Heron in Process

I haven't gotten too far on my latest project, this week.  I did whip up a quick wine carrier and a hot dish for a holiday party.  Back pain has influenced my activities this week, so I need to get in gear.  It may be low gear for a few days.  Turning off my machine now and getting into the pool for some water therapy.  Happy holidays to all!

Working on Fabric

I had just started sketching a Great Blue Heron onto hand dyed cloth, when I suddenly had to switch gears and create a new seahorse design. Now that my seahorse has been turned in to the Seahorse Dream committe, it' time to return to painted cloth. This has been on my easel, so I have taken some swipes at it as I mixed paint this past week. My next step is to trapunto the bird. I don't intend to complicate this one. I think he is just going to stand in shallow areas of water. I'll do that by applying sheers around his feet after the trapunto is done. Here is is so far. Time to get to work!

Meet Seminole Star

Two weeks ago, I had a blank seahorse.  I now have the finished product.  Meet Seminole Star, my seahorse representing the Florida Seminole Indians.  I have tried to represent traditional dress, the animals and birds in their environment, symbols such as sun, moon and stars, clouds, smoke and fire, baskets, fish, bear turkey, blue heron , flying egrets, turtle, nesting and flying eagle, water, sand and seashells.  I also had to duplicate it in miniature!.  It was a challenge, but it is ready to go for it's layers of clearcoat.  This is my first community art project!

Very Big Project

There is a new project on my agenda this week.  I am an approved artist for A Seahorse Dream project.  Last spring they invited local artists to submit proposals to decorate a 5 ft tall seahorse, to benefit The Gollisano Children's Hospital.  I sent in a proposal, was approved and have been waiting for a sponsor.  I now haven a sponsor and a seahorse but I am changing my original design to fit the theme of my sponsor.  My head is filled with ideas.  I picked up the seahorse yesterday and started pairing last night!  Wish me luck!   He resides in my bedroom, so no chance to work all night, although my husband is used to putting his pillow over his head to block out my all night art sessions!

  Judy

Unfinished piece completed

I started painting this soy milk painting on muslin about six months ago. I had taken a soy milk painting workshop and had paint left over that had to be used up or thrown out. I had one of my folders of photos that I had taken with me, so while other people in the class were sewing, I was really still in the mood to paint. I sketched from my photo and painted. It sat around for a while because I was busy with other projects, but this week I decided to get it out of the way and finish it. I love to use synthetic fabrics as I go along because I like shiny water and my frothy areas are white tulle. I wad it up and then sew it down as I go, when I am doing the quilting.  I hope I achieved the tumbling water effect? What do you think?  This is a scene from NH , close to where I used to live.

Inktense pencil work complete

I finished my plant leaves with the Inktense pencils, trapuntoed part of the work and then decided to cut away some of the background muslin and appliqué this piece on black fabric.  Without the black fabric, it just didn't have the vibrant look that I was trying to achieve.  I then satin stitched the edges of the appliqué.  I was still not happy.  I enhanced some of the color with Fabrico markers and that helped.  I then decided not to fabric wrap on canvas, but instead, to add a narrow red binding.

All in all, it was a fairly successful experiment.  I just need to hand sew my binding, add a sleeve and a label and I have another small finished piece.  Nothing is ever really quick with me!

Playing With Inktense Pencils

I decided to start playing with the Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils, which I recently purchased.  I am looking for a less labor intensive way to produce some small fiber art.  I am finding more and more fiber art venues in which to enter my work.  I need to expand my work to include the many views of South Florida that I have in digital images, which are usually the basis of my art work.

My process is usually fairly lengthly, as I photograph a scene, sketch on fabric, paint the scene, perhaps add overlay fabrics, perhaps add found objects.  If I trapunto part of my design, the process becomes more time consuming.  I put a lot of thread in my work, so the quilting/ thread painting process takes me a while.

I think I will try to cut down my time commitment on some work, by making some small art work.  I will see what this looks like as I progress?  My intent is to gallery wrap this on canvas after the thread work is completed.

The Thought Process Continues

The thoughts and pictures form in my mind as I pin bits and pieces to my painted whole cloth background.  Try this.  Try that.  I am working from the picture that I snapped in my backyard.  I live on a canal that leads out to the  Caloosahatchee River.  These fabulous birds land in my yard, brouse and then take off in beautiful flight, that makes you marvel at God's wondrous hand in all of his creations!

Can I capture that?  Probably not even close......but I can try!

Setting the Stage

Composing the background of my fiber art, or setting the stage, is important to transmit my vision to the viewers' eyes.  How important is that to you?  If I am painting a bird, where is that bird, what is the action in the piece, am I telling a story?  These are the thoughts that go into composition for me.

My work is often based on my photographs.  What caught my attention?  Why did I snap that series of photos?  What made me decide to compose this scene in cloth, paint and thread?

Seahorse Dream Project

I applied to become a Seahorse Dream Project artist and was accepted.  The seahorses are made of resin and are 5ft tall and you had to submit your design and why you should be chosen.  I did that and now I will get a seahorse that will be sold or auctioned to Benifit The Gollisanno Children's Hospital in Ft Myers, Florida.  I am still hoping to find a sponsor for Seahorse #23.  Contacttheseahorsedream.org if you want to help.  And, thank you for your support.

Odd Hours for Art

Well, this is an old habit of mine.  At 1:45 AM, I decide to put a little paint on some fabric for an idea  that is percolating in my mind.  Perhaps this is why former nurses often turn to art when they retire?  We've worked rotating shifts, 8 hr shifts and 12 hr shifts.  We've blended night and day and the work goes on because you take care of people 24 hrs a day.  So dabbing a little paint on cloth and heading to bed at 2:00AM doesn't seem odd at all!  When I can't sleep, I have been known to flip the switch on the long arm and away I go, to that creative space that knows not how to tell time.

Is Anyone Reading My Blog?

Dimensions in Art at The von Liebig

Unfortunately, I forgot to snap photos of my two new pieces on display in Naples at The von Liebig, after my final trimming and binding.  One piece is Sanibel Island Light and the other piece is, " All About Art," which pictures The von Liebig Art Center.  Both are painted whole cloths.  I do have a third piece in the show, called, " Young Egret."  All of this work and most of the work that I do, is based on my own digital photography.

Crashing Thunder

It's storming again!  Typical Florida weather.  It's a good day to work on projects.

Working on Florida Scenes

I have been working on Florida scenes this summer, finishing three fabric art pieces of Naples, Florida scenes with an up-coming show in mind.  I have also done a piece featuring Sanibel Island Light.  Three new works will be on display at The von Liebig Art Center, opening reception Friday, September 6, 5:30-7:30 PM.
I would love to post some in process photos, but can't seem to get photos from my IPad album to my Blog.  Any suggestions are welcome.

So Much For Frequent Posting!

Can't seem to get back to posting frequently.  I am working on new fiber art and have acquired a loom and have begun weaving.  So much to do, so little time!  With all of this Florida rain, I spend much time outside, trimming plants, pulling weeds, mowing grass.  I also swim daily and scrub my pool.  All of those things take time.
Two weeks ago, I took a photography trip to Naples, Fl to take local photos of street scenes, which is the next series that I am working on.  Hope to get these pieces done and ready for an upcoming show opportunity at the Von Liebig Art Center.  Lots of painting and sewing in my near future!
Create Art!