A Little Q & A

These are Mola inspired.  I used hand-dyed and batik cotton fabrics with fusible web on back and after all the cutting and machine stitching were done, I simply pressed with an iron to make it "official".  I liked these.  I would like to explore this further.

For this pair of butterflies, I decided to experiment with the failed attempts at discharging fabric with the bleach pen.  These were the ones that I left the bleach on a bit too long, and when I rinsed it out, the image was difficult to make out.  I wanted to see what would happen if I added some colored pencil to the fabric to make the images a bit more recognizable.  The really light or white areas are places that were discharged and untouched.  Overall I did not like the way they turned out.  I think more needs to be done to make it more pleasing to me.  Perhaps adding some stitching will help.  I will revisit this later.

For this one I used a black permanent resist and did another cropped view of the butterfly's wings.  I really like doing the cropped view.  I also like the Dye-Na-Flow paints, but I have to prepare for the bleeds.

I decided to do some more "batik" inspired art--this time with some permanent colored resists that I had laying around.  The silver and gold ones reminded me of the metallic paint from Laurel Burch paintings, so I leaned in that direction for colors.  Since I didn't have to rinse out the resist, the Dye-Na-Flow paints I used are really vibrant.  I may decide to rinse them later to soften them up a little.  And like my other panels, I don't know what I am going to do with them.  

For this set of butterflies, I wanted to try a new technique:  discharging.  I used a readily available Clorox bleach pen to draw the images.  Here's what I learned: Don't leave the gel on for an extended period of time because it continues to spread and bleach outward.  Then you might not be able to tell what the image is.  I have a few of these! Some fabrics won't bleach no matter how long you leave the gel there.  I don't know if it was the finishes on the fabric or if the fabrics weren't actually 100% cotton, but I drew out some awesome images, let them sit and nothing happened!   Different colors discharge differently.  It's truly an experiment all around. I really liked the way the gel worked on my batik fabrics!  I don't know if it is because it was softer or what, but I could see the gel working immediately. I don't know what I am going to do with these panels.  Whatever I choose, I will post the finished products here!

I decided to do some glue gel resist batik techniques on these.  I have used this method before, but this time I decided to use Dye-Na-Flow paints to add color.  They are very similar to liquid watercolors except they are permanent on natural fabrics.   What I liked about the Dye-Na-Flow paints was that for this technique they were easier to use than regular textile paints.  They flowed a little to the glue gel boundaries, and I was able to fill in areas more quickly.  They were very vibrant on the fabric, and I worried that it would fade dramatically once I washed out the glue.  The fading was not dramatic, and I look forward to trying this out for other images! I have no idea what I am going to do with these panels.

Just three little fiber collages combining felt, fabric, and embellishments.  Hand stitching is so relaxing!  I like how they came out.  I have no idea what I am going to do with these, but I am sure I will cut them out and stitch them to something else.  I will update this post later with the finished results.

This was supposed to be artworks 9, 10, 11 & 12.  The plan was to paint it, stitch it and cut it into four 6" x 6" mini art quilts.  When I got done painting it, I just couldn't cut it up!  And it took me like 3 days to paint it, so that put me behind in the challenge.  But I love the contrast of the colors along with its organic abstract quality.  I have not stitched it yet, so I will have to make a new post once it is totally complete!

I have not posted in a little over a week.  Not because I have not been making the artworks.  I have worked every day.  I have just taken on artworks that I could not complete in a day for various reasons.  Either the method required more time, perhaps to allow parts to dry or just more detailed or intricate than one day would allow.  I have attempted several self-imposed art making challenges over the years, and I have not completed a single one!  Maybe because there was no accountability so to speak.  So I am determined to finish this one!  I am actually enjoying the experience. I have so many materials to use in my studio, and I am experimenting with them.  

Getting some more drawing practice in on this Diaethria Clymena.  It may serve as inspiration for a later piece.  We shall see.

I felt like keeping it simple today.  I worked straight from my head.  I made a pin cushion out of felt, and I even put additional stuffing under the butterfly for a trapunto effect. 

Butterfly # 6 was cut from a piece of hand dyed fabric, and fused onto my own hand painted art cloth.  It reminded me of stained glass, so I added some "leading" lines, and free motion quilting.  Even the binding is fused.

I decided to do the same butterfly from yesterday, Sasakia Charonda, but I tried a new technique.  I actually drew it on a piece of acetate with a washable marker and monoprinted it onto a damp piece of fabric.  Interestingly enough, it printed onto the fabric--although it bled a little. Then I stitched it with black thread, and added some flowers and leaves to "camouflage" the bleeds. I used Tsukineko markers and inks to color my composition.  I finished this one with a satin stitch, too!  Overall, I like it a lot!

Butterfly #4, aka Sasakia Charonda, was painted with textile paints using a dry brush technique.  I finished it off with a satin stitch around the edge.  

I kept it "simple" for day 3.  Gaining practice in my free-motion quilting skills.  I tried to do more organic stitch lines initially, but then I got into the "groove" and stitched past the boundary of the butterfly.  So I abandoned that for a somewhat parallel stitch line.  I will revisit the organic style later.  I really do prefer that one.

I really liked my little drawing from #1, so for #2, decided to do a fiber art version.  It has a painted batting background, and the butterfly and blades of grass are made of felt.  It is all hand stitched.  I don't know whether I want to mount this on a canvas or add a backing, so I will save that decision for later..........

  I happened to visit my mother one day, and right in her yard was the most vibrant Monarch butterfly.  As I got closer to it, I realized that it was not alive anymore.  When would I ever have an opportunity to take a photo so close?  I capitalized on the opportunity! My photo My drawing Butterfly #1 I drew it with pencil and then traced it with a "waterproof" pen.  It wasn't quite as waterproof as I might have liked, but I am pleased with the finished product.  I used Derwent Inktense pencils to add color.

I love butterflies.  I have taken many photos of them.  I know a lot of people like butterflies a lot, so this is not an innovative idea, but there is just something about them.  They are just beautiful and peaceful and delicate.  Visions of both simplicity and complexity.  This will be a challenge for sure!

I haven't really made time to create as much as I'd like for quite a while, so I have decided to challenge myself to create art every day during the month of June.  I really want to grow during this experience, and I really want to stick with it.  So I am going to set some simple parameters: Select a theme for the month. Use any art making method. It can be any size. One artwork for each day of the month--30! Post the artwork at least weekly.   What do you think?  Am I being too lenient or to specific?  Either way, I am going to give it a go!