National Fiber Directions

Pleased that two of my works have been selected for National Fiber Directions, in Wichita, KS

Whispers of the Positive

Collage

Hand pulled print, collaged, and sewn watercolor paper, cloth, painted with acrylics, layered with digital images, monoprinting.

Inkjet prints, cyanotype, silk organza, cheesecloth, watercolor paper, ink drawings and mediums.

23x30 

Edge of Winter

Molding Paste, inkAid, photograph, fabric, acrylic, glass bead medium, hand painted fabrics and stitched with pearl cotton.

19x27 

This work was an experiment, what I love to do best. The photograph was taken on a foggy day so there was little detail. I use my textured photograph technique that was published and still available- here. I used pearl inkaid to bring out the glow one finds on those magical days of fog. 

Designed to Inspire so you'll be Inspired to Design! Collagraphs!

Collagraph's are easy to make!
Use a stiff base like cardboard, foam board etc. Glue low relief items to it.
You can even use a hot glue gun to make marks on the base.

the inked plate

Apply thicker fabric paints, screen printing inks or acrylic paint to the base with a brush. A foam brush will shred so I use a inexpensive bristle brush found at a local mart. These are called 'chip' brushes. Note- I always use washable paints.

rolling out ink with a brayer

Sometimes I just brayer the top of the collagraph to catch the design. Experiment with all techniques to find the one you like the best. 

on Painted Fabric from my Fabric Transformations Workshop

collagraph on a T-Shirt

detail

Painting Fabrics- Sunprinting

Sunprinting is a great excuse to do some plain air painting! Gather your paints on a sunny warm day and go outside. I generally paint on a plastic surface, so I can just spread out on any table.

Most washable paints will work with this technique. The best results will come when the paint dries the quickest and the item you use is in good contact with the wet paint. That said, you can do this inside overnight until the fabric dries but the result will be more hazy and less defined.

 All of the fabrics used are pima cotton and PDF. But you can use any washed non-textured fabric. Texture interferes with the printing results. The fabric above uses cheesecloth for it's print.

This fabric has a print using a section of rug mat. I over-sprayed with 2 different metallics while it was drying resulting in a slight diffused metallic spread. Metallics must be diluted when sprayed or they will clog your spray bottle. There are spray metallic paints available.

A simple toothpick print evokes a fence, bare trees in winter, or playful pick up sticks. Who remembers those?

Natural materials of all sorts can create wonderful prints and you're already outside after all!!
Sunprinting is part of my Fab Fabric Painting Workshop.

Fabric Painting- On A Roll! Brayer Printing

I use inexpensive brayers, found at any hardware or dollar store, to create textured printing. Use inexpensive sponge, foam and textured brayers. 

Paint a sponge brayer with a textured medium to create unique textural mark. Do you still have your old glue gun? Fire it up and decorate a cheap sponge brayer for a very personal mark-making tool.

You can also use any recycled cardboard tubes, toilet paper, corks, even old thread spools to make your own brayers.
Add designs using foam stickies, string, elastic, cloth scraps and you’re on a roll! Try carving an old candle!

Print on a padded surface for the best detail. I have a print/ironing table in my studio. It can be made with firm batting or acrylic wool covered with duck or some sturdy fabric. I staple it directly to the underside of the table. It can be removed when it starts to turn multicolored and re0worked into delightful painted fabric for your art projects.

Hint- I keep my paints upside down when stored. This way I can see the colors readily, the paint is ready to squirt out of the container and it helps seal the paint container for less evaporation.

 simple thread tangled on a brayer

MonoPrinting

Mono-printing is a simple, easy to learn and spontaneous technique. I include it as part of my Fabric Transformations Workshop Series.

 You can start with white paper or fabric but it's also a great technique to use with already painted or dyed fabrics. You can add details or fix dull or boring fabric too!

This technique is achieved with thicker paints. You can also use fluid paints by adding a thicker medium.
Use one or more colors on your plate. I use a very inexpensive plate. 4mm plastic! Cut to any size!

 Over print with several mono prints. This one started out white.

Use masks to create windows. And have FuN!

Fabric Painting- Can't Resist!

There are so many resists! Simple and complex. Even dried acrylic paint will create a unique resist!

This piece uses string as the resist. Sprayed and and free form painting from nozzle bottle. Pair this with sun printing to increase depth.

 Painted fabric with leaf used as a simple resist. Spray painted over previously painted cloth

 Painted fabric with plastic wrap applied, while wet, for a simple mechanical resist.

Any torn or cut paper cover sections of the the dried painted cloth. Paint can be applied with brayer sponge or brush. Move paper repeatedly to create the design. 

Painting Fiber- Creating the Mood with the Muse

Painting fabrics is something I can do when I need motivation to get in the mood to work on other projects. I can paint without much thought or even thinking about color combinations. 

I never wash my brush when I'm painting but continue to use it as I add colors. This method of painting lends itself to painting in the moment, creative color mixes and listening to the muse.

Silk Noil, above, is one of my favorite fabrics. I love the texture, the nubs, the feel, even the smell. This fabric has been painted several times, each time I regathered it loosely and allow to dry before adding another layer of paint.
When I finish a painting session, I spray out the paint, collected in the brush, with water, on the cloth. This almost cleans the brush and adds delicate colors to the painted fabric.

 Silk Organza is another favorite. I use it often for layering. Most of the time I paint on damp fabrics to encourage spread. This piece was painted that way first. Then, I added blobs of highly diluted black on the dried fabric and allowed it to spread.

Occasionally I get into resists, which are included in my Fabric Transformations Workshop Series. This is a simple starch resist with 2 layered of paint. Love the texture!

And paper! A fairly recent addition to my work. About 10 years agao I took a workshop with Fran Skiles. It was delightful! She was one of those teachers that really changes your perspective on how you can do things. While I don't do what she does with my own work, I have fun playing with different papers. This is simple drawing paper used as a print off on painted fabric.

I have an Etsy shop where I sell some of my painted fabrics- you can go here to see some!

Painting Cloth- Adding Metallics

 detail from Stalking the Wild Print Workshop- adding the gilded leaf

painting the plastic first and doing print offs- from my Media Mix Workshop

 painting, adding metallic and line drawing- from my Fab Fabric Workshop- part of my Fabric Transformations 

painting interfacing on plastic results in unique textures on reverse. Gold added in a free flow manner from nozzle bottle. 

Fiberart For A Cause 2015

I am thrilled to be an invited artist for "The 100" to be held on February 4, 2015.  The goal for this fundraiser is to raise $10,000 in one day!!  
For more information click here. 

Fiberart For A Cause has already raised $240,000 thanks the amazing Virginia Spiegel and the generosity of fiber artists and patrons.

My work has recently been published in the new Dec/Jan Quilting Arts Magazine 2015 in my article "Mini Puzzle Quilts" Not only will you receive the mini-quilt but the magazine in which it has been published! 

"Bottle from Pa"  includes the brush hanger too! Almost a $200.00 value for a mere $100.00 and a donation for an excellent cause!

fab painted fabrics in color on my Etsy shoppe

"Your way begins on the other side.

Become the sky.

Take an axe to the prison wall.

Escape.

Walk out like someone suddenly born into color.

Do it now."

Rumi

Painting fabrics is a spontaneous and wonderful thing to do when I don't have much time to work on intensive projects. 

I can splash on paint and spread it about, creating wonderful serendipitous color mixes, playing with print offs or adding thermal fax silkscreens from my photography. My other non-quilty pleasure!

Some of these can be found on my Etsy Shop- for Sale if you would like! 

Threads and all!

Free Thermal Fax SilkScreen Demo Dec 13 Dover NH

I'm sharing my Thermal Fax silk Screen technique at Village Goldsmith Gallery, Dover NH, this Sat, Dec 13 2014 from -10-4.

Bring a plain T-shirt and I'll screen it for you!

this is the news blurb
"Wen Redmond, mixed media fiber artist, will be on hand to demo some of her signature techniques. Wen mixes photography, printing and more with fabric for unique and interesting approaches to fiber art. Bring a T-shirt for her to do a Thermal Fax Silk Screen Image on! Wen will have samples to show, fabric to sell plus a huge inventory already at the Village Goldsmith Gallery! You won't want to miss this!"

Hudson Valley Holographic Images and More Workshop

Just back from 3 days of fabric painting, thermal fax screening and using those fabrics to create our Holographic Images. The workshop took place at Hudson Valley Art Workshops in Greenville, NY.
It's a lovely B and B with many art workshops to choose from- see more info here
They provide AC rooms, excellent gourmet food, and delicious cookies! Prepare to indulge!
We spent the first day exploring painting and created several fabric to choose from for our border fabrics.

The second day, we used our own images to create 4 thermal fax screens that were just the right size to  add thermal fax screen details to our sewn borders!

The last day we sewed and completed our Holograghic Images.
A candid shot of our reflections from the demo mirror!

Finished!
Thank you Garrie, Lisa, Manon, Barb, Barbara, and Grace for being a gem of a class!
It was challenging, wonderful and a truly unique teaching experience!