On Your Mark -- Print!

I'll be heading to Fall River in a couple of weeks to teach at Pro Chemical and Dye. The class called "On Your Mark -- Print!" is about using marks successfully in a myriad of ways for printing with textile dye on cloth. A few spots are left, so tell a friend.

Genesee to Go on the Road

I've word that my work "Genesee" will be going on the road this summer to be part of an exhibit of art quilts. This is meant to hang in any weather and stretches 24 feet wide by 12 feet high.

Define a Line

As I get ready for my next class in printing on fabric at Pro Chem, I'm isolating lines in my mind. Whether they are organic, stiff, unyielding or flowing. The threads at the edge of the palms I saw in Florida make that italic, gestural line I'd like to capture.

I've Left Something in Florida

I'm glad I spent a few weeks in Florida. To my eyes, it's still a different world from coast to coast. But I've met more people who speak so well of Florida's attributes, that I'm beginning to understand the allure of that state. Plus, there must be my people there if the plate says so.

Florida Sendoff

This morning I spent with an artist I've long admired. I talked her into a Florida walk in the woods. These two barred owls sent me a silent farewell from their perch. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on both coasts, as well as the drive across the middle. Till next time -- Whooo Whooo.

Big Leaf Kind of Day

I'm always happy when a class in the Big Leaf makes it past the template stage and gets the Big Leaf fleshed out. The differences in pattern, color, choices are wonderful to see. It was a good day for the Thimblebuddies in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Thanks for having me over!

Who's With Me?

Tonight''s lecture for the Thimblebuddies in Port St. Lucie, Florida was fun. Especially telling was when I asked them to wave for a group shot for this blog. You can see some where for and some were not. All was fun at the end of the night. Maybe I won a few over to the art side? Well, it was about challenges, after all.

Yard Art

There was a mile of artist's booths on the main drag in Naples, Florida. I wondered if these whimsical mailboxes would be appreciated by the owners or depreciate the real estate. I'm not getting one.

A Little R&R

In between workshops was a chance to visit friends near Naples, Florida. So, the beach at sunset was on the list. Check. Tomorrow the everglades.

We Meet Again

I finally got to visit my work that is installed in a fabulous place on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The hand built fireplace surround tops at seven feet and my work is 11 feet high. I'm just there for scale. I signed it in 2014, and hadn't seen it since it went to its forever home.

Looks Like Fabric to Me

Westcoastalscape by Syd Solomon caught my eye on today's tour of the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida. Somehow it felt like fabric I'd printed or messed with. At least it reads to me like fiber art. Well, painting in 1968 was like that.

Supermoon Stand-In

Tonight was the last supermoon of 2019. We'll have to do with just regular old full moons the rest of the year. But coupled with the beginning of spring, how could you think this was an ordinary day?The blue disc is part of a glass sculpture I saw today at the Imagine Museum in St. Pete's. My fill-in.

One is Silver, the Other Gold

Today was an impromptu art fair at friend (on the right) Cris's mother's place. I brought my work and explained myself to who ever passed by. Meeting new friend Sharon (on the left), a tall and talkative jeweler, made my day spin by. I had her wear my scarf, just to see how it would look. Good, I think.

Standing Wave Pattern

We couldn't have more fun tonight with a group, well TWO groups of quilters and artists, who joined forces to host my talk tonight. This is the first time I've ever been asked to show more images and speak longer. Like, repeat it all again in the same night. That, clearly, a compliment. Thank you Tampa Bay Surface Design Guild and Suncoast Quilters Circle.

Edit, Edit, Edit

Improv Sketches was the class for today with the Tampa Bay Surface Design Group. We used a large frame to find the perfect composition in the small works that we make improvisationally. It is cut and shift, add and rearrange all day. Fine group of people to hang out with.

Look Back

My host and I took a look back at the work she did last week in the Glorious Prints before heading out to my next town and next place to meet new people.

Last Day to Print

The five day class in Glorious Prints ended today. It was exciting to see how different images and styles emerged as cloth stacked up from printed screens, pulled and scraped color, and monoprints. Making prints is always pleasure, regardless of the physical toll paid to make the art.

Don't Sit Down

Where  there are about a dozen printers in the room, well, you run out of horizontal space. So, on piece was draped over a chair. This was glorious day 4 of printing. We're tuckered out, but happy. I think.

Room Full of Prints

After our third day of printing, we've started to hit our stride. Now it's more printing, more practice, more experiments. This takes a lot of energy, but it gives back so much as well.

Printing, Glorious Printing

We've been printing with thickened dyes for just two days and are now starting to get the hang of the glorious ways to attack the fabric with stencils, monoprints, screens and rubbings. It's all full steam ahead from now on.

Drying Rack Hack

We used some styrofoam as the base, and then layered painted cardboard with plastic cups to make our drying rack. I think we added about four more layers before our cups failed. But it was great while it lasted, and then we went to plan B. Fun printing class!

Botanical Turns

A visit to the Marie Selby Botanical Garden in Sarasota today was where I took note of this plant that gently bent in a soft curl -- spiral really. Those leaves splaying out made me want to try this with the New Big Leaf freezer paper template. But, it'll have to be another time.

Not in Kansas

The waters were calm as we walked along the river walk in Bradenton. I've another day tomorrow to see the sights before a full week class. I've left my 9 degrees and now peeling my sweater for the 80 degrees on my walk.

Clean it UP

I had to get in some last minute printing, and now its time to toss these in the bucket and call it a day. I've started to close up the suitcases, gathering what I think I need, and leave behind what's not come to mind. Next stop -- Florida.

All in a Day

I've gotten some printing done today, along with paying sales tax, compiling income tax, visiting the dentist, snagging some groceries, getting to a gardening meeting, and knocking back a pint of ice cream while catching up on news. The ice cream was a necessity.

Put This on Your Florida Calendar March 18

Suitcase #2 will have quilts and fabric; most will be seen at my lecture for the Tampa Bay Surface Design Guild and the Suncoast Quilting Circle. Here's the details: "We still have lots of seats available for your lecture March 18th here in St. Petersburg, FL at 7pm in the Heritage Hall room of Pilgrim Congregational Church - 6315 Central Ave. Donation of $5.00 at the door."

Packing Starts

The first things to get packed are my hand printed yards along with a few scarves. I'm headed to sunny Florida for a few workshops, and these will be both my show and tell and stuff to sell. Looking forward to warming up!

Stamping Your Heart Out

Last year visiting Pro Chem I took home some cute Indian stamps. I've tried them out using transparent textile dye. The large blue letterforms are printed with a thermofax screen I made. Just fooling around!

From the Youngins

Yesterday's meeting at the Schweinfurth Art Center took me past the exhibition of both very young  and (moderately) old artists. These ceramic mugs remind me that art comes to you, stays with you, becomes part of you. Even if the art takes a different form, it is what defines you.

On the Matt Board

Pieced from bits left over from other works, this square is ready to quilt. I'm following the prompt I give to others to join, cut apart, rejoin, and reassemble. Improv as a way of life!

Closeup Wonder

I got to see Mark Bradford's work in my last visit to Baltimore Art Museum, and here in a closeup you can see it is constructed with commercial paper that he has bleached, soaked, sanded and in places, molded with his hands like clay. The richness in color and texture show his mastery in using this technique. My inspiration for printing fabric, if only I could do this through dye, sigh.