

Awhile back I tried my hand at screen printing. The results were okay. The fabric color was a bit washed out so, I put the fabric aside until I decided what I wanted to do next. Recently, I came across the fabric and decided to give it another go.

I've read numerous articles on using Elmer's water soluble glue as a resist. So, I added numerous swirls using it. The photo with the glue swirls on the fabric was hard to see. This is a photo of the fabric before the swirls.

When the glue was dry, it looked like the glue didn't saturated the fabric. Instead of going over the glue, I had the idea of putting leaves on top of the fabric to add another layer of resist.

Now it was time to add navy blue dye. I made a few swipes then pulled off the screen so, the fabric could dry overnight.

The next day, I washed the glue out of the fabric and I was left with this soft color fabric. It's not my normal color palette but I like it. For now it's on my design wall until I can figure out how to use it.



My Blog.....Work in Progress

Tonight, I noticed that blogger is "new and improved". I thought it would be fun to try out new templates, etc. as well as navigate the new blogger format. I've been playing around for about an hour but my eyes are giving out on me. I can't figure it out how to get back to my old blog design. Hmmm? Well, my blog is now a work in progress. Off center blog header and all. I'll pick up where I left off tomorrow after I get a good night's sleep.

To be continued.......

Finished What I Started

We all have projects that we started for an exhibit/show but ran out of time. Last week I finished one of those projects.

I had started the project shown below to enter into the Santa Monica Art Studios Hangar Gallery exhibit but I ran out of time. It was time to get it back out and finish it. It took me 2 days to finish and I'm pretty happy with it. This piece is called "Torn" and it's part of my Peel Away The Layers series. This series incorporates used tea bag papers as one of the design elements.

Hopefully soon, this piece will have a place to be shown besides my blog.

More Playing Around

The last couple of weeks I didn't have any imminent deadlines. In my previous posts, I started to paint a large canvas. I'm still working on that project but I was inspired by reading the latest issue of Quilting Arts magazine. Rayna Gillman's article on Stitch Therapy peaked my interest. So I cut up some strips of fabric and started sewing without any plan. It was so freeing. I'm at the stage to put the fabric away. (Also, I now have some imminent deadlines.) I'll revisited the fabric at a later time.

Santa Monica Hangar Gallery Exhibit

Recently, I heard the wonderful news that 2 of my pieces were juried into the Santa Monica Art Studios Hangar Gallery exhibit. "Peel Away The Layers I" and "Peel Away The Layers II" will be on display. Then I received an email from the coordinator of this exhibit that "Peel Away The Layers II" sold! I'm so excited!

I'll be attending the opening reception and hope to see some friendly faces.

Santa Monica Art Studios Hangar Gallery

3026 Airport Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90405
Exhibit runs May 19 - June 16, 2012

Reception, Saturday, May 19th from 6-9 pm

Regular gallery hours are Wednesdays-Saturdays noon-6 pm.

Peel Away The Layers I

Peel Away The Layers II - SOLD

Play Around continued

I had an interruption last week so, I didn't get much done on my "Playing Around" project. It's pouring down rain today so, it's perfect weather to be creative.

Usually, I make quick sketches or notes of ideas that I have for projects in my sketchbook. With this project, I had didn't have a clear direction on what I wanted to do. I took a picture of the project so far and edited the size so I could fit 4 images on a word document.

Then I played around with different ideas using a black pen. I intentionally stayed away from abstract designs because most of my artwork lately has been in that style.

I really liked the shape of the single flower in the lower left. Next step is to draw it out on the actual artwork. To be continued....

Playing Around

Okay, I have to admit that I planned to Spring clean my place this weekend but the dust bunnies will have to wait.  

I don't have any immediate deadlines so, I thought I would play this weekend. Besides making 10 pieces for my graffiti inspirations blog, I was inspired paint a large (for me) canvas.



Graffiti Inspirations artwork

 I have this 30" x 40" canvas lying around from a project that didn't go anywhere. Newspaper was adhered to the canvas using white acrylic paint and matte medium.

I started by painting a wash of aqua and blue then drybrushed some yellow accents on top.

Now that I have the base of the painting, it's time to add some contrast. Cobalt Blue circles were added using a stencil I made from medium weight cardboard.

I think I have a good start. This coming week I will add layers to it and see what develops.

Almost Spring

It's not quite Spring but it sure seems like it. These tulips are adding beauty to my kitchen window and to my slightly neglected blog.

A Mosiac of Ideas Exhibit

A Mosaic of Ideas:

Surface Art Association

Member Exhibition featuring
Mosaic Challenge Pieces

http://www.surfaceartassociation.org/

Exhibition Dates: February 1 – 27, 2012

Reception: Saturday, February 4th 2-4 pm

Malaga Cove Library Gallery

2400 Via Campesina

Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
310-377-9584

I'm so honored that my piece called
"Peel Away The Layers II" won
 Best Use of Theme

Creative Inspirations

The mini group that I've mentioned in previous posts has made some changes for the new year. Our trades will now be every 3 months and each piece will be 12"x12". The current theme is "Writing on the Walls". I decided to make a literal interpretation of the theme.

I stitched white thread on top of hand dyed brownish red fabric to create brick mortar. Then I spattered white and black acrylic paint to distress the "wall". Hand painted and commercial fabric was used for the various sayings that were fused then top stitched.