Some Paint and Finishing...

Today I'm showing you the final steps in the piece I've been working on based on Angie Hughes technique from her book Stitch, Cloth, Paper and Paint (click here and here to see the first steps).  I really enjoyed this process.  Once the gesso was dry, it was time to paint.  As suggested, I used slightly watered down paint to make it easier to get into all of the folds, nooks and crannies in the textured material.  The watered down acrylics also work well to get a little 'drippage' going on!

I managed some right handed painting and
I also did a little 'pinky painting' because I was having trouble achieving what I was trying to do with a paintbrush in my 'wrong' hand. LOL

Notice my rings on my right hand?  I decided to put them on my right hand since it's looking like I won't get them back on my left hand for quite some time.

I also did some stamping with one of my favourite 'found' objects...the empty scotch tape role you can see in this picture.  It gives you two concentric circles and because it's plastic, I've been using it for years!




My plan for this material was to make a journal cover, so the final step was to fold each of the ends in and then do a satin stitch along the top and bottom edges.  This created the 'pockets' into which you tuck the cover of the composition book.  The best thing about this is that when the composition book is full you can easily replace it with another one!  I even "put a bird on it" with my fun little stamp.

Adding Stitch...

Adding texture with machine stitch

Last week I posted about Angie Hughes' book and showed you the first stages in the piece I've started based on her technique.  So much for putting it out in the sun to dry faster...LOL...I've been juggling several projects and while that was drying I got busy with something else.  I finally got back to it to add the machine stitch, giving the piece even more texture.

Long threads created with 'jump stitch'

Angie uses a stitch she calls a 'jump stitch' in which you set the machine for free motion stitch, do a few stitches in place and then 'jump' to another spot, leaving long threads between the areas you're tacking down.  After the stitching was done gesso was painted onto the entire surface to seal the piece, getting it ready for the acrylic paint. Time to let it dry again so I'll pick up another ongoing piece and continue on this another day.

Lupines...

When my son was four years old, I took him on a month long road trip to explore the maritime provinces.  We camped in our van and enjoyed discovering so many exciting and beautiful places.  Some of my friends thought I was crazy to take the trip, on my own with such a young child, but we had an incredible time!  One of the things that has stuck with me, were the incredible lupines that covered all of the roadsides in P.E.I.  Since then, when ever I see lupines I am reminded of that time.

This photo was taken down the street from our home.  The woman that lives there has an incredible green thumb and her entire front 'lawn' has been transformed into the most beautiful garden.

I've added Kim Klassens 'Autumn burst' texture and while I was experimenting with different blend modes and filters, I came up with this colourful version.  I'm sorry to say I don't remember how I got to this point, but I sure love the effect.

A little more tweaking resulted in this slightly different version. I really love the colours in this one!

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Texture Tuesday, and Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Another Piece of Rust...

The current GOE challenge has me working with rust again, but this time I'm approaching it in a whole new way.

Ann, one of our GOE members took these photos of a rusty grate while she was on a golf course in Mexico (perhaps this is why she never make it on the Women's PGA Tour...just saying...).

I can't reveal too much yet, but I thought I'd give you a peek at the machine stitched grass I've been working on.  I've layered some tan thread under the green to give it the texture and colour of the old, dead grass that's under some of the healthy green grass in the photo.  Instead of using rust dyed fabric (which is too hard to work with right now with the cast and all), I've edited the original images in Photoshop Elements and then trasferred it to a piece of cotton using Transfer Artist Paper.

This image shows a bit of the hand stitching I've started to accent the larger blades of grass.

I'm having fun with this piece, but it's  frustrating me that the hand stitching is causing me pain. I've decided that in the interest of my hand I'm going to have to lay off all hand work until I've healed.  I can't wait to get this cast off!

Time For some Machine Creating.

Last year I was lucky enough to win some fabulous hand dyed fabric from Vicki Welsh.  What I love about hand dyed fabric is that it always seems to go well together, regardless of the source.

I'm planning to work in another series, combining these fabrics with some of my own hand dyed pieces.

I hope to be able to have something to show you soon...

Texture Technique Using Everyday Materials

I found a wonderful book called Stitch, Cloth, Paper & Paint, by Angie Hughes while I was browsing the art section at the library.

Angie explains her technique for using watered down PVA glue to create incredible texture using cotton and layering it with cheesecloth, tissue paper and other such things.  She then paints the piece using acrylic paint.

This photo shows the second stage, where I'm applying the tissue paper strips using a sponge brush and the watered down glue.

 In the book, Angie tells you to let it dry overnight, but when it's hot and sunny outside, I figure I can speed that process up dramatically.

I'll share more about this piece later, as it progresses.  Thanks for visiting.

"O" What An Interesting Tree...

The other day, while walking along Reynolds St. in Oakville, this tree caught my eye.

Okay, here's what it looked like before I started playing in Photoshop Elements. LOL.  All of a sudden that funny "O" makes sense.  I'm glad they found a way to make it work without cutting down the tree!

Linking up with Our World Tuesday, Texture Tuesday, and Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Threadworks Travelling Show

I just found out that "Ode to Dr. Seuss" will be included in the Threadworks travelling show.   If you have the opportunity to get to the Wellington County Museum before June 9th, you'll be able to see the full show (the travelling show will not included all of the pieces shown in Elora/Fergus due to space limitations).  I hope you'll consider visiting the show if it comes to a location near you.  Here's the schedule of dates and locations: 

  

Threadworks 2013 WATER travelling exhibit

                                                                                                2013

1.  Wellington County Museum, Elora/Fergus                April 20 - June 9

2.  Joshua Creek Gallery, Oakville                                -  to be confirmed

3.  Temiskaming Art Gallery, Haileybury                       Sept. 1 - Oct. 25

4.  Fort Frances Museum                                            Nov. 4 - Dec. 14 (or so)

                                                                                                2014

5.  Dryden and District Museum                                  Jan. 4 - Feb. 22

6.  Lake of the Woods Museum, Kenora                       March 9 - April 27

7.  Thunder Bay Museum                                            May 11 - June 29

8.  Museum of Northern History, Kirkland Lake             July 12 - August 30

9.  Arthur Child Heritage Museum, Gananoqué              Sept. 12 - Oct. 31

                                                                                                2015

10.  Bruce County Museum, South Hampton                 November 2014 - March 2015

11.  The Station Gallery, Whitby                                  March 13 - May 3

12. Woodstock Art Gallery                                          May 15 - July 5

13. Gibson Gallery, Amherstburg                                 TBA                                    

Returns to Elora

** please note that these are when the show arrives at these venues ... the actual opening will be determined by the individual galleries.

On-going Art Journal Calendar Project...

Here's my June calendar spread.  It's a good thing I worked ahead and had this page done before my cycling mishap.  I won't post my finished May page (because it's not LOL)...I've been recording the highlights of my days on computer and I'll wait and transcribe them to the art journal calendar once I get my cast off in a few more weeks.

Upcoming Shows...

I'm excited to announce that 'Rust' and 'Out of the Blue' have been accepted into a juried art show to be held at the Helson Gallery at the Halton Hills Cultural Centre in Georgetown from June 27th to Sept. 8th, 2013.  If you're in the area, I hope you get the chance to pop in for a visit.
And, while you're in the neighbourhood, please check out the community window at Young's Pharmacy, just around the corner and up the block, on Main St. where I will be displaying some other art as part of a Group of Eight exhibit during the first two weeks of July.  If you make it a Saturday morning you can also take in our farmer's market right there on Main St.!

Linking up with Off the Wall Fridays.