Try On for Size

Nothing like checking the color and size at the site. This is the room where the three panels will be placed, and it's so nice to see how the light will affect the color. This is the backside of the practice panel.

Color Happens

From brick to paint to coating, if you want to see layers, here you are. The color pallet if this Baltimore building is worthy of stealing, and the irregularities worth noting as well..

What a Difference a Year Makes

This time last year I was teaching at QSDS in Columbus, Ohio.  There is no retreat this year, and memories will have to hold till next year. Can't have imagined!

Easy to Mix

Dynaflo is easy to mix, use, and seems to stay that intensity. A bit. Wet = darker by a shade. But this method is giving me a way to paint these panels easily.

Tryouts More

With a linen base, I'm using under-painting with Dynaflo and adding screened images with profab paint. I like the quickness of these materials, but still can't use them for a functional or soft fabric. And the screens have to be washed immediately, but it's a fun medium.

Start of Panel Project

My daughter has requested linen panels for acoustic help in her living room. And a mom has to deliver. So, this linen has been painted and will get more layers. Happy to have 90 degrees to speed the drying. Stay tuned for more.

Things for Rubbing and Stenciling

Someone requested a visual of things I use for printing. There are bits of snow fence, stencils, plastic place mats, sink drainers, a hunk of rope, a barbecue meat tray, and a scarf organizer. Anything fairly thin and even works.

Remembering Day

Saturday, Sunday, Weekend. Each day melts with the other. But on this Memorial Day, loss feels different. Because there is so much loss all around us. Past loss, future loss, present loss. And the reflection of that loss seems to take more that just this day, week, month.

Something Light

Suiting linen has taken my thinned down dynaflow as a  trial for a three panel sound absorbing device. My daughter asked for this solution, and if your daughter asks, you say "sure!". This is just the sample to see how to work with the textile paints.

Materials List Illustrated

I'll be giving a live virtual class in printing fabric this June (now full). One of the students asked for an image of what I was asking her to have on hand. This is some of what is needed. It reminds me of those great children's books that illustrated nature, things, stuff.

Scrarf for the Scarfless

I need to make more of these scarves. Not that it is scarf weather, but because they're so pretty. I print a third width (15 inches or so) and two yards long. Then sew the ends together in a loop. I usually wrap it three times around my neck.

Still Going

As I turned to take the record shot of each day's Yard in the Yard, I realized the light had changed. Or, more clearly, the leaves filling out were creating shadow and patterns that didn't exist in the spring light. The Yards were blending into the landscape, receding.

Drawing a Line with Thickened Dye

Lines are always so diverse in quiltmaking. Pieced line, quilted, line, couched line, bias tape line, raw edge line. Here I just take a squirt bottle filled with dye and print paste to thicken, and draw. Immediate line.

First Rule of Dye

...is that fabric colors always look deeper and darker when wet. As one of the Yard in the Yard series,  they are taken in from outside, and rewashed. Wet, they are vibrant and wonderful. This, friends, is the difference between paint (true wet/dry) and dye (not true to color till processed).

Some Things Surprise Me

I've taken a dozen yards, added an inventory number, and photographed them so I can put them on my web site and offer them (soon) for sale. Since I'm not traveling, well, why not reach people that way? But, what surprise me is how much I love these prints. Full color, pattern, and still randomly unique.

Looking for Two More for Print Class -- Virtually!

I've gotten requests to teach virtually, so there's a printing class June June 22 - 26, 2020. I've students that span time zones from France to the U.S. west coast. We'll meet each day for three hours live, for five days. It'll be fun, almost as fun as being there. There's two spots open. Some familiarity with dyes required.Write if interested patpaulyart@gmail.com.

Hold Still a Minute

Here's a close-up of the quilting I put on that whole cloth. It's such a great way to take the graphic element and move it into the empty space. But, ya gotta think quick! I think this is the signature and date somewhere.

Quilting a Baby Quilt

You always need a quilt, right? Thought I'd gift a little quilt for my baby daughter who will be 29 tomorrow. Here are 50 seconds of the quilting action on my longarm.

Book Advice

For those of you house-bound, and in need of a good read, I suggest the story of William Perkin in Simon Garfield's book "Mauve". Perkin invented the first aniline dye, and this book tells that history as well as the importance of the synthetic dye industry on culture.

Piles of Fabric

Spring is here, but somehow I missed the "cleaning" part of the equation. Time for some rearranging. Like move one pile to the next spot. And this is not a current look, but from months ago.

Line Drawing

Another in my surface design videos to how how I use a squirt bottle to draw a line. I'm drawing on the monoprint I pulled on another video. I'm due to print more some day soon, and perhaps I'll capture more of this fun stuff.

Get Out and Smell the Magnolias

A visit from my daughter finally got me out to take a walk in the park. We wore masks, stayed far apart, and dodged all the others doing the same. This magnolia didn't seem to mind yesterday's snowfall, and showed off what makes it, well, showy.

Monoprinting to Music

Printing from the table is easy because I've covered it with plastic. I'll use thickened dye spread around and then use something to make a mark. I only get one print from this method, but that's the point -- a one of a kind print.

Kinda Blue on View

Someone asked if they could use this work as part of a graphic banner (Thanks, Vivian!) and so I was revisiting this piece I did in 2018. It is predominantly blue and white, with loads of surface design techniques. I thought you'd enjoy. I'm missing teaching this class.

Reverse Moon Scape

A simple stone/shell/lump on the beach is this month's stand-in for the Full Moon tonight. It's all perspective; sand for atmosphere, dimples for craters. This planet is getting some needed rest now, but perhaps phasing back to "normal" may include kindness to earth as well. Let's hope.

Screen Printing Video

Now that we've all attached our eyeballs to screens, here a short short of me printing with a silkscreen with a newspaper resist. It's fun. I''m using thickened dye on a cotton fabric that has been treated with soda ash. I teach this, and might be persuaded to try this in an online class. Why not?

Experimenting

As an art student, I was encouraged to paint. But I was more intrigued with building things out of wood. And I loved design in any way. Since I've some time to experiment, I found that when I did this quick painting, I was using techniques I've honed from surface design. Might continue.

House Matters

As much as I heard the call of the studio, this deck replacement screamed louder. So, no studio time, just ripping up boards and getting the exterior some much needed attention.

National Textile Day

Mummies Collide is one where I was just getting my chops in surface design and experimentation. I still think this is willful. Might have to get it out of hiding and hang it back up. Happy National Textile Day.

Little Baby Play Quilt

This finished with a green and white stripey binding. It was machine sewn for durability, as it will go in the washer and dryer forever. And I forgot to measure it but it is just one of my printed pieces that is usually about 40" square. Wool batting makes the shipping light.