Journal for Your Heart

glue in small bits of leftover paste papers

re-use old journal pages

paint over anything to muted or cover

Mono-printing over pre-painted surface...

Adding mono-printing to painted cloth can add depth and interest. I hope you enjoy this brief pictorial tutorial.  

painted cotton duck

mono-printing plate of 4 ml painters plastic,  cut to cover area  to be surface designed

place plastic directly on top of area you wish to mono-print over.
The plastic gives a clear view. Apply thick paint. Try spreading with old plastic card.

draw into the paint with a recycled hardened eraser on a old pencil or
 anything else that will give you the result you want. Experiment! 

flip and place on desired area

brayer firmly and peel corner to peek. if needed brayer more.

remove plastic to reveal mono-print

finished and ready for next step

Easy Stencil Creation

I've had success making my own stencils with 4ml painters plastic. 

There is even heavier weight plastic you can choose to use. 
They're lightweight, easy to clean & store. If you need them slightly stiffer, tape edges with heavy duty duck tape. 
Nice too since they're transparent, you can place over design and trace. 

 If you want to repeat your stencil designs, they're thin enough to use as a mask for silkscreens.

Workshops Coming Up and New Gallery Blog

UpLIFTMeNTs!

My new gallery for small works blog!

http://wenredmond.blogspot.com 

AND

Join Wen in her own studio in Rollinsford, NH, for 

In Studio Workshops in Surface Design  APRIL 2012                

Spring in on Saturdays

4-week series covers a variety of surface design methods…

APRIL 7     Fab Fabric Painting- just featured at Pro Chem

APRIL 14   Basic Silk-screening

APRIL 28   Creating Thermal Fax Silkscreens

MAY 5        Stalking the Wild Print –published in Cloth Paper Scissors 2011

           

You'll learn new techniques or be inspired by new ideas.

            Wen Redmond, a fabric artist for over 30 years, will offer the workshops at her studio, #336, at Salmon Falls Mills, 1 Front St. Rollinsford, NH. (Directions www.millartists.com or GPS)

            The workshops run from 10-4. The first day will start at 9:30 for registration and payment. The cost is $295.00 for entire series or $80.00 per individual class. There is a small materials fee for each workshop.

            There is only room for 6 students so register early. There will be a registration fee of ½ total cost to hold your place in the workshop. For example, if you take all four workshops a total registration fee of $147.50 is due one month aheadof workshop. Workshops will be cancelled 2 weeks in advance if it is a no go. I will return your checks if this is the case.

            When filled, I will post workshop as closed on my tab on my blog. http://fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com.

           

To Register 

EMAIL Wen at wenredmond@yahoo.com for enrollment information and workshop supply list. Please indicate “surface design class”.

 To insure maximum individual attention to each person’s artistic interests, there will be only 6 participants in each of the 2012 classes.

Registration OPENS for all workshops January 10, 2012.

Registration CLOSES for all workshops March 15, 2012. 

I appreciate your support!

Fabric Printing with Georgia on My MInd

I found a carved woodcut of Georgia O'Keefe that my daughter, Theresa, made in art school. 

I decided to print some shirts. 

I used fabric screening paints but any thickish paints or dyes would work. Roll out your paint on a palette and roll onto the woodcut. You can also make a cut out of a Styrofoam tray that you usually discard. You know the ones veggies and such come in at the grocery store.

 Be careful not to apply too much paint at once or it might seep into the recessed part of the woodcut design.
You can place an old newspaper, magazine or plastic in-between the shirt front and back to protect the back from paint seepage. 

The woodcut is inked and is ready to print. Flip and position where you want it. I print on a table that has a low loft firm batting covered with cotton duck. Printing works best on a padded surface. 

I used the antique iron to press down, 'ironing' the print onto the shirt.

Ta- Daaa!

OK, 3 shirts is enough. It is fun though!

PhotoShop Options

Photo of my woods, blended wiht funky edges

 I enjoy layering my photographs in Photoshop to create images that are painterly.

There are a number of blending tools in this digital palette that is similar to the creative process used in any media.

Frosty Grass

sheets of hand made paper

pinlight blend with frosty grass

overlay blend 

another photo used in above blend

frosty grass with soft light blend

Stone as Drawing Line

Stone

Image changed to black and white high contrast

Printed on silk organza used as overlay

I Dreamt I Knew a Man Who was a Tree. He Told Me about all the Wonderful Lights He could See.

Can't Help Myself!

Dreams Awaken 1
Ok- This art quilt's colors have bugged me from the get go. I like the format and quilting but pink?

So I decided to use my current protectant of choice- Satin Varnish by Liquitex- and coat the piece with it. Usually it deepen colors, at least on my digital fiber work. Not so here. It deepened it alright but too dark. I forgot to cut it with water- 1-1 proportions. Yikes!

Distressed, I left it to work on over projects. I returned to my Digital Fiber. I am creating another piece which I can not show here as it may be an entry where I need a virgin art work. It's a digital collage. I am really liking this new way of working and I will present it in my new format of tying sections of the work together. It's tones are in neutral palette. Unusual for me as earthy colors are more my thing but it is subtle.
Inspried by my recent conversation to neutral palette, I decided to paint the sucker.

Dreams Awaken 3

I think I made the piece more successful. I hope I can leave it alone for awhile. What do you think?

Workshop at PRO Chemical & Dye, Fall River, Massachusetts Aug 26-28, 2011

I do not want exactness in my painted cloth but spontaneous colors. To be open for the unexpected-like the clouds.

http://t.co/JbxdKWi

using bits for the back of a piece

Fantasic Fab Painting Fabric Fun

fiberartgoddess.blogspot.com

Workshop: Using a wide variety of tools and tricks, you’ll have lots of fun as you explore the exciting prospect of painting on fabric. Learn lots of techniques to create completely incredible fabric! Each day will focus on surface design techniques, building your fabric with each consecutive skill....

Fantasic Fab Painting Fabric Fun

I'm having no time for any lull after attending the QN opening. I'm packing for my Media Mix! Mixed Media Collage Class! I leave for the SDA conference on the 8th.

Dance detail
AND just a reminder- I will be teaching locally, in MA,in August 26-28, at Pro Chem. Fantasic Fab Painting Fabric Fun!

http://www.prochemicalanddye.com/home.php?cat=293

This class teaches the basic's and use of a variety of paints and techniques. It should be a relaxing and yet strangely invigorating workshop.

Workshop: Using a wide variety of tools and tricks, you’ll have lots of fun as you explore the exciting prospect of painting on fabric. Learn lots of techniques to create completely incredible fabric! Each day will focus on surface design techniques, building your fabric with each consecutive skill. The emphasis will be on encouraging creative responses to instruction, cheering serendipity and happy accidents.
“ I do not want exactness in my painted cloth but spontaneous colors- mix and allow development! To be open for the unexpected-changeable like the clouds.”

Notes detail
Something for everyone!

Busting off to Quilt National!

Off to Quilt National! I’m so excited!  I can’t wait to go and see the show. I’m looking forward to seeing my work exhibited at the Dairy Barn Art Center. It took over 17 years of trying to get in! 

And my piece, Leaping Point, was purchased already by Marvin Fletcher, the former directors husband!

I'll post photos soon so Stay Tuned 

The exhibition catalog can be purchased through the Dairy Barn’s website:http://www.dairybarn.org/shop/proddetail.php?prod=a-books-QuiltNational11&cat=7

Journal Pages, Thinking in Ovals #5

 Chartreuse leaves

strain toward the lightening sky

Spring popping open everywhere

warming my heart

outside I go

Surface Design Conference Confluence 2011 is coming!

This workshop opportunity came with the 2005 Surface Design Conference. Dorothy is one of my fiber shero's and I was very lucky to be accepted into her workshop.
If you ever get a chance I recommend her mind bending workshop!
And the Surface Design Conference is coming up this June 2011!

I am lucky to be able to teach at this venue!

WORKSHOP OFFERING- MIX IT UP! AT SDA CONFLUENCE CONFERENCE JUNE 2011

click here for INFO
video can be seen on UTube- here

Elmer's Glue Crackle Technique

I just learned a really cool and inexpensive crackle technique.
Paint your cloth or base. I used acrylic paint- what ever I have open or ready at hand. Spread on your glue and immediately paint with a contrasting paint.

Let it dry and watch the magic crackle appear.

easy!

Apply Elmer's Glue to painted base

spread glue with brush or old credit card

Paint without drying glue

Finished, Dried and Cracked Surface