Mounting Work

What to Do with Older Work
     Sometimes a piece of mine just doesn't speak to me any more. Instead of burning them as the artists of old did, I choose to rework them.
     I have gone back into a piece and painted over it, or I'll paint gesso over parts of it and add collage items, incorporating parts I like or I simply cut out the areas I like and mount or frame them.
Mounting
     For this post, I will mount a section of a work onto a birch board panel. I like the panels because the wooden surface can really be pressed onto for glueing the new work. I have used individual stretcher artist bars and pre-stretched canvas before but these work best for this particular process.

find them here

 To determine what areas of the older work to cut out for the newly mounted work, I use a pre-sized window. I cut these out of old cardboard from cereal boxes, insides of picture frames, etc. This is economical and saves more garbage from going into the landfill.
     Here is a 9x9" cardboard square with a 6x6" opening. This works for me in 2 ways. If I wanted to wrap around a canvas or stretcher bar set up, I would use the 9x9" area to cut out. You need the extra fabric for wrapping.

   
     If I want to mount a piece on 6x6 wooden panel, I use the inside of the window. I move the window around the piece to choose the best design areas to cut out for these for smaller works.  I draw my lines using the inside as a guide to use to cut out the new piece.

     You can also use a cut out a solid piece of paper, no window, to outline where you would cut out but I like the window to see exactly where the design is I like. I'm sure there are pre-made products 'out' there too.
    After cutting my selection out. I prepare my panel by painting the sides and back of the it. Most of the time I use flat black gesso for this step.

After the panel is dry, you're ready to mount!

I use Bindex by Peblo for mounting. It sticks faster/tacter than gel medium. 

I use a foam brush to spread onto panel and than flip my piece over onto it.

Press firmly from center out to remove bubbles and wrinkles. Wipe off any excess medium off from the sides with a damp cloth. Paper towels will leave lint.
I flip onto plastic and weight it down to dry. Why plastic? Nothing sticks and the piece will peel off nicely.

I like to finish the edges of the front sides with paint, usually metallic. This creates a 'frame' and seals the fabric edge. Lastly, I paint a clear glaze, slightly diluted, on the top to seal and protect the fabric. This has an added benefit of deepening the colors, which I love!

 Finished and ready to add a hanging wire!

Relevance of Older Work

Tender Revelations
Do you ever look at your older work and love it. I have saved a number of my older pieces because I can't let go of them.
I have traveled down several different paths since I started creating fiber art, back in the day.
This piece was created when I just started to paint all my own fabrics. I still love the energy and serenity in this work. The inspiration for this pieces is explained below.
Even though I made this piece in 2002, I feel it is still relevant and contemporary.
In fact, I find the current rules of some shows of not allowing work older than a certain time span, restrictive, because older work can be quite good.
Why not share works you love, even though they aren't new?

Description- All fabrics are created by the artist. Dyed, mono-printed, resist sprayed, sun printed, painted and stamped. Cottons, silk noil and organza. 

Intuitively curve- pieced and quilted.

31'x 23

detail

Tender Reflections was enthused by reading the book, "After the Ecstasy, The Laundry" by Jack Kornfield. I was returning from a session at the Haystack School of Crafts in Deer Isle. Maine and listening to the book tape. I had to keep stopping to jot down notes in my journal. Tender Revelations  was inspired from this quote; " What can we expect when we enter the forest? To listen more deeply to the quiet. The first steps bring us amazements of tender revelations." 

Flanneling the Design Wall

I finished the design wall today.

I attached it to the wall with Velcro Dots, mainly at top, it took only 5 dots per each 4x8 1/2" insulation board.

     I ordered the extra wide flannel at Dharma Catalog to cover the wall without a seam.

     I started hanging the flannel by pivoting the insulation board out slightly from the wall and T-Pinning in position on top. I left a 1" or so to pin just behind the insulation, tucking as I pinned.

     After I got the top of the first board pinned, I went along the side, tucking and pinning, then slid the insulation back into position. I continued along the top of the next board, pinning and tucking and then down the other side. I had excess along that side that I ripped off without pulling on the flannel too much. I also pulled the flannel taut as I pinned and tucked the remaining side. I pushed that insulation back into position. 

     Just to be on the 'safe' side I hammered just 4 larger T-pins into the wall along the top of the insulation board.

     I have 3 electric switches & an outlet that I had cut out of the insulation. To access this, I pierced the flannel and 

trimmed it away, leaving a 1/2" to pin down around the opening. Not too bad.

It was a'job' to handle a big piece of flannel and I wasn't sure it would work but I now have a 8'x8' design wall!

my work has been honored and included in 

Integrating A Paradox: Art Quilts XVII

"Art, in its most paradoxical, often reflects the innermost, personal part of the artist's soul, which is then allowed, even encouraged, to be placed on display for all the world to see - perhaps to communicate." Wen Redmond

In Boats They Fled

see the rest of the show- HERE

New Studio Tour

Welcome to Grey Moon Cove Studio!

There has been a discussion about studio organization going around on one of my yahoo groups, which spurred me to show you what I did in my new home studio.

It took allot of figuring out how to condense 2 other studios into a smaller space. 

I think it worked well. Please enjoy and let me know what you think!

For my work table- I used 2 36" H x 18" D gorilla shelves. 

These are heavy duty shelf systems sold for garage or workbenches.

They have several shelves but you can add more.

I placed them parallel to each other and depending on the size of the top you use,

you can have more storage underneath- between the shelves.

Gorilla shelve table with vinyl flooring underneath & memory foam mat on left

I topped mine with a 4x8 sheet of plywood. There was plenty of space underneath for a 40x30 flat file and small plastic roller drawers on the opposite side.

I topped this with thin batting and cotton duck. It's great to use as an ironing surface and has enough give for screening and print making.

When I need a harder surface, I top with my large rotary cutting mat. 

When I paint, I spread a 4 ml plastic sheet over all of this and I'm good to go.

Because I work  spontaneously and messy I need to protect my brand new wood floor under the work table. I bought a 8'x12 vinyl flooring piece at Home Depot. This isn't permeable as carpet would be and I can easily wipe up paints and mediums. The vinyl comes on great big rolls. 

I have a memory foam 'rug' that I got at TJMax where I stand the most- comfy.

Lights- I don't like the look of fluorescent lighting or the almost undetectable pulse. I purchased LED bulbs that are set in eyeball socket and recessed cam's. The eyeball lights swivel so you can point them in any direction. LED's are more expensive but don't use as much electricity and last a long time- so I don't have to climb up to replace them as often. The lights are on dimmers so I don't always need to use them at full blast.

overhead LED lighting

Design Wall, not yet covered, with overhead eyeball lights. The design wall is 1/2" insulation board purchased at Home Depot. I cut out the light switches and will cover with flannel. Great photography wall too.
 I like to use 32x40 large foam core boards that I can move around easily and stack too. The folding step ladder, in far left,  is very light and handy.

One closet just has shelves in it instead of the traditional pole. And lots of shelves. We use the system that has metal rods you attach to the wall, insert brackets and top with a shelf. Easy.

My desk area is a U shape with a swivel chair so I have lots of surface area that is easy to reach. It's comprised of 2 6' tables I purchased from a retiring crafter. A sewing table with back extension for larger work and more desk area when not in use. and on back wall, on left below, is my new Epson 3800 printer.

note- I found the gorilla shelves at Home Depot- Here

Media Mix Postcards

These are few Media Mix Postcards similar to what my upcoming Pro Chem Workshop will offer.

I can't tell you how much fun these are to make!
Workshop Info HERE

more postcards can be found HERE

Pro Chem's workshop -Serendipitous Collage

Check out Pro Chemical's workshop line up

and 

mine to be offered there this April.

Serendipitous Collage embraces the unknown and unexpected. A really easy and exciting way to create collage- magical! 

This serendipitous way to create collage taps into your inner muse! Use your created fabrics and papers to create paper and cloth MeDiA MIX collages. Get inspired!  

“I am in transition, do not be discouraged. What I am doing is a act of courage, to give birth.” Paulous Berenshon

Workshop: We will make a several different presentations of collage, including fabric-based postcards, and small 8x10 collages on watercolor paper mounts. We will create a variety of painted and printed fabrics and papers using general acrylics and fabric paints. Techniques will include different painting techniques, image transfer, mono printing, sun printing, resists and an introduction to some medium enhancements. This workshop encourages the use of recycled materials and supplies you already have. Focus will be on spontaneous creativity and freedom of expression while creating green art. 

Partially based on Wen’s article in Cloth, Paper, Scissors- Jan/Feb 2011

Information and sign up HERE

New Work on UpLiFtMenTs

Digital Fiber #3

Printed original photograph with natural print

Stitched 8x10 Matted and packaged in a clear bag.

$18.00

http://wenredmond.blogspot.com

Stop by and let me know what you think!