Freezer Paper Demo

First, I made a copy of a bird photograph and enlarged it to 150% of normal. (Easier to work with.) I then cut it out with small craft scissors, then traced around it onto freezer paper. Then, I ironed it onto fabric (shiny side down). At this point I painted over the image with acrylics (don't thin them down too much - the paint will bleed under the mask). Next, I thinned out the colors with water when further away from the bird to soften the effect. Two examples follow.

First Bird

This bird mask was painted over on unbleached muslin. This image is strongly contrasted with the paint around it, and needs enhancement with more details; first overpainting in a soft tone, and drawing with a gel pen, colored pencil or sharpie.

This is an example of a freezer paper mask over pre-dyed, (or commercial) fabric. I used stamps to embellish around the bird. It's not necessary to go any further and draw details on the bird if that's not your strong point.

Altar Series

These are an offshoot of my interest in meditation - plus the fact that I get a satisfying feeling from the house shape. "Home" is such a deep instinctive need, don't you think?
These are printed with cut funky foam, freezer paper stencils, etc. and I added cutout drawings on watercolor paper.

Foam Printing

This is quick and easy with instant gratification. Take a pen and draw on a foam plate, then paint over it with acrylics. Quickly print on unbleached muslin.
This part of my "Joy of Creativity" surface design demo.

Juried into Summit County Public Buildings

My presentation to the Summit County Arts Council went well, and I'm scheduled to exhibit my work in spring of 2011 for 6 months in the Commons, the libraries, and other art spaces. They will do newspaper coverage and I'm in their lecture series.

Mancuso was Wonderful

What a great show! I was happy to meet others in my SAQA region of WY, UT, and CO, and amazed at the caliber of their work. I learned a LOT.

Coffee Filter Butterflies

First I drew butterfly outlines with a sharpie. (A gel pen will work, too.) I then painted over them with watercolors, then cut out the shapes and affixed them to the art quilt with acrylic gel medium. Then some top stitching.

Two Pieces at Mancuso!

I'll have a piece in the SAQA regional "Cutting Edge" show at the Mancuso April 29 - May 2. Forty of us will be there 1-3pm on Thurs the 29th.

I'll also have a piece in the U.N.'s Quilt Challenge show also at the Denver Mancuso.

"Sanctuary"

The bird's nest was drawn with gel pens and painted over (I call it "colorized") with watercolors, and then I re-emphasized some of the lines with a darker color in gel pen. Painted organza was cut out in the shape of a heart and drawn around with gold dimensional textile paint in a squeeze bottle.