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!

Creating Thermal Fax Images using Photoshop Options

This post deals with several options to create the Black and White image you will need to create a Thermal Fax Silkscreen. 

Fiber sculpture by Anda Klancic

The best screens for thermal fax need to be created from photos that are pure black and white photos. 

The original image is first simply converted to a Black and White image. Go to Image>Adjustments >Black and White. I duplicated this image to use so I could retain the original Black and White image to return to to use again if I chose.

For the first option, I used Filters. Filter>Sketch>Stamp. This image resulted which could be used for a negative silkscreen. All the black areas would be burned. This is where the paint will be placed.

I prefer a positive image. To create this, go to Image.Adjustments.Invert. This will invert the colors so the subject in this photo is in black. The result is too thick, not detailed enough for what I had in mind.

As with most everything, there are different ways to do things. For above image, I returned to the original Black and White image and went to Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast. A small window with a slider will pop up. I slid the brightness first to lighten the image, than the contrast to darken the subject. I needed to up contrast several times to get a high contrast or dark subject. I decided this image was too delicate.

For this final image, I again returned to the original Black and White Image. This time I went to Image>Adjustments>Curves. A pop up window will show a scale. I slid the small triangle to the right, while watching my image. When I saw the desired darken image, I went to Adjustments> Brightness/Contrast and upped the contrast to create a dark high contrast image. This highlites all the veins in the leaf that I found so attractive. Perfect! This result has the detail I want and is dark enough to create a great Thermal Fax SilkScreen!
Copy and paste image onto a letter size file with a 1/2" border. Repeat until you have 4 images on a letter size file.

Fall Workshop and Events in NH, ME & MA areas

Would love to meet you at 

September

As part of Wen’s Fabric Transformations Workshop Series, she will offer the ever-popular Fabric Painting and Innovative Stamping Workshops at Exeter Fine Crafts on September 18 and 19.

AND

Thermal Facts Workshop

Thermal Fax screens are detailed silk screens made form B&W photographs, or drawings. Any image you can think of! Your own photographs can be converted into silk screens!

An artistic compliment to your photographic fiber art.

Thermal Facts #2

As a follow up to my 12/10/08 post about thermal facts. I make my thermal fax silk screens using my nifty machine purchased from Welch Products.
I use duck tape around the screen as it is cheaper than the plastic frames you can buy. I use 2 or even 3 thickness on larger screens to keep them from buckling.
Secure 1/2 of the tape on one side, fold and continue.
Be sure to press firmly along the inner edge.
Pin, tape or spray your screen in position on your surface.
Lately, my daughter and I have been having fun screening motifs onto shirts and sweatshirts. I screen with a lighter color at first and continue using the screen with different colors, without worrying about the color too much. This often leads to nice spreads and delightful combinations.  I will either place a thin line on the duck tape 'well' or paint the paint right onto my squeegee. The squeegee can be anything- I have used old credit cards, dummies they send in the mail, paint spreaders found in your local Mart, to the real deal professional, ahem, squeegee. Squeegee the screen using somewhat fast even pressure, perhaps twice. Too much pressure or too slow a squeegee results in too much paint  though the screen, creating a bloated image. The surface you work on should be somewhat padded, like an ironing board. Be sure to wash your screen out before the paint dries in it. I usually throw it into a pan of water, and move on while it is soaking. The paint dissolves out like a dirty pan, then rinse and hang or blot to dry. Occasionally you'll need to scrub- do this gently with a soft brush.
I usually clean my squeegee's and other items used to direct the paint, onto a damp cloth. These have resulted in some unusual painted fabric. A good way to change your old stash. Have Fun!!