Centering

Not having the long tape measure, I grabbed two, started each one at opposite ends and found the middle easily. The pen mark at the very top is the center of the longarm canvas to attach the backing. The batting and top are laid loosely. I managed to get this done today, tomorrow I'll trim and add the facing. 
 

Revamp

Constructing (or deconstructing) this corner of the next work is a bit tricky, but satisfying. It becomes a puzzle to work, adding deeper tones, subtracting weak areas, changing tone to quiet an area that's too loud. Why music composers use the same phrases I guess. 
 

The Other Wall

I'm getting used to having a tryout wall, or adjacent work that can hang out while I work on 'the main attraction'. This one came about as I held out three that were distinctly different in tone, technique, and pallet from others in the pile of prints. They have enough distinction to leave as it, which is the plan.
 

Close Up

A close up of the quilting shows that I often fill in a missing shape with quilting. I also like to use thread color to match the color of the fabric. I switched around now and again, but used the light blue gray and deep blue more most of this piece. My machine is an old Gamill, I may be the fourth owner. 
 

Hudson River Valley Workshops

If you are hankering to print whole cloth designs, join me June at the Hudson River Valley Workshops in Greenville, New York.  This is one whole yard I printed in Santa Fe, hanging out at my studio. Can you imagine getting this without piecing? https://www.artworkshops.com/workshop/go-big-go-bold-prints-galore-with-pat-pauly/ 

 

I Need a Ladder

The facing is sewn, the sleeve added, and I brought this to the studio to photograph. Measuring 8' x 8' it makes it to the top of my design wall. There's little to give you a sense of scale, but let's say I don't have a wall tall enough to hang this in my home. That's all right, I've two shows this summer with tall walls.
 

Sew Light Today

After some gray after gray days, the sun came in strong. Thought I'd set myself up for some facing, sewing away as the sun moved across the back of the quilt. It's a big one, almost 8' square, so that's about 48 feet of hand sewing, if you count attaching the sleeve. Good thing it's now hand quilting!
 

Full Moon for March

This is the best I could do with my meager camera in my attempt to catch the glowing orange full moon rising over the expressway concrete barrier. Although the vines remind me of my morning finish of the large quilt I'm working on. Tonight was binding, yes, by the light of the moon.
 

Longarm Ahead

I've got a couple of days into machine quilting this large piece, but as I reach the last few inches I find my longarm won't move. So, I'll sleep on it, check it tomorrow, and then figure out what to do next. Between this and filing taxes, not my favorite mood.
 

AKG and Stanley Whitney

Big, bold, colorful, sectioned, repetitive, abstract, high-chroma -- what else can be said? The retrospective of Stanley Whitney's work took up the entire third floor of the new Albright-Knox Art Gallery, now known as AKG, and connected his early sketches to these later paintings. Did I want to piece these? You bet.
 

Flatterer or Imposter?

Today was a trip to the Albright Knox Art Gallery (the AKG now) has Frida Kahlo's self-portrait, and across the street, at the Burchfield Penney Art Gallery, is John Copoulos' Self-Portrait as Frida Kahlo from 1989. What fun to see both, and to ponder imitation, admiration, or just fun being someone else. 

 

Slime Trail Wash Out

Sometimes there's a residue of shiny print paste still there after washing out printed fabric. You can see the lines in the edge of the yellow scrape. The only way I'm able to get it out is with a hot water wash, and synthropol and a quart of my mixed soda ash solution added to the wash. Good rinse and it's gone.
 

Back to the Studio

Most of my working day was spent compiling taxes, but I broke away to find a few hours in the studio. I left drafts of the next works on the design wall, which I found comforting and surprising. I gave me a place to start, and of course, I saw them with refreshed eyes. 
 

This Year's Live Printing Classes

There are two places to print with me in the lower 48 states this year, one is east, one west. I love both the Hudson River (peaceful, great food, work at your leisure night and day) and Lake Tahoe (lots of friends around, fabulous space, other classes for inspiration) for printing. You might too!

Home At Last

I hopped this Saturday morning at 6:00, and unlocked my door at home Sunday at 6:00 in the evening. The day and a half was a bit of trains, planes, and automobiles, but all is here, including the to wayward bags. I'm home for a good stretch now. And gearing up for summer workshops. 
 

Painted Windows

 Near Santa Fe's train station are sets of converted Warehouses and older buildings. Most are home design stores, and a few have painted windows,  strikes my fancy.

New Tricks, Old Dogs

Wendy convinced me there was a better way to apply selective color. I'd resisted for years, then, hey, what is wrong with me? She'd got a silicone brush and it smooths the thickened dye in a painterly scraping way, so I'll be trying that method too. Old dog (that's me) and new tricks (my great class), 
 

Printing Along

Complex fabric continues to be made this week. A very serious and dedicated group is here with a firm grasp on color, motif, composition, and when it's time for cookies to be offered at 4. MISA is giving us a great space, and we're loving the room to print. 
 

What to Do With Your Prints

Thank you, Wendy, for bringing in your dress. She made the fabric in a January workshop, and is now working out new fabric ideas this week in Santa Fe. It's different teaching in person from virtually, and I have to say I love both. And, yes, it was rather nice to see this work in person. Hands down.
 

Art All Around

 

An after dinner walk in downtown Santa Fe holds enough art for anyone. But the art I love may not be in a gallery, but a functional part of the surroundings. Built in 2011 by Jon Scarricino of the Acoma pueblo, these bollard carvings were a delight.

And So It Begins

Our first printing day at the MISA Santa Fe workshop seemed like it lasted a week. We worked hard, the techniques were figured out, got down the routine, found lots of new tips, and now we collapse, will rest, and start again tomorrow. But tomorrow afternoon is a field trip, so yea!
 

They are Findable

The afternoon walk to Santa Fe's historic square and the New Mexico Museum of Art ended at a fabulous look at Rick Dillingham's body of work in ceramics. Titled Rick Dillingham: To Make, Unmake, and Make Again, it informed how to design in three dimensions with surface design. Go.
 

Somewhere Above

It takes a day of travel to have a week of fun. I'll set up the classroom Sunday, greet the gang, and can't wait to print again Monday. We're promised a tour this week, my favorite museum. See you in Santa Fe!
 

Filled, Shipped, Arrived

I'd loaded a box with printing tools, nestling between silkscreens things I'll need in Santa Fe's workshop for Madelaine Island School of the Arts. I'm packing more, but these will be great to use again. Can't wait to dig in to the art and architecture there, and see what forms will follow in printing this coming week.
 

Ladies in Waiting

I took time to put the studio to bed before I left for the workshop in Santa Fe. And it's always a good idea to have something started to greet you when you return (with fresh eyes!). I'd already had something set, but these became a more intriguing option, and one I'm looking forward to when I return. 

Who Let the Dogs Out

This 7 ounce painter's canvas cloth sat on the shelf for almost 20 years. Printed, but with weak color, I resoaked with soda ash and layered a deeper image on top. I also bumped up the color intensity. Yesterday was a class reunion, and this was part of the discussion. Dogs can be trained (saved) with a redo.

 

Test Time

I was looking for a cushion to place under the white plastic that we'll use in Santa Fe. It was suggested that I try fleece (thanks, Wendy) so off to Joann's to get a hunk. It'll work. I scraped and screened. But, oops, need to try rolling and stencil. Ok, back to the test studio. 
 

How It is Sometimes

Somehow I managed to catch a cold, which is what this looks like. Even though here in the Northeast we had a 70 degree day with loads of sunshine. Still, this is my foggy head. Let's hope it clears. 
 

When You Have Too Much

Too much of a good thing? Like a piece that is larger than your cutting matt. I line up one squared edge wtih another and gently roll the excess to fit on the table. That way the weight isn't pulling the piece I want to cut. Then I'm ready for a common cut. This piece is about 7' x 9'. So, yes, need a plan of action.

Wait No More

Just to prove that there is a longer daylight now, here's one full of happy points of light. I've been prodded to add some printed yards to my website store, and gathered a dozen to refresh the stock. So, enjoy the light you've earned this winter!
 

Life Imitates Art

I sometimes wonder why I am drawn to shapes like this. Yes, it's the art before the horse, but reality (the Baltimore Aquarium) and the print world must have some thin membrane between them.